The 2003 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 43rd in the National Football League (NFL). They finished second in the NFC North with a 9–7 record, behind the 10–6 Green Bay Packers, 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. 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
Additions SubtractionsQB Gus Frerotte (Bengals) QB Todd Bouman (Saints)T Mike Rosenthal (Giants) DE Lorenzo Bromell (Raiders)LB Chris Claiborne (Lions) CB Tyrone Carter (Jets)CB Ken Irvin (Saints) FB Harold Morrow (Ravens)CB Denard Walker (Broncos)
2003 draft
Pro Bowler
2003 Minnesota Vikings draftDraft orderPlayer namePositionCollegeNotesRoundOverall19Kevin WilliamsDefensive tackleOklahoma StateIn lieu of #7 (time expired)240E. J. HendersonLinebackerMaryland371Nate BurlesonWide receiverNevada4105Onterrio SmithRunning backOregon5142Traded to the Cleveland Browns6180Eddie JohnsonPunterIdaho State190Mike NattielLinebackerFloridaFrom Saints7221Keenan HowryWide receiverOregon Notes:
Undrafted free agents
+ 2003 undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegeKane AndersonDefensive endNew HampshireSean BertonTight endNC StateLaWaylon BrownDefensive tackleOklahoma StateColin ColeDefensive tackleIowaRobbie DoaneTackleTexasSteve FarmerTight endTennessee StateAdam GoldbergTackleWyomingRushen JonesCornerbackVanderbiltJuston WoodQuarterbackPortland State
Staff
Roster
Preseason
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance NFL.comrecap 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 2: at Kansas City Chiefs
Week 3: at Oakland Raiders
Week 4: vs. Arizona Cardinals
Regular season
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance NFL.comrecap1September 7at Green Bay PackersW 30–251–0Lambeau Field70,505Recap2September 14Chicago BearsW 24–132–0Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome64,144Recap3September 21at Detroit LionsW 23–133–0Ford Field60,865Recap4September 28San Francisco 49ersW 35–74–0Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome64,111Recap5October 5at Atlanta FalconsW 39–265–0Georgia Dome70,427Recap6 Bye week7October 19Denver BroncosW 28–206–0Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome64,381Recap8October 26New York GiantsL 17–296–1Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome64,114Recap9November 2Green Bay PackersL 27–306–2Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome64,482Recap10November 9at San Diego ChargersL 28–426–3Qualcomm Stadium64,738Recap11November 16at Oakland RaidersL 18–286–4Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum56,653Recap12November 23Detroit LionsW 24–147–4Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome63,946Recap13November 30at St. Louis RamsL 17–487–5Edward Jones Dome66,134Recap14December 7Seattle SeahawksW 34–78–5Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome63,968Recap15December 14at Chicago BearsL 10–138–6Soldier Field61,804Recap16December 20Kansas City ChiefsW 45–209–6Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome64,291Recap17December 28at Arizona CardinalsL 17–189–7Sun Devil Stadium52,734Recap
Game summaries
Week 1: at Green Bay Packers
Week 2: vs. Chicago Bears
Week 3: at Detroit Lions
Week 4: vs. San Francisco 49ers
Week 5: at Atlanta Falcons
Week 7: vs. Denver Broncos
Week 8: vs. New York Giants
Week 9: vs. Green Bay Packers
Week 10: at San Diego Chargers
Week 11: at Oakland Raiders
Week 12: vs. Detroit Lions
Week 13: at St. Louis Rams
Week 14: vs. Seattle Seahawks
Week 15: at Chicago Bears
Week 16: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Week 17: at Arizona Cardinals
Despite still having a chance to make the playoffs by winning the NFC North, the Vikings squandered a 17–6 fourth-quarter lead in the final two minutes and lost to the 3–12 Arizona Cardinals after Josh McCown threw a 28-yard pass to Nate Poole for the game-winning touchdown with no time left, and with the Packers' win over the Broncos, giving them the NFC North title, and ending the Vikings season.
Standings
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 WilliamsOnterrio Smith 5 Receiving yards Randy Moss 1,632 * Receiving touchdowns Randy Moss 17 Points Randy MossAaron 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 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
References