2002 Minnesota Vikings season

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2002 Minnesota Vikings season
Head coachMike Tice
Home fieldHubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
Results
Record6–10
Division place2nd NFC North
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro Bowlers
2
AP All-ProsDT Chris Hovan (2nd team)
Uniform

The 2002 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 42nd in the National Football League, and the first under head coach Mike Tice. Tice was the third of the Vikings' six head coaches to be promoted from within the team's coaching ranks but the first to have actually played for the team.

This for the first time since 1989, Cris Carter was not on the opening day roster.

The Vikings lost their opening game in Chicago 27–23 after surrendering a 20–10 halftime lead, and ended up going 0–4 before their bye week. Results improved after the bye, but they ultimately went 6–6 in their remaining games, including a three-game winning streak to end the season. They finished the season with a 6–10 record and missed the playoffs for the second year in a row.

Second-year running back Michael Bennett enjoyed a successful year, rushing for 1,296 yards, resulting in a Pro Bowl selection at the end of the season. After losing Cris Carter to retirement, Randy Moss had a career-high 106 receptions, but only had 7 touchdowns.

Offseason

Additions Subtractions
WR Derrick Alexander (Chiefs) T Brad Badger (Raiders)
WR D'Wayne Bates (Bears) P Mitch Berger (Rams)
LB Greg Biekert (Raiders) WR Cris Carter (Dolphins)
CB Corey Chavous (Cardinals) CB Dale Carter (Saints)
LB Henri Crockett (Falcons) WR Jake Reed (Saints)
DE Kenny Mixon (Dolphins) LB Kailee Wong (Texans)
P Kyle Richardson (Ravens) WR Troy Walters (Colts)
FS Ronnie Bradford (Falcons) FS Robert Griffith (Browns)
DE Lorenzo Bromell (Dolphins) CB Robert Tate (Ravens)
TE Hunter Goodwin (Dolphins) CB Kenny Wright (Texans)
DE Chuck Wiley (Falcons)

2002 Draft

Pro Bowler
2002 Minnesota Vikings Draft
Draft order Player name Position College Notes
Round Overall
1 7 Bryant McKinnie
Offensive tackle
Miami
2 38 Raonall Smith Linebacker Washington State
3 70 Willie Offord Safety South Carolina
4 105 Brian Williams Cornerback North Carolina State
132 Ed Ta'amu Guard Utah
Compensatory pick
5 141 Traded to the Cleveland Browns[a]
6 177
Nick Rogers
Linebacker
Georgia Tech
7 218 Chad Beasley
Offensive tackle
Virginia Tech
^[a] Minnesota traded their 5th round selection (141st overall) to Cleveland for QB Spergon Wynn and RB Travis Prentice.

Undrafted free agents

2002 Undrafted Free Agents of note
Player Position College
Jack Brewer
Safety Minnesota
Kelly Campbell Wide receiver Georgia Tech
Nick Davis Wide receiver Wisconsin
Shaun Hill Quarterback Maryland
Max Yates Linebacker Marshall

Staff

2002 Minnesota Vikings staff

Front office

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning

[1]

Roster

2002 Minnesota Vikings final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists
  • 82
    IRTooltip Injured reserve)
  • 34
    IRTooltip Injured reserve)
  • 15
    IRTooltip Injured reserve)
  • 92
    IRTooltip Injured reserve)
  • --
    IRTooltip Injured reserve)
  • 61
    IRTooltip Injured reserve)
  • --
    IRTooltip Injured reserve)
  • 97
    IRTooltip Injured reserve)
  • 57
    IRTooltip Injured reserve)


Practice squad


Rookies in italics
53 active, 10 inactive, 5 practice squad

Preseason

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance NFL.com
recap
1 August 10 Cleveland Browns L 15–27 0–1 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 63,532 Recap
2 August 16 at Buffalo Bills W 24–21 1–1
Ralph Wilson Stadium
47,027 Recap
3 August 23 Tennessee Titans W 14–10 2–1 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 63,845 Recap
4 August 29 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 14–17 2–2
Heinz Field
57,062 Recap

