1988 Minnesota Vikings season

1988 Minnesota Vikings season
Head coach Jerry Burns
General manager Mike Lynn
Home field Metrodome
Local radio WCCO
Results
Record 11–5
Division place 2nd NFC Central
Playoff finish Won NFC Wild Card Playoff (Rams) 28–17
Lost NFC Divisional Playoff (at 49ers) 9–34

The 1988 Minnesota Vikings season was the team's 28th year in the National Football League. The team won eleven games, 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 in the Wildcard round, but the following week, the Vikings couldn't flick the switch this time, losing 34-9 to the rejuvenated San Francisco 49ers, who would go on to win their third Super Bowl. This was the last time the Vikings had won a playoff game until 1997.

Offseason

1988 Draft

= Hall of Famer
1988 Minnesota Vikings Draft
Draft order Player name Position College Notes
Round Choice Overall
11919Randall McDanielOffensive GuardArizona State
21845Traded to the Denver Broncos[a]
2754Brad EdwardsDefensive BackSouth Carolinafrom Broncos[a]
31671Al NogaDefensive EndHawaii
41597Traded to the New England Patriots[b]
26108Todd KalisOffensive GuardArizona Statefrom Broncos[a]
515124Darrell FullingtonDefensive BackMiami
619156Traded to the Miami Dolphins[c]
27164Derrick WhiteDefensive BackOklahomafrom Broncos[a]
718183Brad BeckmanTight EndNebraska-Omaha
817210Joe CainLinebackerOregon Tech
916237Paul McGowanLinebackerFlorida State
1015264Brian HabibOffensive TackleWashington
1119296Norman FloydSafetySouth Carolinafrom Vikings[b] via Patriots[d]
1218323Traded to the New York Giants[e]
^[a] Denver traded their 2nd round selection (54th overall), 4th round selection (108th overall), and 6th round selection (164th overall) to the Vikings to move up 9 spots to the 45th selection and draft Offensive Tackle Gerald Perry.
^[b] Minnesota traded their 4th round selection (97th overall) and 11th round selection (294th overall) to New England for QB Rich Gannon.
^[c] Minnesota traded their 6th round selection (156th overall) and 1989 10th round selection (275th overall) to Miami for OL Greg Koch.
^[d] Minnesota traded their 1989 9th round selection to New England for the 11th round selection (296th overall) that the Patriots received in the Gannon trade[b].
^[e] Minnesota traded their 12th round selection (323rd overall) to the Giants for C Chris Foote.

Supplemental Draft

Round Name Position College Notes
5Ryan BetheaWide ReceiverSouth CarolinaResulted in forfeiture of 1989 5th round selection

Personnel

Staff

1988 Minnesota Vikings staff
Front office

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

  • Offensive Coordinator – Bob Schnelker
  • Receivers – Dick Rehbein
  • Offensive Assistant/Receivers – Jerry Brown
  • Running Backs – John Brunner
  • Tight Ends – Tom Batta
  • Offensive Line – John Michels
 Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

  • Special Teams – Tom Batta

[3]

Final roster

1988 Minnesota Vikings final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

 Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

 Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

 Reserve lists


Practice squad



Rookies in italics
 49 Active, 2 Inactive, 0 Practice squad

Preseason

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueAttendance Notes
1August 7New Orleans SaintsL 20–230–1Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome47,624
2August 14Chicago Bears W 28–211–1Ullevi Stadium (Göteborg, Sweden)33,115Volvo American Football Classic
3August 21at Phoenix CardinalsW 19–16 (OT)2–1Sun Devil Stadium45,429
4August 26Miami DolphinsW 24–173–1Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome51,463

Regular season

A ticket for the 1988 NFC Wildcard Game between the Vikings and the Rams.

