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Minnesota Vikings seasons, 1988 National Football League season by team, 1988 in sports in Minnesota

1988 Minnesota Vikings season

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1988 Minnesota Vikings season
Head Coach Jerry Burns
General Manager Mike Lynn
Home Field Metrodome
Results
Record 11–5
Place 2nd NFC Central
Playoff Finish Won NFC Wild Card Playoff (Rams) 28–17
Lost NFC Divisional Playoff (at 49ers) 9–34
Timeline
Previous season Next season
1987 1989

The 1988 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 28th in the National Football League. They finished with an 11–5 record, and finished second to the Chicago Bears in the NFC Central division.

The Vikings had one of the best defenses in the NFL in 1988. The team allowed 4,091 total yards, 4.3 yards per play, and 243 first downs, all best in the league. The Vikings also had a league-best 53 takeaways.[1] Opposing quarterbacks had a league-worst 41.2 passer rating against the Vikings' defense, the lowest total of the 1980s and fifth all-time for the Super Bowl era.[2]

The Vikings made the postseason for the second consecutive time under coach Jerry Burns. They defeated the Los Angeles Rams in the Wildcard round, but the following week, the Vikings couldn't flick the switch this time, losing 34–9 to the rejuvenated San Francisco 49ers, who would go on to win their third Super Bowl. This was the last time the Vikings had won a playoff game until 1997.

OffseasonEdit

1988 DraftEdit

Main article: 1988 NFL draft
Hall of Famer
1988 Minnesota Vikings Draft
Draft order Player name Position College Notes
Round Selection
1 19 Randall McDaniel Guard Arizona State
2 45 Traded to the Denver Broncos[a]
54 Brad Edwards Defensive back South Carolina from Broncos[a]
3 71 Al Noga Defensive end Hawaii
4 97 Traded to the New England Patriots[b]
108 Todd Kalis Guard Arizona State from Broncos[a]
5 124 Darrell Fullington Defensive back Miami
6 156 Traded to the Miami Dolphins[c]
164 Derrick White Defensive back Oklahoma from Broncos[a]
7 183 Brad Beckman Tight end Nebraska–Omaha
8 210 Joe Cain Linebacker Oregon Tech
9 237 Paul McGowan Linebacker Florida State
10 264 Brian Habib Offensive tackle Washington
11 296 Norman Floyd Safety South Carolina from Vikings[b] via Patriots[d]
12 323 Traded to the New York Giants[e]
^[a] The Vikings traded their second-round selection (45th overall) to the Denver Broncos in exchange for Denver's second-, fourth- and sixth-round selections (54th, 108th and 164th overall).
^[b] The Vikings traded their fourth- and 11th-round selections (97th and 294th overall) to the New England Patriots for QB Rich Gannon.
^[c] The Vikings traded their sixth-round selection (156th overall) and 1989 10th-round selection (275th overall) to the Miami Dolphins for OL Greg Koch.
^[d] The Vikings traded their 1989 ninth-round selection to the New England Patriots in exchange for the 11th-round selection that the Patriots received in the Gannon trade (296th overall).[b]
^[e] The Vikings traded their 12th-round selection (323rd overall) to the New York Giants in exchange for C Chris Foote.

Supplemental DraftEdit

Round Name Position College Notes
5 Ryan Bethea Wide receiver South Carolina Resulted in forfeiture of 1989 fifth-round selection

PersonnelEdit

StaffEdit

1988 Minnesota Vikings staff
Front office

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

  • Offensive coordinator – Bob Schnelker
  • Receivers – Dick Rehbein
  • Offensive assistant/receivers – Jerry Brown
  • Running backs – John Brunner
  • Tight ends – Tom Batta
  • Offensive line – John Michels
Defensive coaches

{{{defensive}}}

Special teams coaches

  • Special teams – Tom Batta


[3]

Final rosterEdit

1988 Minnesota Vikings roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists


Practice squad



Rookies in italics
 49 Active, 2 Inactive, 0 Practice squad

PreseasonEdit

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance [1] Notes
1 August 7 New Orleans Saints L 20–23 0–1 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 47,624
2 August 14 Chicago Bears W 28–21 1–1 Ullevi Stadium (Göteborg, Sweden) 33,115 Volvo American Football Classic
3 August 21 at Phoenix Cardinals W 19–16 (OT) 2–1 Sun Devil Stadium 45,429
4 August 26 Miami Dolphins W 24–17 3–1 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 51,463

Regular seasonEdit

File:1988 NFC Wild Card Game - Los Angeles Rams at Minnesota Vikings 1988-12-26 (ticket).jpg