Game summaries

Week 1: vs. Cleveland Browns

Week 1: Cleveland Browns at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Browns 7 6 14027
Vikings 7 0 0815

at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

  • Date: August 10
  • Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
  • Game attendance: 63,532
  • Referee: Dick Hantak (105)
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 2: at Buffalo Bills

Week 2: Minnesota Vikings at Buffalo Bills – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Vikings 7 10 0724
Bills 6 7 6221

at

Orchard Park, New York

  • Date: August 16
  • Game time: 7:30 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: Partly cloudy, 79 °F (26 °C)
  • Game attendance: 46,027
  • Referee: Tom White (123)
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 3: vs. Tennessee Titans

Week 3: Tennessee Titans at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Titans 0 3 0710
Vikings 0 14 0014

at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Game information

Week 4: at Pittsburgh Steelers

Week 4: Minnesota Vikings at Pittsburgh Steelers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Vikings 0 7 0714
Steelers 7 7 3017

at

Game information

Regular season

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance NFL.com
recap
1 September 8 at Chicago Bears L 23–27 0–1
Memorial Stadium
52,168 Recap
2 September 15 Buffalo Bills L 39–45 (OT) 0–2 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 64,047 Recap
3 September 22 Carolina Panthers L 14–21 0–3 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 63,945 Recap
4 September 29 at Seattle Seahawks L 23–48 0–4
Seahawks Stadium
65,212 Recap
5 Bye
6 October 13 Detroit Lions W 31–24 1–4 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 64,013 Recap
7 October 20 at New York Jets L 7–20 1–5 Giants Stadium 78,516 Recap
8 October 27 Chicago Bears W 25–7 2–5 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 64,122 Recap
9 November 3 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 24–38 2–6 Raymond James Stadium 65,667 Recap
10 November 10 New York Giants L 20–27 2–7 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 64,005 Recap
11 November 17 Green Bay Packers W 31–21 3–7 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 64,153 Recap
12 November 24 at New England Patriots L 17–24 3–8 Gillette Stadium 68,436 Recap
13 December 1 Atlanta Falcons L 24–30 (OT) 3–9 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 63,947 Recap
14 December 8 at Green Bay Packers L 22–26 3–10 Lambeau Field 64,070 Recap
15 December 15 at New Orleans Saints W 32–31 4–10
Louisiana Superdome
67,851 Recap
16 December 21 Miami Dolphins W 20–17 5–10 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 64,285 Recap
17 December 29 at Detroit Lions W 38–36 6–10 Ford Field 60,233 Recap

Game summaries

Week 1: at Chicago Bears

Week 1: Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Vikings 3 17 0323
Bears 7 3 31427

at

Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Illinois

Game information

Week 2: vs. Buffalo Bills

Week 2: Buffalo Bills at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Period 1 2 34OTTotal
Bills 6 7 1016645
Vikings 3 10 1313039

at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Game information

Week 3: vs. Carolina Panthers

Week 3: Carolina Panthers at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Panthers 0 0 71421
Vikings 0 7 0714

at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

  • Date: September 22
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT/1:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
  • Game attendance: 63,945
  • Referee: Bernie Kukar (86)
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 4: at Seattle Seahawks

Week 4: Minnesota Vikings at Seattle Seahawks – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Vikings 7 3 7623
Seahawks 14 31 0348

at Seahawks Stadium, Seattle, Washington

  • Date: September 29
  • Game time: 7:35 p.m. CDT/5:35 p.m. PDT
  • Game weather: Sunny, 59 °F (15 °C)
  • Game attendance: 65,212
  • Referee: Dick Hantak (105)
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 6: vs. Detroit Lions

Week 6: Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Lions 14 7 3024
Vikings 3 7 71431

at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Game information

Week 7: at New York Jets

Game information

Week 8: vs. Chicago Bears

Game information