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance
1 September 4, 1988 at Buffalo Bills L 10–12 0–1 Rich Stadium 76,783
2 September 11, 1988 New England Patriots W 36–6 1–1 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
55,545
3 September 18, 1988 at Chicago Bears W 31–7 2–1 Soldier Field 63,990
4 September 25, 1988 Philadelphia Eagles W 23–21 3–1 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 56,012
5 October 2, 1988 at Miami Dolphins L 7–24 3–2 Joe Robbie Stadium 59,867
6 October 9, 1988 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 14–13 4–2 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 55,274
7 October 16, 1988 Green Bay Packers L 14–34 4–3 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 59,053
8 October 23, 1988 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 49–20 5–3 Tampa Stadium 48,020
9 October 30, 1988 at San Francisco 49ers L 21–24 5–4 Candlestick Park 60,738
10 November 6, 1988 Detroit Lions W 44–17 6–4 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 55,573
11 November 13, 1988 at Dallas Cowboys W 43–3 7–4 Texas Stadium 57,830
12 November 20, 1988 Indianapolis Colts W 12–3 8–4 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 58,342
13 November 24, 1988 at Detroit Lions W 23–0 9–4 Silverdome 46,379
14 December 4, 1988 New Orleans Saints W 45–3 10–4 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 61,215
15 December 11, 1988 at Green Bay Packers L 6–18 10–5 Lambeau Field 48,892
16 December 19, 1988 Chicago Bears W 28–27 11–5 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 62,067

Game summaries

1 234Total
• Vikings 17 0179 43
Cowboys 0 300 3

[4]

Standings

NFC Central
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
Chicago Bears(1) 12 4 0 .750 6–2 9–3 312 215 L1
Minnesota Vikings(4) 11 5 0 .688 6–2 9–3 406 233 W1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 5 11 0 .313 4–4 4–8 261 350 W1
Detroit Lions 4 12 0 .250 2–6 3–11 220 315 L2
Green Bay Packers 4 12 0 .250 2–6 3–9 240 313 W2

Playoffs

Schedule

Playoff roundDateOpponent (seed)ResultRecordVenueAttendance
Wild Card December 26, 1988 Los Angeles Rams (5) W 28–17 1–0 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 57,666
Divisional January 1, 1989 San Francisco 49ers (2) L 9–34 1–1 Candlestick Park 61,848

Game summaries

NFC Wild Card: vs. (#5) Los Angeles Rams

Los Angeles Rams 17, Minnesota Vikings 28
1 2 34Total
Rams 0 7 3717
Vikings 14 0 7728

at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

NFC Divisional Playoffs: at (#2) San Francisco 49ers

San Francisco 49ers 34, Minnesota Vikings 9
1 2 34Total
Vikings 3 0 609
49ers 7 14 01334

at Candlestick Park, San Francisco

Statistics

Team leaders

Category Player(s) Value
Passing YardsWade Wilson2,746
Passing TouchdownsWade Wilson15
Rushing YardsDarrin Nelson380
Rushing TouchdownsAlfred Anderson7
Receiving YardsAnthony Carter1,225
Receiving TouchdownsAnthony Carter6
PointsChuck Nelson108
Kickoff Return YardsDarryl Harris833
Punt Return YardsLeo Lewis550 *
TacklesJesse Solomon124
SacksChris Doleman
Keith Millard		8.0
InterceptionsCarl Lee8
Forced FumblesHenry Thomas4

League rankings

Category Total yards Yards per game NFL rank
(out of 28)
Passing Offense3,789 Yards236.8 YPG4th
Rushing Offense1,806 Yards112.9 YPG20th
Total Offense5,595 Yards349.7 YPG7th
Passing Defense2,489 Yards155.6 YPG2nd
Rushing Defense1,602 Yards100.1 YPG5th
Total Defense4,091 Yards255.7 YPG1st

References

  1. ↑ Pro-Football-Reference.com: 1988 NFL Opposition & Defensive Statistics
  2. ↑ Cold Hard Football Facts: Shutdown! The greatest pass defenses in history
  3. ↑ 2010 Minnesota Vikings Media Guide. p. 265. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
  4. ↑ Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-Jan-20.
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