The 2016 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 56th in the National Football League (NFL) and their third under head coach Mike Zimmer. After starting the season with five consecutive wins prior to their bye week, the Vikings managed just three victories after the bye and were eliminated from playoff contention in Week 16 with a 38–25 road loss to the Packers. They joined the 1978 Redskins, 1993 Saints, 2003 Vikings, 2009 Broncos, 2009 Giants and 2015 Falcons in missing the playoffs after starting 5–0 or better. The Vikings are the only NFL team to have more than once started 5–0 or better and missed the playoffs.
The team's new stadium, U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, opened at the start of the season, with a regular season debut victory on September 18 against division rival Green Bay on NBC Sunday Night Football. It was built on the site of the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, the team's home from 1982 through 2013. The Vikings played at the outdoor TCF Bank Stadium at the University of Minnesota in 2014 and 2015. This would be the season the Vikings introduced their color rush jersey, the Minnesota Vikings debuted the Jerseys at home against Dallas.
On August 30, starting quarterback Teddy Bridgewater suffered a season-ending ACL tear and dislocated knee on a non-contact play during team practice. Originally, it was reported that Bridgewater's injury would keep him out for around a year and a half, and on January 27, 2017, it was reported that it was possible he could also miss the entire 2017 season. The extent of Bridgewater's injury prompted the Vikings to make a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles for former number 1 draft pick Sam Bradford, giving up a first-round pick in the 2017 NFL draft and a conditional fourth-round pick in the 2018 Draft in exchange. Adrian Peterson's season was also hit by injury after he tore the meniscus in his right knee in the home opener against the Packers. On September 22, Peterson underwent successful surgery to repair the meniscus. It was also revealed that the knee had a mild LCL sprain, but it did not need surgery. He was placed on injured reserve on September 23, 2016, and reactivated on December 17, but only made six rushing attempts before leaving the game, ending his season. Peterson left the team at the end of the season, ending his 10-year tenure with the Vikings.
Offseason
2016 draft
2016 Minnesota Vikings draft Draft order Player name Position College Contract Notes Round Selection 1 23 Laquon Treadwell WR Ole Miss 4 years / $9.93 million 2 54 Mackensie Alexander CB Clemson 4 years / $4.3 million 3 86 Traded to the Miami Dolphins 4 121 Willie Beavers G Western Michigan 4 years / $2.88 million 5 160 Kentrell Brothers LB Missouri 4 years / $2.57 million 6 180 Moritz Böhringer WR None 4 years / $2.49 million from 49ers 186 Traded to the Miami Dolphins from Dolphins 188 David Morgan II TE UTSA 4 years / $2.47 million from Eagles 196 Traded to the Philadelphia Eagles from Texans via Patriots and Dolphins 198 Traded to the San Diego Chargers 7 227 Stephen Weatherly LB Vanderbilt 4 years / $2.42 million from Ravens via Dolphins 240 Traded to the Philadelphia Eagles from Bills 244 Jayron Kearse S Clemson 4 years / $2.4 million
Draft trades
Roster changes
+ Re-signings Date Player name Position Contract terms March 7, 2016 Andrew Sendejo S 4 years / $16 million Adam Thielen WR 1 year / $600,000 March 8, 2016 Audie Cole LB 1 year / $760,000 March 9, 2016 Mike Harris G 1 year / $1.9 million March 15, 2016 Rhett Ellison TE 1 year / $2.25 million Marcus Sherels CB 2 years / $4 million March 16, 2016 Matt Asiata RB 1 year / $840,000 March 18, 2016 Terence Newman CB 1 year / $3 million Justin Trattou DE 1 year / $810,000 April 11, 2016 Chad Greenway LB 1 year / $2.75 million April 18, 2016 Zach Line FB 1 year / $1.671 million September 9, 2016 Joe Berger C 1-year extension
