The 1999 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 39th in the National Football League (NFL). After going a near perfect 15–1 record in 1998, the Vikings began the 1999 season with high expectations of another great season. Randall Cunningham resumed duties again in 1999, but after a struggling 2–4 start to the season, he was benched and Jeff George was given the starting job as quarterback. A notable part of the season is that, before or during the season, a decent amount of contributors (such as Derrick Alexander, Orlando Bobo, and Jerry Ball, and Stalin Colinet) from their dominant 1998 team were lost to the Cleveland Browns "expansion" team.

George finished the season with an 8–2 record, and led the Vikings into the postseason once again, with an overall team record of 10–6 failing to match their record from the 1998 season. Minnesota beat the Dallas Cowboys in the Wild Card Game 27–10 and faced playoff newcomer Kurt Warner and the St. Louis Rams in the divisional round. The game was a shootout which Minnesota led 17–14 at halftime, but the Rams outscored Minnesota 35 to 20 in the second half to win 49–37. St. Louis would then go on to win Super Bowl XXXIV against the Titans.

Offseason 1999 expansion draft

+ Vikings selected during the expansion draft Pick Name Position Expansion team18 Duane Butler Safety Cleveland Browns27Orlando BoboGuard

1999 draft

Pro Bowler

1999 Minnesota Vikings Draft Draft order Player name Position College Notes Round Selection 1 11 Daunte Culpepper Quarterback UCF From Redskins 29 Dimitrius Underwood Defensive end Michigan State 2 44 Jim Kleinsasser Tight end North Dakota From Steelers 59 Traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers 3 73 Traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers From Redskins 91 Traded to the New England Patriots 4 120 Kenny Wright Cornerback Northwestern State From Dolphins 125 Jay Humphrey Offensive tackle Texas 5 163 Traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers 169 Chris Jones Safety Clemson Compensatory pick 6 185 Talance Sawyer Defensive tackle UNLV From Buccaneers, via Ravens 199 Antico Dalton Linebacker Hampton 7 236 Noel Scarlett Defensive tackle Langston Notes:

Staff

Roster

Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 August 13 New York Giants L 21–36 0–1 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 63,434 2 August 21 at Cleveland Browns W 24–17 1–1 Cleveland Browns Stadium 71,398 3 August 26 Philadelphia Eagles W 17–13 2–1 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 63,387 4 September 3 at New York Jets L 17–38 2–2 Giants Stadium 76,782

Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 September 12 at Atlanta Falcons W 17–14 1–0 Georgia Dome 69,555 2 September 19 Oakland Raiders L 17–22 1–1 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 64,080 3 September 26 at Green Bay Packers L 20–23 1–2 Lambeau Field 59,868 4 October 3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 21–14 2–2 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 64,106 5 October 10 Chicago Bears L 22–24 2–3 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 64,107 6 October 17 at Detroit Lions L 23–25 2–4 Silverdome 76,516 7 October 24 San Francisco 49ers W 40–16 3–4 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 64,109 8 October 31 at Denver Broncos W 23–20 4–4 Mile High Stadium 75,021 9 November 8 Dallas Cowboys W 27–17 5–4 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 64,111 10 November 14 at Chicago Bears W 27–24 6–4 Soldier Field 61,481 11 Bye 12 November 28 San Diego Chargers W 35–27 7–4 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 64,232 13 December 6 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 17–24 7–5 Raymond James Stadium 65,741 14 December 12 at Kansas City Chiefs L 28–31 7–6 Arrowhead Stadium 78,932 15 December 20 Green Bay Packers W 24–20 8–6 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 64,203 16 December 26 at New York Giants W 34–17 9–6 Giants Stadium 78,095 17 January 2 Detroit Lions W 24–17 10–6 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 64,103

Game summaries Week 1: at Atlanta Falcons

Week 2: vs. Oakland Raiders

Week 3: at Green Bay Packers

Week 4: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Week 5: vs. Chicago Bears

Week 6: at Detroit Lions

Week 7: vs. San Francisco 49ers

Week 8: at Denver Broncos

Week 9: vs. Dallas Cowboys

Week 10: at Chicago Bears

Week 12: vs. San Diego Chargers

Week 13: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Week 14: at Kansas City Chiefs

Week 15: vs. Green Bay Packers

Week 16: at New York Giants

Week 17: vs. Detroit Lions

Standings

Postseason Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Venue Attendance Wild Card January 9 Dallas Cowboys W 27–10 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 64,056 Division January 16 at St. Louis Rams L 37–49 Trans World Dome 66,194

Game summaries NFC Wild Card Round: vs (#5) Dallas Cowboys

NFC Divisional Round: vs (#1) St. Louis Rams

Statistics Team leaders Category Player(s) Value Passing yards Jeff George 2,816 Passing touchdowns Jeff George 23 Rushing yards Robert Smith 1,015 Rushing touchdowns Leroy Hoard 10 Receiving yards Randy Moss 1,413 Receiving touchdowns Cris Carter 13 Points Gary Anderson 103 Kickoff return yards Robert Tate 627 Punt return yards Randy Moss 162 Tackles Robert Griffith 128 Sacks John Randle 10 Interceptions Robert Griffith 3 Forced fumbles John Randle 4

League rankings Category Total yards Yards per game NFL rank Passing offense 3,989 249.3 5th Rushing offense 1,804 112.8 14th Total offense 5,793 362.1 3rd Passing defense 3,980 248.8 30th Rushing defense 1,617 101.1 14th Total defense 5,597 349.8 27th

References