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The 2003 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 43rd in the National Football League (NFL). They finished second in the NFC North with a 9–7 record, behind the 10–6 Green Bay Packers, but missed the playoffs for a third straight year. Despite gaining 6,294 yards of offense over their 16 games, by far the most in the league, the team managed just 416 points, the sixth-most in the NFL. The Vikings won their first six games of the 2003 season, then lost their next four games, after which they alternated wins and losses for the remainder of the season. The Vikings were officially eliminated from postseason contention with a loss to the Arizona Cardinals on the last play of their final game.
2003 Minnesota Vikings season | |
---|---|
Head coach | Mike Tice |
Home field | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome |
Results | |
Record | 9–7 |
Division place | 2nd NFC North |
Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
Pro Bowlers | 4
|
AP All-Pros | 2
|
Uniform | |
Wide receiver Randy Moss led the NFL with 17 touchdown receptions, the third time in his career that he led the league in that category. After two seasons of inconsistency, rejuvenated quarterback Daunte Culpepper was voted to play in the second Pro Bowl of his career at the end of the season.
Offseason edit
Additions | Subtractions |
---|---|
QB Gus Frerotte (Bengals) | QB Todd Bouman (Saints) |
T Mike Rosenthal (Giants) | DE Lorenzo Bromell (Raiders) |
LB Chris Claiborne (Lions) | CB Tyrone Carter (Jets) |
CB Ken Irvin (Saints) | FB Harold Morrow (Ravens) |
CB Denard Walker (Broncos) |
2003 draft edit
Pro Bowler |
2003 Minnesota Vikings draft | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Draft order | Player name | Position | College | Notes | |
Round | Overall | ||||
1 | 9 | Kevin Williams | Defensive tackle | Oklahoma State | in lieu of #7 (time expired)[a] |
2 | 40 | E. J. Henderson | Linebacker | Maryland | |
3 | 71 | Nate Burleson | Wide receiver | Nevada | |
4 | 105 | Onterrio Smith | Running back | Oregon | |
5 | 142 | Traded to the Cleveland Browns[b] | |||
6 | 180 | Eddie Johnson | Punter | Idaho State | |
190 | Mike Nattiel | Linebacker | Florida | from Saints[c] | |
7 | 221 | Keenan Howry | Wide receiver | Oregon |
- ^[a] While attempting to agree a trade, the Vikings' time elapsed, allowing the Jacksonville Jaguars to move up and select QB Byron Leftwich. The Carolina Panthers were also able to select OT Jordan Gross before the Vikings ultimately selected DT Kevin Williams.[1]
- ^[b] The Vikings traded their fifth-round selection (142nd overall) to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for Cleveland's 2002 seventh-round selection and defensive lineman Stalin Colinet.
- ^[c] The Vikings traded quarterback Todd Bouman to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for New Orleans' sixth-round selection (190th overall).
Staff edit
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
|
Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
|
Roster edit
Preseason edit
Schedule edit
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | NFL.com recap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | August 9 | Jacksonville Jaguars | L 14–16 | 0–1 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 63,370 | Recap |
2 | August 16 | at Kansas City Chiefs | L 16–26 | 0–2 | Arrowhead Stadium | 75,634 | Recap |
3 | August 22 | at Oakland Raiders | W 21–6 | 1–2 | Network Associates Coliseum | 37,411 | Recap |
4 | August 28 | Arizona Cardinals | L 27–31 | 1–3 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 63,473 | Recap |
Game summaries edit
Week 1: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars edit
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jaguars | 0 | 13 | 0 | 3 | 16 |
Vikings | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: August 9
- Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 63,370
- Referee: Tony Corrente (99)
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 2: at Kansas City Chiefs edit
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 7 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 16 |
Chiefs | 3 | 13 | 3 | 7 | 26 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: August 16
- Game time: 7:30 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Clear, 100 °F (38 °C)
- Game attendance: 75,634
- Referee: Bill Leavy (127)
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 3: at Oakland Raiders edit
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
Raiders | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
at Network Associates Coliseum, Oakland, California
- Date: August 22
- Game time: 6:00 p.m. PDT
- Game weather: Clear, 73 °F (23 °C)
- Game attendance: 37,411
- Referee: Pete Morelli (135)
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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|
Week 4: vs. Arizona Cardinals edit
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cardinals | 3 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 31 |
Vikings | 3 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 27 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: August 28
- Game time: 7:05 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 63,473
- Referee: Bernie Kukar (86)
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Regular season edit
Schedule edit
Game summaries edit
Week 1: at Green Bay Packers edit
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 10 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 30 |
Packers | 0 | 3 | 8 | 14 | 25 |
at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
- Date: September 7
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Mostly sunny, 71 °F (22 °C)
- Game attendance: 70,505
- Referee: Pete Morelli (135)
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 2: vs. Chicago Bears edit
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bears | 3 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 13 |
Vikings | 7 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 24 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: September 14
- Game time: 7:30 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 64,144
- Referee: Mike Carey (94)
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 3: at Detroit Lions edit
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 0 | 16 | 7 | 0 | 23 |
Lions | 10 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 13 |
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 4: vs. San Francisco 49ers edit
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
49ers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
Vikings | 14 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 35 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: September 28
