2003 Minnesota Vikings season

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

The 2003 Minnesota Vikings season was the team's 43rd year in the National Football League. The Vikings gained 6,294 yards on offense, by far the most in the league; however the team 416 points were only 6th best 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. Green Bay won the division at 10–6, while the Vikings finished 9–7. The Vikings set a new mark for futility during the season when they lost to every 4–12 team (Giants, Chargers, Raiders, and Cardinals) during their 3–7 finish. Curiously, the Vikings went 4–2 against 2003 playoff teams, but only 5–5 against teams with losing records. The Vikings were 6–2 at home, and 8–3 in domes overall. (They only played one cold-weather game, a loss to Chicago in Week Fifteen.)

The Vikings were officially eliminated from postseason contention when a touchdown reception on 4th and 25 by Arizona Cardinals receiver Nate Poole handed the Vikings a dramatic last-second 18–17 loss in their final game.^[1]

The season is notable for Randy Moss leading the NFL with 17 touchdown receptions. It's the third time in his career that Moss led the league in that category.

After the past two seasons of inconsistentcy, a rejuvenated Daunte Culpepper was voted to play in the Pro Bowl after the season. It was Culpepper's second Pro Bowl appearance.

Offseason

2003 Draft

=Pro Bowler

2003 Minnesota Vikings Draft
Draft order			Player name	Position	College	Notes
Round	Choice	Overall
1	9	9	Kevin Williams	Defensive Tackle	Oklahoma State	in lieu of #7 (time expired)^[a]
2	8	40	E.J. Henderson	Linebacker	Maryland
3	7	71	Nate Burleson	Wide Receiver	Nevada
4	8	105	Onterrio Smith	Running Back	Oregon
5	7	142	Traded to the Cleveland Browns^[b]
6	7	180	Eddie Johnson	Punter	Idaho State
	17	190	Mike Nattiel	Linebacker	Florida	from Saints^[c]
7	7	221	Keenan Howry	Wide Receiver	Oregon

^{^[a]} The draft took an odd turn with the Minnesota Vikings' pick in the first round. The Vikings were apparently attempting to consummate a trade when their fifteen-minute time allowance elapsed. The Jaguars who selected next were quick to pounce, turning in their card to select QB Byron Leftwich immediately after the Vikings' time elapsed. The Panthers also took advantage of the gaffe, selecting OT Jordan Gross before the Vikings recovered and selected DT Kevin Williams.^[2] Nevertheless, the mistake may have worked in the Vikings' favor as Williams went on to be a mainstay on their team, missing only four games in his first 10 seasons in the NFL and making six Pro Bowls.

^{^[b]} Minnesota traded their 5th round selection (142nd overall) to Cleveland for their 2002 7th round selection and QB Stalin Colinet on October 16, 2001.

^{^[c]} New Orleans traded their 6th round selection (190th overall) to Minnesota in exchange for QB Todd Bouman on March 13, 2003.

Regular season

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Venue	Record	Network	Kickoff (CST)	Attendance
1	September 7	at Green Bay Packers	W 30–25	Lambeau Field	1–0	FOX	12:00pm	70,505
2	September 14	Chicago Bears	W 24–13	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	2–0	ESPN	7:30pm	64,144
3	September 21	at Detroit Lions	W 23–13	Ford Field	3–0	FOX	12:00pm	60,865
4	September 28	San Francisco 49ers	W 35–7	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	4–0	FOX	12:00pm	64,111
5	October 5	at Atlanta Falcons	W 39–26	Georgia Dome	5–0	FOX	12:00pm	70,427
6	Bye week
7	October 19	Denver Broncos	W 28–20	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	6–0	CBS	12:00pm	64,381
8	October 26	New York Giants	L 17–29	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	6–1	FOX	12:00pm	64,114
9	November 2	Green Bay Packers	L 27–30	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	6–2	ESPN	7:30pm	64,482
10	November 9	at San Diego Chargers	L 28–42	Qualcomm Stadium	6–3	FOX	3:15pm	64,738
11	November 16	at Oakland Raiders	L 18–28	Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum	6–4	FOX	3:15pm	56,653
12	November 23	Detroit Lions	W 24–14	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	7–4	FOX	12:00pm	63,946
13	November 30	at St. Louis Rams	L 17–48	Edward Jones Dome	7–5	FOX	3:15pm	66,134
14	December 7	Seattle Seahawks	W 34–7	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	8–5	FOX	12:00pm	63,968
15	December 14	at Chicago Bears	L 10–13	Soldier Field	8–6	FOX	12:00pm	61,804
16	December 20	Kansas City Chiefs	W 45–20	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	9–6	CBS	3:00pm	64,291
17	December 28	at Arizona Cardinals	L 17–18	Sun Devil Stadium	9–7	FOX	3:15pm	52,734

