NFL team season
The 1988 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 28th in the National Football League. They finished with an 11–5 record, and finished second to the Chicago Bears in the NFC Central division.
The Vikings had one of the best defenses in the NFL in 1988. The team allowed 4,091 total yards, 4.3 yards per play, and 243 first downs, all best in the league. The Vikings also had a league-best 53 takeaways.[1] Opposing quarterbacks had a league-worst 41.2 passer rating against the Vikings' defense, the lowest total of the 1980s and fifth all-time for the Super Bowl era.[2]
The Vikings made the postseason for the second consecutive time under coach Jerry Burns. They defeated the Los Angeles Rams 28-17 in the wildcard round, but lost 34–9 in the divisional round to the San Francisco 49ers, who went on to win their third Super Bowl. This was the last time the Vikings won a playoff game until 1997.
Offseason 1988 draft ^[a] The Vikings traded their second-round selection (45th overall) to the Denver Broncos in exchange for Denver's second-, fourth- and sixth-round selections (54th, 108th and 164th overall). ^[b] The Vikings traded their fourth- and 11th-round selections (97th and 294th overall) to the New England Patriots for QB Rich Gannon . ^[c] The Vikings traded their sixth-round selection (156th overall) and 1989 10th-round selection (275th overall) to the Miami Dolphins for OL Greg Koch . ^[d] The Vikings traded their 1989 ninth-round selection to the New England Patriots in exchange for the 11th-round selection that the Patriots received in the Gannon trade (296th overall).[b] ^[e] The Vikings traded their 12th-round selection (323rd overall) to the New York Giants in exchange for C Chris Foote. Undrafted free agents Staff 1988 Minnesota Vikings staff Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
Offensive coordinator – Bob Schnelker Receivers – Dick Rehbein Offensive assistant/wide receivers – Jerry Brown Running backs – John Brunner Offensive line – John Michels Defensive coaches Special teams coaches
Special teams/tight ends – Tom Batta
[3]
Roster 1988 Minnesota Vikings final roster Quarterbacks Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
Offensive linemen Defensive linemen
Linebackers Defensive backs
Special teams
Reserve lists -- Norman Floyd S (IR Tooltip Injured reserve ) 74 Brian Habib G (IR Tooltip Injured reserve ) 72 Dave Huffman G (IR Tooltip Injured reserve ) 79 Doug Martin DE (IR Tooltip Injured reserve ) Practice squad None Rookies in italics 47 active, 4 inactive
Preseason Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 September 4 at Buffalo Bills L 10–13 0–1 Rich Stadium 76,783 2 September 11 New England Patriots W 36–6 1–1 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 55,545 3 September 18 at Chicago Bears W 31–7 2–1 Soldier Field 63,990 4 September 25 Philadelphia Eagles W 23–21 3–1 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 56,012 5 October 2 at Miami Dolphins L 7–24 3–2 Joe Robbie Stadium 59,867 6 October 9 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 14–13 4–2 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 55,274 7 October 16 Green Bay Packers L 14–34 4–3 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 59,053 8 October 23 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 49–20 5–3 Tampa Stadium 48,020 9 October 30 at San Francisco 49ers L 21–24 5–4 Candlestick Park 60,738 10 November 6 Detroit Lions W 44–17 6–4 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 55,573 11 November 13 at Dallas Cowboys W 43–3 7–4 Texas Stadium 57,830 12 November 20 Indianapolis Colts W 12–3 8–4 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 58,342 13 November 24 at Detroit Lions W 23–0 9–4 Silverdome 46,379 14 December 4 New Orleans Saints W 45–3 10–4 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 61,215 15 December 11 at Green Bay Packers L 6–18 10–5 Lambeau Field 48,892 16 December 19 Chicago Bears W 28–27 11–5 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 62,067
Game summaries Week 5: at Miami Dolphins Game information First quarter
Second quarter
MIA – Fuad Reveiz 38-yard field goal. Dolphins 3–0. MIA – Jim Jensen 3-yard pass from Dan Marino (Fuad Reveiz kick). Dolphins 10–0. MIA – Lorenzo Hampton 1-yard pass from Dan Marino (Fuad Reveiz kick). Dolphins 17–0. Third quarter
MIA – Lorenzo Hampton 5-yard pass from Dan Marino (Fuad Reveiz kick). Dolphins 24–0. Fourth quarter
MIN – Carl Lee 48-yard interception return (Chuck Nelson kick). Dolphins 24–7. Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
