2002 Minnesota Vikings season

2002 Minnesota Vikings season
Head Coach	Mike Tice
Home Field	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
Results
Record	6–10
Place	2nd NFC North
Playoff Finish	did not qualify
Pro Bowlers	2 RB Michael Bennett (alternate) WR Randy Moss (injured)
Timeline
Previous season	Next season
2001	2003

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.

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)

2002 Draft

Main article: 2002 NFL 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
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

Preseason

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

Regular season

Schedule

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

Standings

NFC North
	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	STK
z (3) Green Bay Packers	12	4	0	.750	5–1	9–3	398	328	L1
Minnesota Vikings	6	10	0	.375	4–2	5–7	390	442	W3
Chicago Bears	4	12	0	.250	2–4	3–9	281	379	L2
Detroit Lions	3	13	0	.188	1–5	3–9	306	451	L8

Statistics

File:Walsh Culpepper Birk.JPEG

Coin flip before Minnesota's game at Tampa Bay Buccaneers in week 9, November 3

Team leaders

Category	Player(s)	Value
Passing yards	Daunte Culpepper	3,853
Passing touchdowns	Daunte Culpepper	18
Rushing yards	Michael Bennett	1,296
Rushing touchdowns	Moe Williams	11
Receiving yards	Randy Moss	1,347
Receiving touchdowns	Randy Moss	7
Points	Gary Anderson	90
Kickoff return yards	Moe Williams	516
Punt return yards	Nick Davis	190
Tackles	Greg Biekert	101
Sacks	Lance Johnstone	7
Interceptions	Greg Biekert	4
Forced fumbles	Nick Rogers	3

League rankings

Category	Total yards	Yards per game	NFL rank (out of 32)
Passing offense	3,685	230.3	9th
Rushing offense	2,507	156.7	1st
Total offense	6,192	387.0	2nd
Passing defense	4,103	256.4	29th
Rushing defense	1,666	104.1	10th
Total defense	5,769	360.6	26th

Personnel

Staff

2002 Minnesota Vikings staff
Front Office Owner – Red McCombs President – Gary Woods Vice President of Football Operations – Rob Brzezinski Head Coaches Head Coach – Mike Tice Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Line – George O'Leary Offensive Coaches Offensive Coordinator – Scott Linehan Quarterbacks – Alex Wood Running Backs – Dean Dalton Wide Receivers – Charlie Baggett Tight Ends/Assistant Offensive Line – John Tice Offensive Line – Steve Loney Offensive Assistant/Quality Control – Jim Panagos			Defensive Coaches Defensive Coordinator/Secondary – Willie Shaw Linebackers – Brian Baker Defensive Backfield – Chuck Knox, Jr. Defensive Assistant/Quality Control – Pete Bercich Special Teams Coaches Special Teams – Jay Hayes Strength and Conditioning Strength and Conditioning – Steve Wetzel Assistant Strength and Conditioning – Daryl Lawrence

Final roster

2002 Minnesota Vikings roster
	Quarterbacks  8 Todd Bouman 11 Daunte Culpepper 13 Shaun Hill Running backs 23 Michael Bennett 33 Harold Morrow FB 20 Moe Williams 44 James Wofford Wide receivers 85 D'Wayne Bates 16 Kelly Campbell 17 Nick Davis 89 Cedric James 84 Randy Moss 81 Chris Walsh Tight ends 87 Byron Chamberlain 83 Hunter Goodwin 40 Jim Kleinsasser		Offensive linemen 78 Matt Birk C 71 David Dixon G 64 Michael Early C/G 72 Adam Haayer T 63 Corbin Lacina G 62 Everett Lindsay T 76 Chris Liwienski T 74 Bryant McKinnie T 60 Cory Withrow C Defensive linemen 91 Lorenzo Bromell DE 93 Darius Holland DT 99 Chris Hovan DT 51 Lance Johnstone DE 95 Cedric Killings DT 79 Kenny Mixon DE 98 Fred Robbins DT 94 Chuck Wiley DE		Linebackers 54 Greg Biekert MLB 50 Patrick Chukwurah OLB 52 Henri Crockett OLB 55 Lemanski Hall OLB 58 Nick Rogers OLB 59 Antonio Wilson OLB Defensive backs 26 Ronnie Bradford FS 42 Jack Brewer FS 22 Tyrone Carter CB 21 Corey Chavous CB 25 Eric Kelly CB 24 Willie Offord SS 27 Brian Russell FS 41 Carey Scott CB 29 Brian Williams CB Special teams  1 Gary Anderson K  6 Hayden Epstein K 43 Brody Liddiard LS  5 Kyle Richardson P		Reserve lists 82 Derrick Alexander WR (IR) 34 Doug Chapman RB (IR) 15 Kenny Clark WR (IR) 92 Winfield Garnett DT (IR) 91 Willie Howard DE (IR) 61 Lewis Kelly OG (IR) 97 Talance Sawyer DE (IR) 57 Raonall Smith OLB (IR) 75 Ed Ta'amu G (IR) Practice squad 47 Jeremy Allen FB 49 Jeff Kostrewa TE 69 Kenny Sandlin C Rookies in italics 53 Active, 9 Inactive, 1 Practice squad

External links

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