+ Departures Date Player name Position Note New team March 8, 2016 Mike Wallace WR Released Baltimore Ravens Austin Wentworth OT Waived Retired March 9, 2016 Casey Matthews ILB UFA Jason Trusnik ILB UFA March 14, 2016 Josh Robinson CB UFA Tampa Bay Buccaneers March 18, 2016 Robert Blanton S UFA Buffalo Bills April 13, 2016 Alex Singleton LB Waived Calgary Stampeders (CFL) May 10, 2016 Johnny Lowdermilk S Waived Tampa Bay Buccaneers July 25, 2016 Phil Loadholt OT Waived Retired August 25, 2016 Melvin White CB Waived August 30, 2016 Brad Sorensen QB Waived Terrell Sinkfield WR Austin Shepherd OT John Sullivan C Scott Crichton DL Antone Exum S Zach Moore DE September 3, 2016 C. J. Ham HB Waived Blake Renaud FB Isaac Fruechte WR Moritz Böhringer WR Willie Beavers OL Isame Faciane OG Stephen Weatherly DE Toby Johnson DT Brandon Watts OLB
+ Additions Date Player name Position Previous team Contract terms March 10, 2016 Alex Boone G San Francisco 49ers 4 years / $26.8 million Emmanuel Lamur LB Cincinnati Bengals 2 years / $6 millionMarch 18, 2016 Andre Smith OT Cincinnati Bengals 1 year / $4.5 million May 10, 2016 C. J. Ham HB Augustana (NCAA) August 1, 2016 Terrance Plummer LB Minnesota Vikings September 3, 2016 Sam Bradford QB Philadelphia Eagles Trade September 4, 2016 Joel Stave QB Wisconsin (NCAA) Practice squad C. J. Ham HB Augustana (NCAA) Moritz Böhringer WR Schwäbisch Hall (GFL) Kyle Carter TE Penn State (NCAA) Willie Beavers OL Western Michigan (NCAA) Isame Faciane OG Minnesota Vikings Stephen Weatherly DE Vanderbilt (NCAA) Toby Johnson DT Minnesota Vikings Tre Roberson CB Illinois State (NCAA)September 4, 2016 Shamiel Gary S Miami Dolphins Practice squad September 13, 2016 Tre Roberson CB Illinois State (NCAA) Practice squad Julian Wilson CB Philadelphia Eagles September 23, 2016 Ronnie Hillman HB Denver Broncos October 11, 2016 Jake Long OT Atlanta Falcons 1 year
+ Signed and released players Date signed Player name Position Previous team Contract terms Date released March 7, 2016 Carter Bykowski OT Minnesota Vikings 1 year / $600,000 August 30, 2016 March 9, 2016 Kenrick Ellis DT 1 year / $810,000 September 3, 2016 March 11, 2016 Travis Lewis LB Detroit Lions 1 year / $810,000 June 16, 2016 March 14, 2016 Michael Griffin S Tennessee Titans 1 year / $3 million September 3, 2016 March 21, 2016 Brian Leonhardt TE San Francisco 49ers 1 year / $600,000 August 30, 2016 May 1, 2016 Keith Baxter CB Marshall (NCAA) Undrafted FA July 31, 2016 Kyle Carter TE Penn State (NCAA) September 3, 2016 Joel Stave QB Wisconsin (NCAA) Theiren Cockran DE Minnesota (NCAA) August 30, 2016 Jake Ganus ILB Georgia (NCAA) September 3, 2016 Marken Michel WR UMass (NCAA) August 30, 2016 Denzell Perine OLB Florida Atlantic (NCAA) September 2, 2016 Jhurell Pressley RB New Mexico (NCAA) September 3, 2016 Brandon Ross RB Maryland (NCAA) May 23, 2016 May 9, 2016 Tre Roberson CB Illinois State (NCAA) Undrafted FA September 13, 2016 Troy Stoudermire WR Winnipeg Blue Bombers (CFL) August 30, 2016 May 23, 2016 Travis Raciti DT Philadelphia Eagles September 2, 2016 May 31, 2016 Bruce Gaston DT Chicago Bears June 16, 2016 July 27, 2016 Sean Hickey OT New York Jets August 30, 2016 Jason Whittingham LB Utah (NCAA) July 31, 2016 July 30, 2016 Claudell Louis DT Buffalo Bills August 30, 2016 April 13, 2016 Terrance Plummer LB Minnesota Vikings August 31, 2016 August 20, 2016 Kevin Monangai RB Philadelphia Eagles Waived August 4, 2016 August 20, 2016 Brad Sorensen QB San Diego Chargers August 30, 2016 August 31, 2016 Minnesota Vikings September 2, 2016 September 6, 2016 Carter Bykowski OT Minnesota Vikings Practice squad September 13, 2016
Staff
Roster
Pro Bowl Five Vikings were selected for the 2017 Pro Bowl: defensive end Everson Griffen, defensive tackle Linval Joseph, return specialist Cordarrelle Patterson, cornerback Xavier Rhodes and free safety Harrison Smith. Rhodes played in his first Pro Bowl, while Griffen, Patterson and Smith participated in their second; Patterson was the first return specialist in Vikings history to go to two Pro Bowls. Linval Joseph replaced Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald.
