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2015 Minnesota Vikings season

The 2015 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 55th season in the National Football League (NFL) and their second under head coach Mike Zimmer. It marked the last season in which the Vikings played their home games at the University of Minnesota's on-campus TCF Bank Stadium, before moving into U.S. Bank Stadium, which opened in July 2016, located on the site of the now-demolished Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome.

The Vikings improved on their 7–9 record from 2014 and clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 2012. They also won their first NFC North title since 2009 with a Week 17 victory at the Packers. As a result, they hosted the Seattle Seahawks in the wild card round of the 2015–16 NFL playoffs, but lost 10–9 after kicker Blair Walsh missed a potential game-winning 27 yard field goal in the final seconds.[1]

Offseason

Draft

Roster changes

Preseason

Schedule

On February 11, 2015, the National Football League announced that the Vikings would play the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game. The game was played at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, on Sunday, August 9.[33] The remainder of the Vikings' preliminary preseason schedule was announced on April 9. The Vikings first hosted the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Oakland Raiders before road games against the Dallas Cowboys and the Tennessee Titans,[34] making this the third consecutive year in which the Vikings face the Titans in the preseason.

Game summaries

Hall of Fame Game: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Hall of Fame Game: Minnesota Vikings vs. Pittsburgh Steelers – Game summary

at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, Canton, Ohio

Week 1: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Preseason Week 1: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary

at TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota

  • Date: August 15
  • Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: Partly cloudy, 86 °F (30 °C)
  • Game attendance: 50,610
  • Referee: Walt Coleman (65)
  • Recap, Game Book

Week 2: vs. Oakland Raiders

Preseason Week 2: Oakland Raiders at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary

at TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota

  • Date: August 22
  • Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 79 °F (26 °C)
  • Game attendance: 50,656
  • Referee: Ed Hochuli (85)
  • Recap, Game Book

Week 3: at Dallas Cowboys

Preseason Week 3: Minnesota Vikings at Dallas Cowboys – Game summary

at AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas

  • Date: August 29
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: None (retractable roof closed)
  • Game attendance: 86,082
  • Referee: Ron Torbert (62)
  • Recap, Game Book

Week 4: at Tennessee Titans

Preseason Week 4: Minnesota Vikings at Tennessee Titans – Game summary

at Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tennessee

  • Date: September 3
  • Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 90 °F (32 °C)
  • Game attendance: 61,294
  • Referee: Brad Allen (122)
  • Recap, Game Book

Regular season

Schedule

The Vikings' 2015 schedule was announced on April 21.[35]

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1: at San Francisco 49ers

Week 1: Minnesota Vikings at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary

at Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California

The Vikings opened their 2015 season on the road against the San Francisco 49ers. Despite allowing San Francisco to start with the ball, the Vikings made a positive start, as Andrew Sendejo blocked a 28-yard field goal attempt from Phil Dawson, which Marcus Sherels returned 44 yards to the San Francisco 26-yard line. Minnesota QB Teddy Bridgewater was unable to complete a single pass on the next drive, forcing Blair Walsh to attempt a 44-yard field goal; however, he pushed it wide right. After forcing the 49ers to punt on the next series, the Vikings were themselves forced to punt immediately afterwards, only for the 49ers' rookie former rugby league star Jarryd Hayne to muff the catch, allowing the Vikings to recover the ball. The next drive saw the Vikings attempt to convert on 4th-and-3, but Bridgewater's completed pass to tight end Kyle Rudolph fell a yard short of a fresh set of downs.

Both sides exchanged punts at the start of the second quarter, with the 49ers eventually returning one 85 yards for a touchdown, only for it to be called back for an illegal block by a San Francisco player. However, the ensuing possession ended with a 49ers touchdown, as they drove 93 yards in just under 5 minutes, before Carlos Hyde finished the series with a 10-yard touchdown run; after finding nowhere to go on his initial run to the right, he beat a Minnesota defender with a spin move and ran back to the left side of the field, where quarterback Colin Kaepernick led him into the end zone. With the Vikings unable to score in the remaining 47 seconds, the first half ended 7–0 to San Francisco.

Minnesota started the third quarter with the ball, but they were unable to make it out of their half before being forced to punt. The 49ers then extended their lead on the ensuing possession, driving 73 yards to the Minnesota 11-yard line to set up a 30-yard field goal attempt for Dawson. The Vikings finally got on the scoreboard early in the fourth quarter, as Walsh finished off a 66-yard drive with a 37-yard field goal, but the 49ers pulled further ahead with a second touchdown for Hyde on a 17-yard run. Bridgewater attempted to spark the Vikings back into the game, but a deep pass intended for Rudolph was intercepted by Tramaine Brock, setting up a 25-yard field goal for Dawson. The next drive saw the Vikings go for it again on 4th-and-8, but Bridgewater was sacked for a loss of 14 yards, allowing the 49ers to kneel out the game.

