The 1998 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 38th in the National Football League (NFL), and their seventh under head coach Dennis Green. The Vikings became the third team in NFL history to win 15 games during the regular season,The others were the 1984 San Francisco 49ers and the 1985 Chicago Bears. which earned them the National Football Conference (NFC) Central division championship and the first overall seed in the NFC playoffs. The team entered the playoffs as the favorite to win Super Bowl XXXIII, but their season ended when they were upset by the Atlanta Falcons 30–27 in the 1998 NFC Championship Game.
The 1998 Vikings team is known for its offense, which featured veteran quarterback Randall Cunningham, running back Robert Smith, and Hall of Fame wide receivers Cris Carter and rookie Randy Moss. The team scored an NFL record 556 points during the season, and Moss set an NFL record by catching 17 touchdown passes, the most ever by a rookie. On special teams, Gary Anderson became the first placekicker in NFL history to convert every field goal and extra point he attempted. The Vikings defense ranked sixth in the league in points allowed and was led by Hall of Fame defensive tackle John Randle.
In the NFC Championship Game, which was the first for the franchise in 11 years, Gary Anderson missed a field goal for the first time that season. Had the field goal been converted, it would have given the Vikings a nearly insurmountable 10-point lead late in the game. Instead, the Falcons tied the game on their ensuing drive and won by a field goal in sudden death overtime.
The 1998 Vikings were the first NFL team to compile a regular season record of 15–1 and not reach the Super Bowl. Their loss in the NFC Championship Game is also considered by their fans to be one of the most devastating losses in NFL history.
The 1998 Vikings are widely regarded as the greatest team in NFL history to not make the Super Bowl.
Despite the team's dominance during the regular season, the Vikings only faced three teams that finished with a winning record: the Packers, the Jaguars (each of whom finished 11–5) and the Cowboys (who finished 10–6).
Offseason Additions Subtractions K Gary Anderson (49ers) CB Dewayne Washington (Steelers) LB Ron George (Chiefs) LB Jeff Brady (Panthers)
1998 draft
Pro BowlerPro Football Hall of Fame
1998 Minnesota Vikings Draft Draft order Player name Position College Notes Round Selection121Randy MossWide receiverMarshall251Kailee WongLinebackerStanford380Ramos McDonaldCornerbackNew Mexico4110Kivuusama MaysLinebackerNorth Carolina5144Kerry CooksSafetyIowa6173Matt BirkOffensive tackleHarvard7208Chester BurnettLinebackerArizona225Tony DardenCornerbackTexas TechCompensatory pick
Undrafted free agents
+ 1998 undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegeCorey BridgesWide receiverSouth CarolinaRyan CollinsTight endSt. Thomas (Minnesota)Cory WithrowCenterWashington State
Staff
Roster
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 August 9 at New England Patriots W 28–0 1–0 Foxboro Stadium 54,111 2 Kansas City Chiefs W 34–0 2–0 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 60,955 3 at Carolina Panthers W 25–22 3–0 Ericsson Stadium 64,569 4 San Diego Chargers W 42–28 4–0 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 62,127
Regular season
Prior to the start of the 1998 season, the Vikings were sold to Red McCombs. The NFL had not been happy with the Vikings' ownership arrangement of 10 owners with none owning more than 30 per cent. The ownership decided to sell the club. At first it appeared that Tom Clancy would become the new owner. However, his attempt to buy the team fell through. So in July 1998, the team was sold to McCombs, who was from San Antonio, Texas.
1998 was a year to remember for the Minnesota Vikings. With a spectacular offense led by quarterback Randall Cunningham, who had the best year of his NFL career, running back Robert Smith, veteran wide receiver Cris Carter, and explosive rookie Randy Moss, the Vikings set a then-NFL record by scoring a total of 556 points, never scoring fewer than 24 in a game. The Vikings finished the season 15–1, their only loss by three points to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in week nine. 12 of their 15 wins came by a margin of at least 10 points.
According to Football Outsiders, "The Vikings led the league with 52 plays of 25+ yards. They had 22 offensive plays of 40+ yards; no other team had more than 16 plays of that length."
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 September 6 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 31–7 1–0 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 62,538 2 September 13 at St. Louis Rams W 38–31 2–0 Trans World Dome 56,234 3 September 20 Detroit Lions W 29–6 3–0 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 63,107 4 September 27 at Chicago Bears W 31–28 4–0 Soldier Field 57,783 5 at Green Bay Packers W 37–24 5–0 Lambeau Field 59,849 6 Bye 7 October 18 Washington Redskins W 41–7 6–0 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 64,004 8 October 25 at Detroit Lions W 34–13 7–0 Pontiac Silverdome 77,885 9 November 1 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 24–27 7–1 Raymond James Stadium 64,979 10 November 8 New Orleans Saints W 31–24 8–1 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 63,779 11 November 15 Cincinnati Bengals W 24–3 9–1 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 64,232 12 November 22 Green Bay Packers W 28–14 10–1 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 64,471 13 November 26 at Dallas Cowboys W 46–36 11–1 Texas Stadium 64,366 14 December 6 Chicago Bears W 48–22 12–1 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 64,247 15 December 13 at Baltimore Ravens W 38–28 13–1 Ravens Stadium at Camden Yards 69,074 16 December 20 Jacksonville Jaguars W 50–10 14–1 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 64,363 17 at Tennessee Oilers W 26–16 15–1 Vanderbilt Stadium 41,121 Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries Week 1: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Cris Carter and rookie Randy Moss caught two touchdowns apiece as the Vikings routed the Bucs 31–7 despite being outgained in yards 319 to 298.
