2003 Minnesota Vikings season

Minnesota Vikings
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 C Matt Birk; FS Corey Chavous; QB Daunte Culpepper; WR Randy Moss (injured);
AP All-Pros	2 C Matt Birk (2nd team); WR Randy Moss;

The 2003 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 43rd in the National Football League. They finished second in the NFC North with a 9–7 record, 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. Despite their 9–7 record, they finished second in the division behind the 10–6 Green Bay Packers. The Vikings were officially eliminated from postseason contention with a loss to the Arizona Cardinals on the last play of their final game.

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

2003 Draft

	Pro Bowler

2003 Minnesota Vikings draft
Draft order		Player name	Position	College	Notes
Round	Overall	Player name	Position	College	Notes
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
6	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).

Preseason

Schedule

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

Week 1: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

Week 1: Jacksonville Jaguars at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary

	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

Week 2: Minnesota Vikings at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary

	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

Week 3: Minnesota Vikings at Oakland Raiders – Game summary

	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

Week 4: vs. Arizona Cardinals

Week 4: Arizona Cardinals at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary

	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

Schedule

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

Game summaries

Week 1: at Green Bay Packers

Week 1: Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers – Game summary

	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

Week 2: Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary

	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

Week 3: Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions – Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
Vikings	0	16	7	0	23
Lions	10	0	3	0	13

at Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan

Date: September 21
Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT/1:00 p.m. EDT
Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
Game attendance: 60,865
Referee: Tom White (123)
Recap, Game Book

Game information

Week 4: vs. San Francisco 49ers

Week 4: San Francisco 49ers at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary

	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

Week 5: Minnesota Vikings at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
Vikings	0	12	15	12	39
Falcons	6	14	0	6	26

at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia

Date: October 5
Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT/1:00 p.m. EDT
Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
Game attendance: 70,427
Referee: Ron Blum (7)
Recap, Game Book

Game information

Week 7: vs. Denver Broncos

Week 7: Denver Broncos at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary

	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

Week 8: New York Giants at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary

	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

Week 9: Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary

	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

Week 10: Minnesota Vikings at San Diego Chargers – Game summary

	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

Week 11: Minnesota Vikings at Oakland Raiders – Game summary

	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

Week 12: Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary

	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

Week 13: Minnesota Vikings at St. Louis Rams – Game summary

	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 information

Week 14: vs. Seattle Seahawks

Week 14: Seattle Seahawks at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary

	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

Week 15: Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears – Game summary

	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

Week 16: Kansas City Chiefs at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
Chiefs	0	0	7	13	20
Vikings	7	17	7	14	45

at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Date: December 20
Game time: 4:15 p.m. CST
Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
Game attendance: 64,291
Referee: Ron Blum (7)
Recap, Game Book

Game information

Week 17: at Arizona Cardinals

Week 17: Minnesota Vikings at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary

	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 attendance: 52,734
Referee: Tony Corrente (99)
Recap

Game information

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	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

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

^[2]

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

References

^ Pasquarelli, Len (26 April 2003). "Slow on trigger, Vikings miss pick". ESPN. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
^ 2009 Minnesota Vikings Media Guide. p. 251. Archived from the original on December 24, 2010. Retrieved March 6, 2010.

[1] Pasquarelli, Len (26 April 2003). "Slow on trigger, Vikings miss pick". ESPN. Retrieved 11 April 2014.

[2] 2009 Minnesota Vikings Media Guide. p. 251. Archived from the original on December 24, 2010. Retrieved March 6, 2010.

[a]

[b]

[c]

[1]

[2]