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 64,111
- Referee: Larry Nemmers (20)
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 5: at Atlanta Falcons edit
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 0 | 12 | 15 | 12 | 39 |
Falcons | 6 | 14 | 0 | 6 | 26 |
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 7: vs. Denver Broncos edit
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Broncos | 0 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 20 |
Vikings | 7 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 28 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: October 19
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 64,381
- Referee: Bill Carollo (63)
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 8: vs. New York Giants edit
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Giants | 7 | 6 | 3 | 13 | 29 |
Vikings | 3 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: October 26
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 64,114
- Referee: Tony Corrente (99)
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 9: vs. Green Bay Packers edit
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Packers | 6 | 14 | 0 | 10 | 30 |
Vikings | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 27 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: November 2
- Game time: 7:35 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 64,482
- Referee: Bernie Kukar (86)
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 10: at San Diego Chargers edit
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 28 |
Chargers | 14 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 42 |
at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California
- Date: November 9
- Game time: 3:05 p.m. CDT/1:05 p.m. PST
- Game weather: Partly cloudy, 66 °F (19 °C)
- Game attendance: 64,738
- Referee: Ed Hochuli (85)
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 11: at Oakland Raiders edit
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 0 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 18 |
Raiders | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
at Network Associates Coliseum, Oakland, California
- Date: November 16
- Game time: 3:15 p.m. CDT/1:15 p.m. PST
- Game weather: Mostly cloudy, 55 °F (13 °C)
- Game attendance: 56,653
- Referee: Bill Leavy (127)
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 12: vs. Detroit Lions edit
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lions | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
Vikings | 7 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 24 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: November 23
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 63,946
- Referee: Pete Morelli (135)
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 13: at St. Louis Rams edit
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 7 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
Rams | 10 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 48 |
at Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Missouri
- Date: November 30
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 66,134
- Referee: Terry McAulay (77)
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 14: vs. Seattle Seahawks edit
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Seahawks | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
Vikings | 0 | 13 | 7 | 14 | 34 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: December 7
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 63,968
- Referee: Larry Nemmers (20)
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 15: at Chicago Bears edit
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
Bears | 3 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 13 |
at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
- Date: December 14
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: Cloudy, 33 °F (1 °C)
- Game attendance: 61,804
- Referee: Jeff Triplette (42)
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 16: vs. Kansas City Chiefs edit
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 0 | 0 | 7 | 13 | 20 |
Vikings | 7 | 17 | 7 | 14 | 45 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 17: at Arizona Cardinals edit
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 0 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 17 |
Cardinals | 3 | 3 | 0 | 12 | 18 |
at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona
- Date: December 28
- Game time: 2:05 p.m. CST
- Game weather: Clear, 51 °F (11 °C)
- Game attendance: 52,734
- Referee: Tony Corrente (99)
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Despite still having a chance to make the playoffs by winning the NFC North, the Vikings squandered a 17–6 fourth-quarter lead in the final two minutes and lost to the 3–12 Arizona Cardinals after Josh McCown threw a 28-yard pass to Nate Poole for the game-winning touchdown with no time left, and with the Packers' win over the Broncos, giving them the NFC North title, and ending the Vikings season.
Standings edit
NFC North | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK | |
(4) Green Bay Packers | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 4–2 | 7–5 | 442 | 307 | W4 |
Minnesota Vikings | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 4–2 | 7–5 | 416 | 353 | L1 |
Chicago Bears | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 2–4 | 4–8 | 283 | 346 | L1 |
Detroit Lions | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 2–4 | 4–8 | 270 | 379 | W1 |
Statistics edit
Team leaders edit
Category | Player(s) | Value |
---|---|---|
Passing yards | Daunte Culpepper | 3,479 |
Passing touchdowns | Daunte Culpepper | 25 |
Rushing yards | Moe Williams | 745 |
Rushing touchdowns | Moe Williams Onterrio Smith |
5 |
Receiving yards | Randy Moss | 1,632 * |
Receiving touchdowns | Randy Moss | 17 |
Points | Randy Moss Aaron Elling |
102 |
Kickoff return yards | Onterrio Smith | 588 |
Punt return yards | Keenan Howry | 247 |
Tackles | Brian Russell | 95 |
Sacks | Kevin Williams | 10.5 |
Interceptions | Brian Russell | 9 |
Forced fumbles | Kenny Mixon | 4 |
* Vikings single season record
League rankings edit
Category | Total yards | Yards per game | NFL rank (out of 32) |
---|---|---|---|
Passing offense | 3,951 | 246.9 | 4th |
Rushing offense | 2,343 | 146.4 | 4th |
Total offense | 6,294 | 393.4 | 1st |
Passing defense | 3,477 | 217.3 | 26th |
Rushing defense | 1,879 | 117.4 | 17th |
Total defense | 5,356 | 334.8 | 23rd |
References edit
- ^ Pasquarelli, Len (April 26, 2003). "Slow on trigger, Vikings miss pick". ESPN. Retrieved April 11, 2014.
- ^ 2009 Minnesota Vikings Media Guide. p. 251. Archived from the original on December 24, 2010. Retrieved March 6, 2010.