2001 Minnesota Vikings season
The 2001 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 41st in the National Football League. Despite having a 12th ranked offense, the Vikings finished 5–11 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 1995. Before the end of the season, the team fired head coach Dennis Green, who had become a polarizing force among the Viking fan base despite his successful coaching tenure with the team. Mike Tice coached the final game of 2001, a loss to the Ravens.
2001 Minnesota Vikings season | |
---|---|
Owner | Red McCombs |
Head coach | Dennis Green (Weeks 1–16) Mike Tice (Week 17) |
Home field | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome |
Results | |
Record | 5–11 |
Division place | 4th NFC Central |
Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
Pro Bowlers | 2
|
The season began in tragic circumstances when offensive lineman Korey Stringer died of heatstroke in training camp.
The season started off with a 24–13 home loss to the Carolina Panthers (which would be the Panthers' lone win). They did not win on the road at all during this season. Some season highlights included a 35–13 win over the rival Green Bay Packers in Week 6, and a Week 10 victory over the Giants in which Randy Moss pulled in 10 receptions for 171 yards and three touchdowns leading to a 28–16 victory.
This was Cris Carter's final season in Minnesota, having played 12 seasons there, making eight consecutive Pro Bowl appearances (1993–2000), all with the Vikings. He is the team's all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns. He retired at the end of the disappointing season, but would briefly return to play for the Miami Dolphins midway through next season.
Offseason
Additions | Subtractions |
---|---|
WR Jake Reed (Saints) | LB Dwayne Rudd (Browns) |
TE Byron Chamberlain (Broncos) | DT John Randle (Seahawks) |
2001 Draft
Pro Bowler |
2001 Minnesota Vikings Draft | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Draft order | Player name | Position | College | Notes | |
Round | Selection | ||||
1 | 27 | Michael Bennett | Running back | Wisconsin | |
2 | 57 | Willie Howard | Defensive end | Stanford | |
3 | 69 | Eric Kelly | Cornerback | Kentucky | From Patriots[a] |
86 | Traded to the New England Patriots[a] | ||||
4 | 119 | Traded to the New England Patriots[a] | |||
130 | Shawn Worthen | Defensive tackle | Texas Christian | Compensatory pick[b] | |
131 | Cedric James | Wide receiver | Texas Christian | Compensatory pick[b] | |
5 | 157 | Patrick Chukwurah | Linebacker | Wyoming | |
6 | 189 | Carey Scott | Cornerback | Kentucky State | |
7 | 225 | Brian Crawford | Defensive tackle | Western Oregon |
- ^[a] The Vikings traded their third- and fourth-round selections (86th and 119th overall) to the New England Patriots in exchange for New England's third-round selection (69th overall).
- ^[b] The Vikings were awarded two compensatory picks in the fourth round for the losses of Jeff Christy, Duane Clemons, Jeff George and Jimmy Hitchcock.
Undrafted free agents
Player | Position | College |
---|---|---|
Brian Russell | Safety | San Diego State |
Mike Solwold | Long snapper/Tight end | Wisconsin |
Preseason
Schedule
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | NFL.com recap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | August 11 | at New Orleans Saints | W 28–21 | 1–0 | Alamodome (San Antonio, TX) | 46,752 | Recap |
2 | August 16 | Pittsburgh Steelers | W 24–10 | 2–0 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 63,790 | Recap |
3 | August 24 | Indianapolis Colts | W 28–21 | 3–0 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 63,804 | Recap |
4 | August 31 | at Miami Dolphins | W 20–7 | 4–0 | Pro Player Stadium | 60,136 | Recap |
Week 1: at New Orleans Saints
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 7 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 28 |
Saints | 7 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
at Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas
- Date: August 11
- Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 46,752
- Referee: Walt Coleman (65)
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 2: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Steelers | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 |
Vikings | 0 | 17 | 0 | 7 | 24 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: August 16
- Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 63,790
- Referee: Bernie Kukar (86)
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 3: vs. Indianapolis Colts
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Colts | 10 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 21 |
Vikings | 0 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Game information | ||
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Week 4: at Miami Dolphins
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 0 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 20 |
Dolphins | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
Game information | ||
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Regular season
Schedule
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | Game recap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | September 9 | Carolina Panthers | L 13–24 | 0–1 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 64,108 | Recap |
2 | September 23 | at Chicago Bears | L 10–17 | 0–2 | Soldier Field | 66,944 | Recap |
3 | September 30 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | W 20–16 | 1–2 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 64,105 | Recap |
4 | October 7 | at New Orleans Saints | L 15–28 | 1–3 | Louisiana Superdome | 70,020 | Recap |
5 | October 14 | Detroit Lions | W 31–26 | 2–3 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 64,048 | Recap |
6 | October 21 | Green Bay Packers | W 35–13 | 3–3 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 64,165 | Recap |
7 | October 28 | at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | L 14–41 | 3–4 | Raymond James Stadium | 65,558 | Recap |
8 | Bye week | ||||||
9 | November 11 | at Philadelphia Eagles | L 17–48 | 3–5 | Veterans Stadium | 65,638 | Recap |
10 | November 19 | New York Giants | W 28–16 | 4–5 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 64,283 | Recap |
11 | November 25 | Chicago Bears | L 6–13 | 4–6 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 64,214 | Recap |
12 | December 2 | at Pittsburgh Steelers | L 16–21 | 4–7 | Heinz Field | 62,661 | Recap |
13 | December 9 | Tennessee Titans | W 42–24 | 5–7 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 64,271 | Recap |
14 | December 16 | at Detroit Lions | L 24–27 | 5–8 | Pontiac Silverdome | 72,190 | Recap |
15 | December 23 | Jacksonville Jaguars | L 3–33 | 5–9 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 64,150 | Recap |
16 | December 30 | at Green Bay Packers | L 13–24 | 5–10 | Lambeau Field | 59,870 | Recap |
17 | January 7 | at Baltimore Ravens | L 3–19 | 5–11 | M&T Bank Stadium | 69,465 | Recap |
Notes
- Intradivision opponents are in bold text.
