2000 Minnesota Vikings season

The 2000 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 40th in the National Football League. They won the NFC Central division title with an 11–5 record and beat the New Orleans Saints in the divisional round of the playoffs before losing 41–0 to the New York Giants in the NFC Championship Game.

2000 Minnesota Vikings season
Head coachDennis Green
Home fieldHubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
Results
Record11–5
Division place1st NFC Central
Playoff finishWon NFC Divisional Playoff (Saints) 34–16
Lost NFC Championship Game (Giants) 0–41
Pro Bowlers5

After not retaining either Randall Cunningham or Jeff George, the team was led by first-year starting quarterback Daunte Culpepper and running back Robert Smith, who ran for a then team record 1,521 yards and seven touchdowns. The Vikings started out 7–0 and were 11–2 after 14 weeks, but slumped briefly, losing their last three to the Rams, Packers and Colts while Culpepper was hampered by injury.

Despite the rough patch, the Vikings would return to the playoffs again for the fifth straight year. After easily beating the Saints in the Divisional game 34–16, they were defeated 41–0 by the New York Giants in the Conference Championship, and to top that, Robert Smith retired at the end of the year, after only playing eight NFL seasons. It would be 2004 before the Vikings returned to the playoffs.

After a contract dispute, Hall of Fame defensive tackle John Randle was let go after 11 seasons with the Vikings. Randle had only eight sacks this year, ending a streak of eight consecutive seasons with 10+ sacks.

Seven Vikings including Culpepper, Moss, Carter, Smith, Korey Stringer, Robert Griffith and Matt Birk were selected to play in the Pro Bowl after the season. It was Stringer's only Pro Bowl appearance before his death in 2001.

Offseason
AdditionsSubtractions
T Brad Badger (Redskins)QB Randall Cunningham (Cowboys)
QB Bubby Brister (Broncos)QB Jeff George (Redskins)
TE Johnny McWilliams (Cardinals)TE Andrew Glover (Saints)
QB Scott Mitchell (Ravens)
DE Bryce Paup (Jaguars)
LB Craig Sauer (Falcons)
CB Cris Dishman (Chiefs)

2000 Draft
Main article: 2000 NFL Draft
2000 Minnesota Vikings Draft
Draft order Player name Position College Notes
Round Selection
125 Chris HovanDefensive tackleBoston
255 Fred RobbinsDefensive tackleWake Forest
56 Michael BoireauDefensive endUniversity of Miamifrom Redskins[a]
388 Doug ChapmanRunning backMarshall
4106 Antonio WilsonLinebackerTexas A&Mfrom Ravens[b]
118 Tyrone CarterSafetyMinnesota
5155 Surrendered to the Washington Redskins[c]
165 Troy WaltersWide receiverStanfordCompensatory pick
6191 Traded to the Baltimore Ravens[b]
7232 Traded to the Cleveland Browns[d]
240 Mike MilanoCenterSan Diego StateCompensatory pick
244 Giles ColeTight endTexasCompensatory pick
248 Lewis KellyGuardSouth Carolina StateCompensatory pick
^[a] During the 1999 NFL Draft, Washington traded their 1999 first-round selection (11th overall), 1999 third-round selection (73rd overall) and 2000 second-round selection (56th overall) to Minnesota in exchange for QB Brad Johnson.
^[b] The details of these trades are unknown but may involve Baltimore's acquisition of OL Everett Lindsay from Minnesota.
^[c] Washington received this selection as compensation for restricted free agent G Brad Badger.
^[d] Minnesota traded their seventh-round selection (232nd overall) to Cleveland for DT Jerry Ball.

Undrafted free agents
2000 Undrafted Free Agents of note
Player Position College
Billy Cockerham Quarterback Minnesota

Preseason
WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueAttendance[1]
1August 5New Orleans SaintsL 24–250–1Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome63,445
2August 12at San Diego ChargersL 7–310–2Qualcomm Stadium43,805
3August 18Arizona CardinalsW 35–171–2Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome63,563
4August 24at Indianapolis ColtsL 30–321–3RCA Dome51,337

Regular season

Schedule
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance
1 September 3 Chicago Bears W 30–27 1–0 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 64,104
2 September 10 Miami Dolphins W 13–7 2–0 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 64,112
3 September 17 at New England Patriots W 21–13 3–0 Foxboro Stadium 59,835
4 Bye
5 October 1 at Detroit Lions W 31–24 4–0 Silverdome 76,438
6 October 9 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 30–23 5–0 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 64,162
7 October 15 at Chicago Bears W 28–16 6–0 Soldier Field 66,944
8 October 22 Buffalo Bills W 31–27 7–0 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 64,116
9 October 29 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 13–41 7–1 Raymond James Stadium 65,589
10 November 6 at Green Bay Packers L 20–26 (OT) 7–2 Lambeau Field 59,854
11 November 12 Arizona Cardinals W 31–14 8–2 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 64,223
12 November 19 Carolina Panthers W 31–17 9–2 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 64,208
13 November 23 at Dallas Cowboys W 27–15 10–2 Texas Stadium 63,878
14 November 30 Detroit Lions W 24–17 11–2 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 64,214
15 December 10 at St. Louis Rams L 29–40 11–3 TWA Dome 66,273
16 December 17 Green Bay Packers L 28–33 11–4 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 64,183
17 December 24 at Indianapolis Colts L 10–31 11–5 RCA Dome 56,672

