Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota Vikings Head Coach Profile

Brad Childress joined the Vikings last year after 7 years with the Eagles. Although you could sum up his 2006 job as “uninspiring,” Childress does have quite the impressive resume. In his time in Philly, the Eagles were one of the most feared teams in the NFC. They won four straight NFC East titles, went to the NFC Championship four straight times, and reached Super Bowl XXXIX.

Minnesota Vikings Off-Season Moves  

The Vikes were not very active in the off-season free agent market. The bulk of their additions came in from the draft. They got the best RB in the draft in Adrian Peterson, and one of the most athletic WR’s in the draft in Sidney Rice. I understand the impulse to take the best player available but the Vikings desperately needed a strong pass rusher and passed on Jamaal Anderson to take Peterson. When you think about teams who have had success, like New England, they always draft on need. Then again, if Peterson turns out to be the next Larry Johnson, then my point will be moot.

Minnesota Vikings 2007-08 Season Outlook

Although the Minnesota Vikings had a very good draft, don’t expect much from them in the 2007-08 season. They didn’t do much in the off season with the exception of losing Defensive Coordinator Mike Tomlin to the Steelers. Tavaris Jackson is the expected starting quarterback however, he only has two NFL starts under his belt. He’s still learning the nuances of the NFL, so there will be a lot of pressure on Minnesota’s running game. Chester Taylor rushed for over 1200 yards last season, and top draft pick Adrian Peterson was a stud at Oklahoma. With those two rushing behind two of the best guards in Steve Hutchinson and Bryant McKinnie, their rushing attack has the potential to be one of the best in the league. Their receiver corps is quite unproven, but I’m excited to see what 2nd round pick, Sidney Rice, can do.
 
The Vikings play a tough schedule and I’d be surprised if they did any better than last year.

Minnesota Vikings Trivia

The Minnesota Vikings finished the 1998 season with one loss. The only team to beat them that season was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The 1998 Minnesota Vikings set an NFL record for most points scored in a single season with 558.

The most lopsided victory in Minnesota Vikings history was a 51-3 victory over the Browns on November 9, 1969.  

Norm Van Brocklin was the Minnesota Vikings first head coach.

The Vikings won their first division title in 1968.

Randall Cunningham holds the Vikings team record for touchdowns in a single season with 34 TDs in 1998.

Tommy Kramer holds the Vikings team record for most passing yards in a single game with 490.

Randy Moss scored 17 touchdowns in the 2003 season.

Minnesota Vikings 2007-08 Roster

Minnesota Vikings 2007-08 Depth Chart

Minnesota Vikings – Metrodome

Construction Began: December 20, 1979
Opened: September 12, 1982
Capacity: 64,035
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Surface: FieldTurf

Although the Vikings didn't take the field at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome until the late summer of 1982, the Minnesota Twins had enjoyed a full baseball season in the “modern era” dome. To this day, the teams still share this space, which has been updated and renovated whenever technology has dictated. It is the only dome of its kind, the ceiling being inflated to keep the roof moving in the right direction. It requires 250,000 cubic feet of air/minute to make the roof function properly. In its early days, the dome roof even experienced “deflations” and a collapse due to heavy snow. Although it has been a proud home to Twins and Vikings fans for 25 years, both teams are testing the waters for separate homes.