The
2016 season was the
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis. They compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the National Football Conference (NFC) North division. Founded in 1960 as an expansio ...
' 56th in the
National Football League
The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the ma ...
and their third under
head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other Coach (sport), coaches. In some sports, the head coach is instead called the "manage ...
Mike Zimmer
Michael Zimmer (born June 5, 1956) is an American football coach for the Colorado Buffaloes. Prior to this, Zimmer was with Jackson State, both college programs being led by Deion Sanders. He previously also served as the head coach of the Minn ...
. After starting the season with five consecutive wins prior to their bye week, the Vikings managed just three victories after the bye and were eliminated from playoff contention in Week 16 with a 38–25 road loss to the Packers. They joined the
1978 Redskins,
1993 Saints,
2003 Vikings,
2009 Broncos,
2009 Giants and
2015 Falcons in missing the playoffs after starting 5–0 or better. The Vikings are the only NFL team to have more than once started 5–0 or better and missed the playoffs.
The team's new stadium,
U.S. Bank Stadium
U.S. Bank Stadium is an enclosed stadium located in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. Built on the former site of the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, the indoor stadium opened in 2016 and is the home of the Minnesota Vikings of the National Footbal ...
in
Minneapolis
Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with list of lakes in Minneapolis, thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. ...
, opened at the start of the season, with a regular season debut victory on September 18 against division rival
Green Bay on ''
NBC Sunday Night Football
''NBC Sunday Night Football'' (abbreviated as ''SNF'') is an American weekly television broadcast of National Football League (NFL) games on NBC and Peacock (streaming service), Peacock in the United States. It began airing on August 6, 2006, wit ...
''. It was built on the site of the
Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome (commonly called the Metrodome) was a domed sports stadium located in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. It opened in 1982 as a replacement for Metropolitan Stadium, the former home of the National Football League' ...
, the team's home from
1982
Events January
* January 1 – In Malaysia and Singapore, clocks are adjusted to the same time zone, UTC+8 (GMT+8.00).
* January 13 – Air Florida Flight 90 crashes shortly after takeoff into the 14th Street Bridge in Washington, D.C., Un ...
through
2013
File:2013 Events Collage V2.png, From left, clockwise: Edward Snowden becomes internationally famous for leaking classified NSA wiretapping information; Typhoon Haiyan kills over 6,000 in the Philippines and Southeast Asia; The Dhaka garment ...
. The Vikings played at the outdoor
TCF Bank Stadium
Huntington Bank Stadium (formerly known as TCF Bank Stadium) is an outdoor stadium located on the campus of the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. The stadium opened in 2009, after three years of construction. It is ...
at the
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, formally the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, (UMN Twin Cities, the U of M, or Minnesota) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Tw ...
in
2014
File:2014 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Stocking up supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) for the Western African Ebola virus epidemic; Citizens examining the ruins after the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping; Bundles of wat ...
and
2015
File:2015 Events Collage new.png, From top left, clockwise: Civil service in remembrance of November 2015 Paris attacks; Germanwings Flight 9525 was purposely crashed into the French Alps; the rubble of residences in Kathmandu following the April ...
.
On August 30, starting quarterback
Teddy Bridgewater
Theodore Edmond Bridgewater Jr. (born November 10, 1992) is an American football quarterback for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL).
Born and raised in Miami, Miami, Florida, he graduated from Miami Northwestern Senior Hi ...
suffered a season-ending ACL tear and dislocated knee on a non-contact play during team practice. Originally, it was reported that Bridgewater's injury would keep him out for around a year and a half, and on January 27, 2017, it was reported that it was possible he could also miss the entire 2017 season. The extent of Bridgewater's injury prompted the Vikings to make a trade with the
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia. The Eagles compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) East division. The team play ...
for former number 1 draft pick
Sam Bradford
Samuel Jacob Bradford (born November 8, 1987) is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for nine seasons, most notably with the St. Louis Rams and Minnesota Vikings. He was also a member of the ...
, giving up a first-round pick in the
2017 NFL Draft
The 2017 NFL Draft was the 82nd annual meeting of National Football League (NFL) franchises to select newly eligible American football players. It was held in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art on April 27–29, returning to Philadelphia ...
and a conditional fourth-round pick in the 2018 Draft in exchange.
Adrian Peterson
Adrian Lewis Peterson (born March 21, 1985) is an American football running back who is a free agent. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest running backs in football history. He played college football at Oklahoma, where he set t ...
's season was also hit by injury after he tore the meniscus in his right knee in the home opener against the Packers. On September 22, Peterson underwent successful surgery to repair the meniscus. It was also revealed that the knee had a mild LCL sprain, but it did not need surgery. He was placed on injured reserve on September 23, 2016, and reactivated on December 17,
but only made six rushing attempts before leaving the game, ending his season. Peterson left the team at the end of the season, ending his 10-year tenure with the Vikings.
Offseason
Draft
Draft trades
Roster changes
Preseason
Schedule
The Vikings' preseason opponents and schedule were announced April 7.
Game summaries
Week 1: at Cincinnati Bengals
Week 2: at Seattle Seahawks
Week 3: vs. San Diego Chargers
Week 4: vs. Los Angeles Rams
Regular season
Schedule
*Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1: at Tennessee Titans
Shaun Hill
Shaun Christopher Hill (born January 9, 1980) is a former American football quarterback who played 15 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He was signed by the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2002. He played college f ...
started at quarterback in the team's first game, as Sam Bradford was rested until the second game.