Standings

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

Team leaders

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

Category	Total yards	Yards per game	NFL rank (out of 32)
Passing Offense	3,951 Yards	246.9 YPG	4th
Rushing Offense	2,343 Yards	146.4 YPG	4th
Total Offense	6,294 Yards	393.4 YPG	1st
Passing Defense	3,477 Yards	217.3 YPG	26th
Rushing Defense	1,879 Yards	117.4 YPG	17th
Total Defense	5,356 Yards	334.8 YPG	23rd

Personnel

Staff

2003 Minnesota Vikings staff
Front Office Owner – Red McCombs President – Gary Woods Vice President of Football Operations – Rob Brzezinski Head Coaches Head Coach – Mike Tice Offensive Coaches Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks – Scott Linehan Running Backs – Dean Dalton Wide Receivers – Charlie Baggett Tight Ends/Assistant Offensive Line – John Tice Offensive Line – Steve Loney Offensive Quality Control – Randy Hanson			Defensive Coaches Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line – George O'Leary Linebackers – Brian Baker Secondary – Chuck Knox, Jr. Assistant Secondary – Kevin Ross Defensive Assistant/Assistant Defensive Line – Pete Bercich Defensive Quality Control – Jim Panagos Special Teams Coaches Special Teams – Rusty Tillman Strength and Conditioning Strength and Conditioning – Steve Wetzel Assistant Strength and Conditioning – Daryl Lawrence

^[3]

Final roster

2003 Minnesota Vikings final roster
	Quarterbacks 11 Daunte Culpepper 12 Gus Frerotte 13 Shaun Hill Running backs 23 Michael Bennett 29 Larry Ned 32 Onterrio Smith 45 Charles Stackhouse FB 20 Moe Williams Wide receivers 85 D'Wayne Bates 81 Nate Burleson 16 Kelly Campbell 82 Keenan Howry 84 Randy Moss Tight ends 47 Richard Angulo 45 Sean Berton 83 Hunter Goodwin 40 Jim Kleinsasser		Offensive linemen 78 Matt Birk C 71 David Dixon G 61 Lewis Kelly G 62 Everett Lindsay T 76 Chris Liwienski G 74 Bryant McKinnie T 75 Mike Rosenthal OT 60 Cory Withrow C Defensive linemen 99 Chris Hovan DT 51 Lance Johnstone DE 96 Billy Lyon DT 79 Kenny Mixon DE 98 Fred Robbins DT 97 Talance Sawyer DE 94 Chuck Wiley DE 93 Kevin Williams DT		Linebackers 54 Greg Biekert MLB 55 Chris Claiborne OLB 52 Henri Crockett OLB 56 E. J. Henderson MLB 59 Mike Nattiel OLB 58 Nick Rogers OLB 57 Raonall Smith OLB Defensive backs 21 Corey Chavous SS 22 Ken Irvin CB 31 Rushen Jones CB 25 Eric Kelly CB 38 Rhett Nelson CB 24 Willie Offord SS 27 Brian Russell FS 26 Denard Walker CB 29 Brian Williams CB Special teams  2 Leo Araguz P  8 Aaron Elling K  4 Eddie Johnson P 43 Brody Liddiard LS  1 José Cortéz K		Reserve lists 33 John Avery RB (IR) 42 Jack Brewer FS (IR) 48 Steve Farmer TE (IR) Practice squad 89 Kenny Clark WR 73 Adam Goldberg OT 72 Adam Haayer OT Rookies in italics 54 Active, 3 Inactive, 3 Practice squad

External links

• YouTube: Minnesota Vikings @ Arizona Cardinals 2003 Josh McCown to Nate Poole game-winning touchdown

References

1. YouTube: Minnesota Vikings @ Arizona Cardinals 2003 Josh McCown to Nate Poole game-winning touchdown
2. Pasquarelli, Len (2003-04-26). "Slow on trigger, Vikings miss pick". ESPN. Retrieved 2014-04-11.
3. 2009 Minnesota Vikings Media Guide. p. 251. Retrieved 2010-03-06.