Minnesota Vikings

What's been happening 2000 - 2007

In 2000, the Minnesota Vikings went 11-5. The Vikings were 11-2 after 14 weeks, but slumped briefly, losing their last three to the Rams, Packers and Colts while starting quarterback Daunte Culpepper was hampered by injury. Nonetheless, the Vikings made the playoffs for the fifth straight year. After easily beating the Saints in the Divisional game 34-16, they were humiliated 41-0 by the New York Giants in the Conference Championship. Robert Smith, who ran for a team record 1,521 yards (1,391 m) and 7 touchdowns, retired at the end of the year after only playing eight NFL seasons.

In 2001, after a disappointing 5-11 season, the Vikings bought out the contract of Dennis Green, who had become a polarizing presence in the Viking fan base despite his successful coaching tenure with the team. Mike Tice coached the final game of 2001, losing to the Baltimore Ravens.

During the 2003 season, the Vikings came close to getting into the playoffs. However, the Arizona Cardinals completed a game winning touchdown with 0:00 left knocking the Vikings out of the playoffs.

Mike Tice was named the permanent head coach after the 2001 season. Under Tice the Vikings did not return to the playoffs until 2004.

In 2004, Daunte Culpepper amassed MVP-like statistics, throwing for 4,717 passing yards (leading the NFL), 39 passing touchdowns (a Viking record), and 5,123 total yards (an NFL record). In the wild card matchup, the Vikings defeated the rival Green Bay Packers in their first-ever playoff meeting, 31-17. In doing so, the Vikings became the second team in NFL history to have a .500 record (8-8) in the regular season and win a playoff game. In the divisional round, the Vikings were defeated by the eventual NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles. The game was noted for Viking penalties, turnovers, and other miscues.

Tice was let go after the 2005 season and was replaced by Brad Childress.

Minnesota began the 2006 season 4-2 (and Childress becoming the first coach in Vikings history to start 2-0 in his first year), but would finish the year at 6-10, tying for the 7th worst record in the NFL and receiving the 7th pick in the NFL Draft; with it, the Vikings selected Adrian Peterson out of the University of Oklahoma.