Week 2: vs. Green Bay Packers
Sam Bradford made his first start for the Vikings in week 2 against the Packers just 15 days after being traded. Despite not having much time to learn the offense, Bradford outplayed
Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Charles Rodgers (born December 2, 1983) is an American football quarterback for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). Rodgers began his college football career at Butte College in 2002 before transferring to t ...
but ended up hurting his left hand in the first half due to a hit by
Clay Matthews Clay Matthews may refer to any one of three generations of American football players:
* Clay Matthews Sr. (1928–2017), former offensive tackle for the San Francisco 49ers
* Clay Matthews Jr. (born 1956), former linebacker for the Cleveland Browns ...
. Bradford finished the game completing 22-of-31 passes for 286 yards and two touchdowns, helping lead the Vikings to their first win in their
new stadium.
Week 3: at Carolina Panthers
Week 4: vs. New York Giants
Week 5: vs. Houston Texans
Week 7: at Philadelphia Eagles
Sam Bradford faces his former team for the first time after he was traded from the Eagles prior to the start of the season. The Vikings streak came to a halt as they lost the game 21-10.
Week 8: at Chicago Bears
Week 9: vs. Detroit Lions
Although it was Stefon Diggs' big day, having caught 13 passes for 80 yards, it wasn't enough as the Vikings dropped 5-3.
Week 10: at Washington Redskins
This was the last game for Blair Walsh in a Vikings uniform as he was released days after this game.
Week 11: vs. Arizona Cardinals
Week 12: at Detroit Lions
;
NFL on Thanksgiving Day
Since its inception in 1920, the National Football League (NFL) has played games on Thanksgiving Day, patterned upon the historic playing of college football games on and around the Thanksgiving holiday. The NFL's Thanksgiving Day games have tra ...
Week 13: vs. Dallas Cowboys
Head coach
Mike Zimmer
Michael Zimmer (born June 5, 1956) is an American football coach for the Colorado Buffaloes. Prior to this, Zimmer was with Jackson State, both college programs being led by Deion Sanders. He previously also served as the head coach of the Minn ...
missed this game after undergoing emergency eye surgery the night before. Special teams coordinator
Mike Priefer
Mike Priefer (born August 21, 1966) is an American football coach who is the special teams coordinator for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League. He has almost two decades of pro coaching experience.
Priefer has held coaching posi ...
served as interim coach for the game.
Week 14: at Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 15: vs. Indianapolis Colts
Adrian Peterson
Adrian Lewis Peterson (born March 21, 1985) is an American football running back who is a free agent. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest running backs in football history. He played college football at Oklahoma, where he set t ...
returned to action and had six carries for 22 yards against the Colts.
This was the last game he'd ever play for the Vikings.
Week 16: at Green Bay Packers
With the loss, the Vikings dropped to 7–8 and were officially eliminated from postseason contention. The loss also made the Vikings the first team to twice start 5–0 or better, and on both occasions miss the playoffs (they also missed the playoffs in
2003
File:2003 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: The crew of STS-107 perished when the Space Shuttle Columbia Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, disintegrated during reentry into Atmosphere of Earth, Earth's atmosphere; SARS became an 2002– ...
after starting 6–0).
Week 17: vs. Chicago Bears
Standings
Division
Conference
Staff
Pro Bowl
Five Vikings were selected for the
2017 Pro Bowl
The 2017 Pro Bowl (branded as the 2017 Pro Bowl presented by Aquafina for sponsorship reasons) was the National Football League's all-star game for the 2016 season, which was played at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida, on January 29, 2 ...
: defensive end
Everson Griffen
Everson Griffen (born December 22, 1987) is an American football defensive end who is a free agent. A graduate of Agua Fria High School, Griffen attended and played college football at USC. He was selected by the Vikings in the fourth round of ...
, defensive tackle
Linval Joseph
Linval Clement Joseph (born October 10, 1988) is an American football defensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at East Carolina. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the ...
, return specialist
Cordarrelle Patterson
Cordarrelle Patterson ( ; born March 17, 1991), nicknamed "Flash", is an American football player for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). A versatile utility player, he plays running back, wide receiver, return specialis ...
, cornerback
Xavier Rhodes
Xavier Rhodes (born June 19, 1990) is an American football cornerback for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Florida State, and was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round (25th o ...
and free safety
Harrison Smith
Harrison Smith (born February 2, 1989) is an American football safety (gridiron football position), safety for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Notre Dame Fighting Irish football, Notre D ...
. Rhodes played in his first Pro Bowl, while Griffen, Patterson and Smith participated in their second; Patterson was the first return specialist in Vikings history to go to two Pro Bowls.
Linval Joseph
Linval Clement Joseph (born October 10, 1988) is an American football defensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at East Carolina. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the ...
replaced Rams defensive tackle
Aaron Donald
Aaron Charles Donald (born May 23, 1991) is an American football defensive tackle for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Pittsburgh, where he received unanimous All-American honors, and wa ...
.
Roster
Statistics
Team leaders
Source: Minnesota Vikings' official website
League rankings
Source: NFL.com.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Minnesota Vikings season, 2016
2016 National Football League season by team
2016
2016 in sports in Minnesota