Week 2: vs. Detroit Lions

Week 2: Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary

at TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Week 3: vs. San Diego Chargers

Week 3: San Diego Chargers at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary

at TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Week 4: at Denver Broncos

Week 4: Minnesota Vikings at Denver Broncos – Game summary

at Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Denver, Colorado

Week 6: vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Week 6: Kansas City Chiefs at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary

at TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Week 7: at Detroit Lions

Week 7: Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions – Game summary

at Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan

  • Date: October 25
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT/12:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
  • Game attendance: 60,231
  • Referee: Ed Hochuli (85)
  • TV announcers (Fox): Chris Myers, Ronde Barber and Jennifer Hale
  • Recap, Game Book

Week 8: at Chicago Bears

Week 8: Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears – Game summary

at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

  • Date: November 1
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Sunny, 62 °F (17 °C)
  • Game attendance: 62,311
  • Referee: John Hussey (35)
  • TV announcers (Fox): Chris Myers, Ronde Barber and Holly Sonders
  • Preview, Game Book

Week 9: vs. St. Louis Rams

Week 9: St. Louis Rams at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary

at TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Week 10: at Oakland Raiders

Week 10: Minnesota Vikings at Oakland Raiders – Game summary

at O.co Coliseum, Oakland, California

  • Date: November 15
  • Game time: 3:05 p.m. CST/1:05 p.m. PST
  • Game weather: Sunny, 62 °F (17 °C)
  • Game attendance: 54,700
  • Referee: Tony Corrente (99)
  • TV announcers (Fox): Chris Myers, Ronde Barber and Holly Sonders
  • Preview, Game Book

Week 11: vs. Green Bay Packers

Week 11: Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary

at TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota

  • Date: November 22
  • Game time: 3:25 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Mostly cloudy, 30 °F (−1 °C)
  • Game attendance: 52,529
  • Referee: Walt Coleman (65)
  • TV announcers (Fox): Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Erin Andrews
  • Preview, Game Book

Week 12: at Atlanta Falcons

Week 12: Minnesota Vikings at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary

at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia

  • Date: November 29
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
  • Game attendance: 70,610
  • Referee: Clete Blakeman (34)
  • TV announcers (Fox): Kevin Burkhardt, John Lynch and Pam Oliver
  • Recap, Game Book

Week 13: vs. Seattle Seahawks

Week 13: Seattle Seahawks at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary

at TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota

  • Date: December 6
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 37 °F (3 °C)
  • Game attendance: 52,430
  • Referee: Terry McAulay (77)
  • TV announcers (Fox): Kevin Burkhardt, John Lynch and Pam Oliver
  • Recap, Game Book

Week 14: at Arizona Cardinals

Week 14: Minnesota Vikings at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary

at University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

  • Date: December 10
  • Game time: 7:25 p.m. CST/6:25 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: Mostly clear, 68 °F (20 °C) (retractable roof open)
  • Game attendance: 64,784
  • Referee: Gene Steratore (114)
  • TV announcers (NFLN): Jim Nantz, Phil Simms and Tracy Wolfson
  • Recap, Game Book

Week 15: vs. Chicago Bears

Week 15: Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary

at TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota

  • Date: December 20
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 36 °F (2 °C)
  • Game attendance: 52,421
  • Referee: Brad Allen (122)
  • TV announcers (Fox): Kevin Burkhardt, John Lynch and Pam Oliver
  • Recap, Game Book

Teddy Bridgewater's best game of his career, going 17/20, 231 yards, and 4 touchdowns, along with a rushing touchdown on the ground. Before this game, Bridgewater had only 9 passing touchdowns, and afterwards, he had 13. Jay Cutler and the Chicago Bears were stopped to 17 points, while Cutler also having a good game with 26/37 for 231 and 2 touchdowns.

Week 16: vs. New York Giants

Week 16: New York Giants at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary

at TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota

  • Date: December 27
  • Game time: 7:30 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Partly cloudy, 13 °F (−11 °C)
  • Game attendance: 52,455
  • Referee: Tony Corrente (99)
  • TV announcers (NBC): Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth and Michele Tafoya
  • Recap, Game Book

Week 17: at Green Bay Packers

Week 17: Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers – Game summary

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

  • Date: January 3, 2016
  • Game time: 7:30 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 24 °F (−4 °C)
  • Game attendance: 78,412
  • Referee: Bill Vinovich (52)
  • TV announcers (NBC): Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth and Michele Tafoya
  • Recap, Game Book

Standings

Division

Conference

Postseason

Schedule

Game summaries

NFC Wild Card Playoffs: vs. #6 Seattle Seahawks

NFC Wild Card Playoffs: #6 Seattle Seahawks at #3 Minnesota Vikings – Game summary

at TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota

The Vikings' only points in this game came from the foot of kicker Blair Walsh, whose three field goals put them 9–0 up by the end of the third quarter; however, Seattle outscored them 10–0 in the final period, with a touchdown catch from Doug Baldwin being followed by a 46-yard Steven Hauschka field goal in the first seven minutes of the quarter. The Vikings had a chance to win it with 20 seconds remaining, but Walsh missed a 27-yard field goal, reminding Vikings fans of Gary Anderson's missed field goal in the 1998 NFC Championship Game.