Preseason
Schedule The Vikings' preseason opponents and schedule were announced on April 7, 2016.
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance NFL.comrecap 1 at Cincinnati Bengals W 17–16 1–0 Paul Brown Stadium 50,737 Recap 2 at Seattle Seahawks W 18–11 2–0 CenturyLink Field 68,469 Recap 3 August 28 San Diego Chargers W 23–10 3–0 U.S. Bank Stadium 66,143 Recap 4 Los Angeles Rams W 27–25 4–0 U.S. Bank Stadium 66,262 Recap
Game summaries
Week 1: at Cincinnati Bengals
Week 2: at Seattle Seahawks
Week 3: vs. San Diego Chargers
Week 4: vs. Los Angeles Rams
Regular season
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance NFL.comrecap 1 September 11 at Tennessee Titans W 25–16 1–0 Nissan Stadium 63,816 Recap 2 September 18 Green Bay Packers W 17–14 2–0 U.S. Bank Stadium 66,813 Recap 3 September 25 at Carolina Panthers W 22–10 3–0 Bank of America Stadium 73,813 Recap 4 New York Giants W 24–10 4–0 U.S. Bank Stadium 66,690 Recap 5 October 9 Houston Texans W 31–13 5–0 U.S. Bank Stadium 66,683 Recap 6 Bye 7 October 23 at Philadelphia Eagles L 10–21 5–1 Lincoln Financial Field 69,596 Recap 8 at Chicago Bears L 10–20 5–2 Soldier Field 60,422 Recap 9 November 6 Detroit Lions L 16–22 5–3 U.S. Bank Stadium 66,807 Recap 10 November 13 at Washington Redskins L 20–26 5–4 FedExField 78,216 Recap 11 November 20 Arizona Cardinals W 30–24 6–4 U.S. Bank Stadium 66,808 Recap 12 November 24 at Detroit Lions L 13–16 6–5 Ford Field 63,793 Recap 13 Dallas Cowboys L 15–17 6–6 U.S. Bank Stadium 66,860 Recap 14 December 11 at Jacksonville Jaguars W 25–16 7–6 EverBank Field 62,701 Recap 15 December 18 Indianapolis Colts L 6–34 7–7 U.S. Bank Stadium 66,820 Recap 16 at Green Bay Packers L 25–38 7–8 Lambeau Field 77,856 Recap 17 January 1 Chicago Bears W 38–10 8–8 U.S. Bank Stadium 66,808 Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1: at Tennessee Titans
Shaun Hill started at quarterback in the team's first game, as Sam Bradford was rested until the second game.
Week 2: vs. Green Bay Packers
Sam Bradford made his first start for the Vikings in week 2 against the Packers just 15 days after being traded. Despite not having much time to learn the offense, Bradford outplayed Aaron Rodgers but ended up hurting his left hand in the first half due to a hit by Clay Matthews. Bradford finished the game completing 22-of-31 passes for 286 yards and two touchdowns, helping lead the Vikings to their first win in their new stadium.
Week 3: at Carolina Panthers
Week 4: vs. New York Giants
Week 5: vs. Houston Texans
Week 7: at Philadelphia Eagles
Sam Bradford faces his former team for the first time after he was traded from the Eagles prior to the start of the season. The Vikings streak came to a halt as they lost the game 21–10.
Week 8: at Chicago Bears
Week 9: vs. Detroit Lions
Although it was Stefon Diggs' big day, having caught 13 passes for 80 yards, it wasn't enough as the Vikings dropped 5–3.
Week 10: at Washington Redskins
This was the last game for Blair Walsh in a Vikings uniform as he was released days after this game.
Week 11: vs. Arizona Cardinals
Week 12: at Detroit Lions NFL on Thanksgiving Day
Week 13: vs. Dallas Cowboys
Head coach Mike Zimmer missed this game after undergoing emergency eye surgery the night before. Special teams coordinator Mike Priefer served as interim coach for the game.
Week 14: at Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 15: vs. Indianapolis Colts
Adrian Peterson returned to action and had six carries for 22 yards against the Colts. This was the last game he'd ever play for the Vikings.
Week 16: at Green Bay Packers
With the loss, the Vikings dropped to 7–8 and were officially eliminated from postseason contention. The loss also made the Vikings the first team to twice start 5–0 or better, and on both occasions miss the playoffs (they also missed the playoffs in 2003 after starting 6–0).
Week 17: vs. Chicago Bears
Standings
Division