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Week 10: at Green Bay Packers
See also: 2000 Green Bay Packers season
Week 10: Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers
1 2 34OTTotal
Vikings 3 10 70020
Packers 0 10 100626

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

Standings
NFC Central
W L T PCT PF PA STK
(2) Minnesota Vikings 1150.688397371L3
(5) Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1060.625388269L1
Green Bay Packers 970.563353323W4
Detroit Lions 970.563307307L1
Chicago Bears 5110.313216355W1

Postseason

NFC Divisional Playoffs
NFC Divisional Playoffs: (#3) New Orleans Saints at (#2) Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Saints 3 0 7616
Vikings 10 7 10734

at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

NFC Championship Game
NFC Divisional Playoffs: (#2) Minnesota Vikings at (#1) New York Giants – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Vikings 0 0 000
Giants 14 20 7041

at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

Statistics

Team leaders
Category Player(s) Total
Passing yardsDaunte Culpepper3,937
Passing touchdownsDaunte Culpepper33
Rushing yardsRobert Smith1,521
Rushing touchdownsRobert Smith
Daunte Culpepper		7
Receiving yardsRandy Moss1,437
Receiving touchdownsRandy Moss15
PointsGary Anderson111
Kickoff return yardsTroy Walters692
Punt return yardsTroy Walters217
TacklesEd McDaniel118
SacksJohn Randle8
InterceptionsRobert Tate
Kailee Wong		2
Forced fumblesJohn Randle
Robert Tate		2

League rankings
Category Total yards Yards per game NFL rank
(out of 31)
Passing offense3,832239.57th
Rushing offense2,129133.16th
Total offense5,961372.65th
Passing defense3,913244.628th
Rushing defense1,788111.815th
Total defense5,701356.328th

Staff
2000 Minnesota Vikings staff
Front office

Head coaches

  • Head Coach – Dennis Green
  • Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Backs – Richard Solomon

Offensive coaches

 Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning

  • Strength and Conditioning – Steve Wetzel
  • Assistant Strength and Conditioning – Daryl Lawrence

[2]

Roster
2000 Minnesota Vikings final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

 Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

 Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

 Reserve lists


Practice squad

  •  5 Billy Cockerham WR
  • 67 Jay Humphrey T
  • 68 Nick O'Brien G
  • 92 Antwone Young DE


Rookies in italics
 54 active, 4 inactive, 1 practice squad

Awards and records
  • Gary Anderson, NFC Special Teams Player of the Week, Week 8 [3]
  • Mitch Berger, NFC Special Teams Player of the Week, Week 14 [3]
  • Mitch Berger, NFC Special Teams Player of the Month, December [3]
  • Cris Carter, All-NFL Team (as selected by the Associated Press, Pro Football Weekly and the Pro Football Writers of America)[3]
  • Cris Carter, NFC Pro Bowl Selection[4]
  • Daunte Culpepper, NFC Offensive Player of the Week, Week 6[3]
  • Daunte Culpepper, NFC Offensive Player of the Week, Week 12[3]
  • Chris Hovan, PFW/Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie Team
  • Randy Moss, All-NFL Team (as selected by the Associated Press, Pro Football Weekly and the Pro Football Writers of America)[3]
  • Randy Moss, PFW/PFWA All-Pro Team[5]
  • Robert Smith, NFC Offensive Player of the Month, December[3]

40-year team

The team recognized an all-time team in 2000 by announcing the 40th-season all-time team.

VIKINGS 40TH SEASON ALL-TIME TEAM 1961–2000

  • OFFENSE
  • WRs: Ahmad Rashad, Cris Carter
  • Ts: Ron Yary, Tim Irwin
  • Gs: Ed White, Randall McDaniel
  • C: Mick Tingelhoff
  • TE: Steve Jordan
  • QB: Fran Tarkenton
  • RBs: Chuck Foreman, Robert Smith
  • K: Fred Cox
  • Special Teams Coverage: Bill Brown
  • DEFENSE
  • DEs: Jim Marshall, Carl Eller
  • DTs: Alan Page, John Randle
  • LBs: Jeff Siemon, Matt Blair, Scott Studwell
  • Ss: Paul Krause, Joey Browner
  • CBs: Bobby Bryant, Carl Lee
  • P: Greg Coleman
  • Special Teams Returns: Darrin Nelson
  • Head Coach: Bud Grant

References
  2. 2009 Minnesota Vikings Media Guide. p. 251. Archived from the original on 2010-12-24. Retrieved 2010-03-06.
  3. NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing, New York, NY, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2, p. 202
  4. NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing, New York, NY, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2, p. 362
  5. NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, NY, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2, p. 203
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