Week 2: at St. Louis Rams
Brad Johnson was intercepted twice and eventually knocked out of the game; his replacement Randall Cunningham threw a late touchdown to Cris Carter. Robert Smith rushed for 179 yards and two touchdowns as the Rams stayed within a touchdown despite four Tony Banks interceptions. A last-minute goalline stand by the Vikings sealed a 38–31 win.
Week 3: vs. Detroit Lions
Cunningham made his first start of the season and threw for 220 yards and a five-yard score to Randy Moss. The game was mostly a Gary Anderson field goal exhibition as he booted five field goals plus two PATs, the second on Leroy Hoard's 11-yard rushing touchdown in the Vikings 29–6 win.
Week 4: at Chicago Bears
Cunningham and Erik Kramer of the Bears squared off in a spirited duel. Cunningham's four touchdowns (to Smith, Andrew Glover, Carter, and Moss) were answered by Kramer's four scores (to Bobby Engram, Chris Penn, and Ryan Wetnight). The Vikings got the better of the duel as they intercepted Kramer once and won 31–28.
Week 5: at Green Bay Packers
Randall Cunningham and Randy Moss unleashed a passing clinic on Monday Night at Lambeau Field as Cunningham tossed for 442 yards and Moss caught five passes for 190 yards and two scores (Moss also had a 75-yard touchdown reception called back due to holding). Cris Carter added eight for 119 yards as the Vikings also intercepted Brett Favre three times; backup Doug Pederson took over and threw two scores in the fourth quarter, but they did nothing to assuage a 37–24 Vikings win.
Week 7: vs. Washington Redskins
Week 8: at Detroit Lions
Week 9: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Vikings' quest for perfection ended as Warrick Dunn and Mike Alstott ran for 243 rushing yards and two scores. Two Cunningham touchdown throws put the Vikings up 24–17 until Alstott's score in the fourth quarter proved the key to Tampa's 27–24 upset of the Vikings. The win was the third in six tries for Bucs coach Tony Dungy over his former boss Dennis Green.
Week 10: vs. New Orleans Saints
Cunningham threw only two passes against New Orleans and Brad Johnson came off the bench to throw for 316 yards and a touchdown despite two picks; Sammy Knight ran back one pick for a 91-yard touchdown in the fourth. Robert Smith rushed for 137 yards; he and Leroy Hoard accounted for three touchdowns in Minnesota's 31–24 win.
Week 11: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Week 12: vs. Green Bay Packers
Week 13: at Dallas Cowboys
Cunningham and Moss led a wild 46–36 win at Dallas as Moss caught just three passes – for 163 yards and three touchdowns. Cris Carter snagged seven passes for 135 yards and a score and Leroy Hoard ran in two more touchdowns. Troy Aikman threw for a career-high 455 yards and a score to Patrick Jeffers while Emmitt Smith ran in three scores; despite 513 total yards the Cowboys could not keep pace with the Vikings. The game was also a penalty-laden affair with a combined 23 fouls eating 230 yards.
Week 14: vs. Chicago Bears
Four years after Warren Moon's overtime win over the Bears on Sunday Night Football, the Vikings clinched the NFC Central title by once again hosting the Bears on Sunday Night Football. Randall Cunningham unleashed four more touchdowns, three of them to Randy Moss. Leroy Hoard added a rushing score while the Bears fumbled at the Vikings six-yard line and Dwayne Rudd scored with the turnover. The Vikings won 48–22.
Week 15: at Baltimore Ravens
Vikings offensive coordinator Brian Billick faced his employer for the following season as the two teams combined for just 143 rushing yards. This unusual game featured three kick-off returns for TDs and four fumbles (all in their own half by the Ravens) in just the first 21 minutes of play. Overall, the Ravens coughed up five fumbles but the Vikings offense was largely held in check, with Gary Anderson booting six field goals and Randall Cunningham held to two touchdowns, one to Randy Moss. Future 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh threw a 42-yard touchdown to his former Colts teammate Floyd Turner while Corey Haris, David Palmer on kick returns and Priest Holmes on a two-yard run gave the Ravens the rest of their points scored in a 38–28 Vikings win.
Week 16: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Despite giving up 108 penalty yards, the Vikings reached 50 points for only the sixth time in franchise history and the first time since 1974 in a 50–10 win over the AFC Central champion Jacksonville Jaguars. Randall Cunningham threw for 210 yards and three touchdowns, then gave way to Brad Johnson who added a touchdown of his own. Cunningham was one of three Vikings players who rushed for 161 yards and a Chuck Evans touchdown while Jimmy Hitchcock intercepted Jonathan Quinn and scored from 30 yards out.
Week 17: at Tennessee Oilers
The Vikings became the final club to play against Tennessee before they officially became the Titans. The Oilers clawed to a 13–8 halftime lead despite an intentional grounding penalty against Steve McNair that led to a safety. Two Randall Cunningham touchdowns in the third quarter put the game away to a 26–16 Vikings win, the 15th of the season. With this loss the Oilers became the first team in NFL history to have three straight 8–8 seasons.
Standings
Postseason