ScheduleEdit

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance
1 September 4 at Buffalo Bills L 10–12 0–1 Rich Stadium 76,783
2 September 11 New England Patriots W 36–6 1–1 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 55,545
3 September 18 at Chicago Bears W 31–7 2–1 Soldier Field 63,990
4 September 25 Philadelphia Eagles W 23–21 3–1 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 56,012
5 October 2 at Miami Dolphins L 7–24 3–2 Joe Robbie Stadium 59,867
6 October 9 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 14–13 4–2 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 55,274
7 October 16 Green Bay Packers L 14–34 4–3 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 59,053
8 October 23 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 49–20 5–3 Tampa Stadium 48,020
9 October 30 at San Francisco 49ers L 21–24 5–4 Candlestick Park 60,738
10 November 6 Detroit Lions W 44–17 6–4 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 55,573
11 November 13 at Dallas Cowboys W 43–3 7–4 Texas Stadium 57,830
12 November 20 Indianapolis Colts W 12–3 8–4 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 58,342
13 November 24 at Detroit Lions W 23–0 9–4 Silverdome 46,379
14 December 4 New Orleans Saints W 45–3 10–4 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 61,215
15 December 11 at Green Bay Packers L 6–18 10–5 Lambeau Field 48,892
16 December 19 Chicago Bears W 28–27 11–5 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 62,067

Game summariesEdit

Week 11: Minnesota Vikings at Dallas Cowboys – Game summary
1 2 3 4 Total
Vikings 17 0 17 9

43

Cowboys 0 3 0 0

3

at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas

Game information

First quarter

Second quarter

  • DAL – Roger Ruzek 50-yard field goal. Vikings 17–3.

Third quarter

  • MIN – Hassan Jones 64-yard pass from Wade Wilson (Chuck Nelson kick). Vikings 24–3.
  • MIN – Chuck Nelson 27-yard field goal. Vikings 27–3.
  • MIN – Steve Jordan 3-yard pass from Wade Wilson (Chuck Nelson kick). Vikings 34–3.

Fourth quarter

Top passers

Top rushers

Top receivers

StandingsEdit

Template:1988 NFC Central standings

PlayoffsEdit

See also: 1988–89 NFL playoffs

ScheduleEdit

Week Date Opponent (seed) Result Record Venue Attendance
Wild Card December 26 Los Angeles Rams (5) W 28–17 1–0 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 57,666
Divisional January 1 San Francisco 49ers (2) L 9–34 1–1 Candlestick Park 61,848

Game summariesEdit

NFC Wild Card: vs. (#5) Los Angeles RamsEdit

NFC Wild Card Playoff: (#5) Los Angeles Rams at (#4) Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
1 2 3 4 Total
Rams 0 7 3 7

17

Vikings 14 0 7 7

28

at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Game information

First quarter

Second quarter

Third quarter

  • MIN – Alfred Anderson 1-yard run (Chuck Nelson kick). Vikings 21–7.
  • LAR – Mike Lansford 33-yard field goal. Vikings 21–10.

Fourth quarter

  • MIN – Carl Hilton 5-yard pass from Wade Wilson (Chuck Nelson kick). Vikings 28–10.
  • LAR – Pete Holohan 11-yard pass from Jim Everett (Mike Lansford kick). Vikings 28–17.

Top passers

Top rushers

Top receivers

NFC Divisional Playoffs: at (#2) San Francisco 49ersEdit

NFC Divisional Playoff: (#4) Minnesota Vikings at (#2) San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
1 2 3 4 Total
Vikings 3 0 6 0

9

49ers 7 14 0 13

34

at Candlestick Park, San Francisco

Game information

First quarter

Second quarter

  • SF – Jerry Rice 4-yard pass from Joe Montana (Mike Cofer kick). 49ers 14–3.
  • SF – Jerry Rice 11-yard pass from Joe Montana (Mike Cofer kick). 49ers 21–3.

Third quarter

Fourth quarter

  • SF – Roger Craig 4-yard run (Mike Cofer kick). 49ers 28–9.
  • SF – Roger Craig 80-yard run (kick failed). 49ers 34–9.

Top passers

Top rushers

Top receivers

StatisticsEdit

Team leadersEdit

Category Player(s) Value
Passing yards Wade Wilson 2,746
Passing touchdowns Wade Wilson 15
Rushing yards Darrin Nelson 380
Rushing touchdowns Alfred Anderson 7
Receiving yards Anthony Carter 1,225
Receiving touchdowns Anthony Carter 6
Points Chuck Nelson 108
Kickoff return yards Darryl Harris 833
Punt return yards Leo Lewis 550 *
Tackles Jesse Solomon 124
Sacks Chris Doleman
Keith Millard 		8.0
Interceptions Carl Lee 8
Forced fumbles Henry Thomas 4

* Vikings single season record

League rankingsEdit

Category Total yards Yards per game NFL rank
(out of 28)
Passing offense 3,789 236.8 4th
Rushing offense 1,806 112.9 20th
Total offense 5,595 349.7 7th
Passing defense 2,489 155.6 2nd
Rushing defense 1,602 100.1 5th
Total defense 4,091 255.7 1st

ReferencesEdit

  1. ↑ Pro-Football-Reference.com: 1988 NFL Opposition & Defensive Statistics
  2. ↑ Cold Hard Football Facts: Shutdown! The greatest pass defenses in history
  3. ↑ 2010 Minnesota Vikings Media Guide. p. 265. http://www.vikings.com/news/media-guide.html. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
v · d · eMinnesota Vikings
Founded in 1961 • Based in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Franchise
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Metropolitan Stadium • Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
Proposed: New Vikings Stadium

Temporary stadiums due to Metrodome roof collapse: Ford Field • TCF Bank Stadium
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1988 NFL Draft • NFL Playoffs • Pro Bowl • Super Bowl XXIII

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