Week 1: vs. Carolina Panthers
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Panthers | 7 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 24 |
Vikings | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 2: at Chicago Bears
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 3 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 10 |
Bears | 0 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 17 |
at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
- Date: September 23
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Cloudy, fog, 63 °F (17 °C)
- Game attendance: 66,944
- Referee: Mike Carey (94)
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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|
Week 3: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Buccaneers | 3 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 16 |
Vikings | 7 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 20 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: September 30
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 64,105
- Referee: Ed Hochuli (85)
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 4: at New Orleans Saints
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 7 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 15 |
Saints | 6 | 9 | 10 | 3 | 28 |
at Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Date: October 7
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 70,020
- Referee: Bill Leavy (127)
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 5: vs. Detroit Lions
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lions | 3 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 26 |
Vikings | 7 | 17 | 7 | 0 | 31 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: October 14
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 64,048
- Referee: Tony Corrente (99)
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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|
Week 6: vs. Green Bay Packers
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Packers | 0 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 13 |
Vikings | 0 | 20 | 0 | 15 | 35 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: October 21
- Game time: 3:15 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 64,165
- Referee: Ron Winter (14)
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 7: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 0 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 14 |
Buccaneers | 7 | 21 | 13 | 0 | 41 |
at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida
- Date: October 28
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Clear, 67 °F (19 °C)
- Game attendance: 65,558
- Referee: Gerald Austin (34)
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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|
Week 9: at Philadelphia Eagles
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 0 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
Eagles | 7 | 24 | 7 | 10 | 48 |
Game information | ||
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Week 10: vs. New York Giants
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Giants | 10 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 16 |
Vikings | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 28 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: November 19
- Game time: 8:10 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 64,283
- Referee: Bob McElwee (95)
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 11: vs. Chicago Bears
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bears | 0 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 13 |
Vikings | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: November 25
- Game time: 7:35 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 64,214
- Referee: Johnny Grier (23)
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 12: at Pittsburgh Steelers
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 3 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 16 |
Steelers | 0 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 21 |
at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Date: December 2
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Mostly sunny, 46 °F (8 °C)
- Game attendance: 62,661
- Referee: Tony Corrente (99)
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 13: vs. Tennessee Titans
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Titans | 10 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 24 |
Vikings | 0 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 42 |
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 14: at Detroit Lions
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 7 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 24 |
Lions | 14 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 27 |
at Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan
- Date: December 16
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 72,190
- Referee: Ed Hochuli (85)
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 15: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jaguars | 10 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 33 |
Vikings | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Game information | ||
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Week 16: at Green Bay Packers
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 0 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 13 |
Packers | 0 | 7 | 0 | 17 | 24 |
at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
- Date: December 30
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Partly cloudy, 19 °F (−7 °C)
- Game attendance: 59,870
- Referee: Larry Nemmers (20)
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 17: at Baltimore Ravens
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Ravens | 0 | 9 | 3 | 7 | 19 |
at PSINet Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
- Date: January 7
- Game time: 9:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: 36 °F (2 °C)
- Game attendance: 69,465
- Referee: Gerald Austin (34)
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Standings
NFC Central | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA | STK | |
(2) Chicago Bears | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | 338 | 203 | W4 |
(4) Green Bay Packers | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 390 | 266 | W3 |
(6) Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 324 | 280 | L1 |
Minnesota Vikings | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 290 | 390 | L4 |
Detroit Lions | 2 | 14 | 0 | .125 | 270 | 424 | W1 |
Statistics
Team leaders
Category | Player(s) | Value |
---|---|---|
Passing yards | Daunte Culpepper | 2,612 |
Passing touchdowns | Daunte Culpepper | 14 |
Rushing yards | Michael Bennett | 682 |
Rushing touchdowns | Daunte Culpepper | 5 |
Receiving yards | Randy Moss | 1,233 |
Receiving touchdowns | Randy Moss | 10 |
Points | Gary Anderson | 74 |
Kickoff return yards | Nate Jacquet | 1,012 |
Punt return yards | Nate Jacquet | 219 |
Tackles | Kailee Wong | 98 |
Sacks | Chris Hovan | 6 |
Interceptions | Robert Griffith Eric Kelly | 2 |
Forced fumbles | Patrick Chukwurah | 3 |
League rankings
Category | Total yards | Yards per game | NFL rank (out of 31) |
---|---|---|---|
Passing offense | 3,576 | 223.5 | 7th |
Rushing offense | 1,609 | 100.6 | 25th |
Total offense | 5,185 | 324.1 | 12th |
Passing defense | 3,367 | 210.4 | 18th |
Rushing defense | 2,299 | 143.7 | 30th |
Total defense | 5,666 | 354.1 | 27th |
Staff
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
|
Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
|
Roster
Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends |
Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
|
Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams
|
Reserve lists
|
References
- 2009 Minnesota Vikings Media Guide. p. 251. Archived from the original on December 24, 2010. Retrieved March 6, 2010.