MIN – Anthony Carter – 4 receptions, 92 yards MIA – Mark Duper – 6 receptions, 81 yards
Week 11: at Dallas Cowboys Week 11: Minnesota Vikings at Dallas Cowboys – Game summary
Period 1 2 3 4 Total Vikings 17 0 17 9 43 Cowboys 0 3 0 0 3
at Texas Stadium , Irving, Texas
Date : November 13Game time : 7:00 p.m.Game weather : 59 °F (15 °C)Game attendance : 57,830Pro-Football-Reference.com
Game information First quarter
MIN – Hassan Jones 26-yard pass from Wade Wilson (Chuck Nelson kick). Vikings 7–0. MIN – Henry Thomas 2-yard fumble return (Chuck Nelson kick). Vikings 14–0. MIN – Chuck Nelson 39-yard field goal. Vikings 17–0. Second quarter
Third quarter
MIN – Hassan Jones 64-yard pass from Wade Wilson (Chuck Nelson kick). Vikings 24–3. MIN – Chuck Nelson 27-yard field goal. Vikings 27–3. MIN – Steve Jordan 3-yard pass from Wade Wilson (Chuck Nelson kick). Vikings 34–3. Fourth quarter
MIN – D. J. Dozier 19-yard run (Chuck Nelson kick). Vikings 41–3. MIN – Kevin Sweeney tackled by Al Baker in the end zone for a safety. Vikings 43–3. Top passers
MIN – Wade Wilson – 12/27, 240 yards, 3 TD, INT DAL – Kevin Sweeney – 10/28, 93 yards, 4 INT Top rushers
Top receivers
Standings Playoffs A ticket for the 1988 NFC Wildcard Game between the Vikings and the Rams Schedule
Game summaries NFC Wild Card: vs. (#5) Los Angeles Rams Game information First quarter
MIN – Alfred Anderson 7-yard run (Chuck Nelson kick). Vikings 7–0. MIN – Allen Rice 17-yard run (Chuck Nelson kick). Vikings 14–0. Second quarter
Third quarter
MIN – Alfred Anderson 1-yard run (Chuck Nelson kick). Vikings 21–7. LAR – Mike Lansford 33-yard field goal. Vikings 21–10. Fourth quarter
MIN – Carl Hilton 5-yard pass from Wade Wilson (Chuck Nelson kick). Vikings 28–10. LAR – Pete Holohan 11-yard pass from Jim Everett (Mike Lansford kick). Vikings 28–17. Top passers
LAR – Jim Everett – 19/45, 247 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT MIN – Wade Wilson – 17/28, 253 yards, TD Top rushers
LAR – Greg Bell – 17 rushes, 91 yards MIN – Allen Rice – 17 rushes, 79 yards, TD Top receivers
LAR – Henry Ellard – 4 receptions, 54 yards MIN – Anthony Carter – 4 receptions, 102 yards
NFC Divisional Playoffs: at (#2) San Francisco 49ers NFC Divisional Playoff: (#4) Minnesota Vikings at (#2) San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
Period 1 2 3 4 Total Vikings 3 0 6 0 9 49ers 7 14 0 13 34
at Candlestick Park , San Francisco
Game information First quarter
Second quarter
SF – Jerry Rice 4-yard pass from Joe Montana (Mike Cofer kick). 49ers 14–3. SF – Jerry Rice 11-yard pass from Joe Montana (Mike Cofer kick). 49ers 21–3. Third quarter
MIN – Hassan Jones 5-yard pass from Wade Wilson (kick failed). 49ers 21–9. Fourth quarter
SF – Roger Craig 4-yard run (Mike Cofer kick). 49ers 28–9. SF – Roger Craig 80-yard run (kick failed). 49ers 34–9. Top passers
MIN – Wade Wilson – 23/47, 255 yards, TD, 2 INT SF – Joe Montana – 16/27, 178 yards, 3 TD, INT Top rushers
MIN – Allen Rice – 5 rushes, 20 yards SF – Roger Craig – 21 rushes, 135 yards, 2 TD Top receivers
Statistics Team leaders Category Player(s) Value Passing yards Wade Wilson 2,746 Passing touchdowns Wade Wilson 15 Rushing yards Darrin Nelson 380 Rushing touchdowns Alfred Anderson 7 Receiving yards Anthony Carter 1,225 Receiving touchdowns Anthony Carter 6 Points Chuck Nelson 108 Kickoff return yards Darryl Harris 833 Punt return yards Leo Lewis 550 * Tackles Jesse Solomon 124 Sacks Chris Doleman Keith Millard 8.0 Interceptions Carl Lee 8 Forced fumbles Henry Thomas 4
* Vikings single season record
League rankings Category Total yards Yards per game NFL rank(out of 28) Passing offense 3,789 236.8 4th Rushing offense 1,806 112.9 20th Total offense 5,595 349.7 7th Passing defense 2,489 155.6 2nd Rushing defense 1,602 100.1 5th Total defense 4,091 255.7 1st
References ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com: 1988 NFL Opposition & Defensive Statistics ^ Cold Hard Football Facts: Shutdown! The greatest pass defenses in history ^ 2010 Minnesota Vikings Media Guide . p. 265. Archived from the original on December 24, 2010. Retrieved February 18, 2011 . ^ "1988 Minnesota Vikings (NFL) - Pro Football Archives". Vikings on Pro Football Reference Vikings on jt-sw.com
Minnesota Vikings
Founded in 1961 Based in Minneapolis, Minnesota Headquartered in Eagan, Minnesota Franchise Stadiums Culture Lore Rivalries Division championships (21) Conference championships (4) League championships (1) Retired numbers Current league affiliations
Minnesota Vikings seasons
Bold indicates NFL Championship (1920–69) or
Super Bowl (1966–) victory
Italics indicates
Super Bowl (1966–) appearance