Pro Bowl

Running back Adrian Peterson was the only Minnesota Viking selected for the 2016 Pro Bowl. It was Peterson's seventh Pro Bowl selection, tying him for the fourth-most in Vikings franchise history with offensive tackle Ron Yary.[36] After Houston Texans DE J. J. Watt suffered an injury in the wildcard round game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen was called up to replace him, his first career Pro Bowl selection.[37] Griffen was followed by a fellow first-time Pro Bowler, safety Harrison Smith, on January 25, after Earl Thomas of the Seattle Seahawks was ruled out of the game due to injury.[38] The next day, quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and linebacker Anthony Barr were added to the Pro Bowl roster as replacements for injured Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer and New England Patriots linebacker Jamie Collins respectively.[39]

Roster

Staff

Statistics

Team leaders

Source: Minnesota Vikings' official website[40]

League rankings

Source: NFL.com.[41]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c The Vikings traded their third-round selection (76th overall) to the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for Kansas City's third- and sixth-round selections (80th and 193rd overall).[2]
  2. ^ a b c The Vikings traded the third-round selection they received from Kansas City (80th overall) to the Detroit Lions in exchange for Detroit's third-round selection and the fifth-round selection they received from Chicago via Denver (88th and 143rd overall).[2]
  3. ^ a b c The Vikings traded the fifth-round selection they received from Tampa Bay via Buffalo (137th overall) to the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for Atlanta's fifth- and sixth-round selections (146th and 185th overall).[2]
  4. ^ a b c The Vikings traded their sixth-round selection (187th overall) and QB Matt Cassel to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for the fifth-round selection Buffalo received from Tampa Bay (137th overall) and a 2016 seventh-round selection (240th overall).[3]
  5. ^ a b c The Vikings traded their fifth-round selection (149th overall) to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for the seventh-round selection Miami received from San Francisco (232nd overall) and WR Mike Wallace.[4]

References

  1. ^ Kapadia, Sheil (January 10, 2016). "Russell Wilson, Seahawks escape with victory against Vikings". ESPN.com. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved January 11, 2016.
  2. ^ a b c "2015 NFL Draft trade tracker: Details of all the moves". NFL.com. May 2, 2015. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
  3. ^ Smith, Michael David (March 4, 2015). "Bills acquire Matt Cassel in trade with Vikings". NBC Sports. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
  4. ^ Alper, Josh (March 13, 2015). "Mike Wallace traded to Vikings". NBCSports.com. Retrieved March 13, 2015.
  5. ^ Goessling, Ben (March 13, 2015). "Breaking down Tom Johnson's contract". ESPN.com. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  6. ^ "Matt Asiata Contract, Salary Cap Details & Breakdowns". Spotrac. Archived from the original on March 12, 2015. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  7. ^ Tomasson, Chris (March 10, 2015). "Joe Berger re-signs with Vikings on two-year deal". TwinCities.com. Digital First Media. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  8. ^ Tomasson, Chris (March 14, 2015). "Cullen Loeffler took pay cut of more than $200,000 to remain with Vikings". TwinCities.com. Digital First Media. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  9. ^ Berhow-Goll, Dean (March 17, 2015). "Vikings re-sign OT Mike Harris". 247Sports. Archived from the original on March 19, 2015. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  10. ^ "John Sullivan Contract, Salary Cap Details & Breakdowns". Spotrac. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  11. ^ Goessling, Ben (July 27, 2015). "Kicker Blair Walsh gets contract extension from Vikings". ESPN.com. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  12. ^ Gates, Christopher (February 27, 2015). "Minnesota Vikings Cut Charlie Johnson". DailyNorseman.com. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
  13. ^ "Vikings Release Greg Jennings". vikings.com. Minnesota Vikings Football. March 14, 2015. Archived from the original on July 10, 2015. Retrieved August 24, 2015.
  14. ^ a b Peters, Craig (March 26, 2015). "Vikings Sign 6-9, 351-pound Polish Lineman". vikings.com. Minnesota Vikings Football. Archived from the original on August 25, 2015. Retrieved August 24, 2015.
  15. ^ a b Peters, Craig (April 2, 2015). "Vikings Add Veteran Quarterback". vikings.com. Minnesota Vikings Football. Archived from the original on April 29, 2015. Retrieved August 24, 2015.
  16. ^ "Vikings Release Cullen Loeffler". vikings.com. Minnesota Vikings Football. August 24, 2015. Archived from the original on August 25, 2015. Retrieved August 24, 2015.
  17. ^ "Vikings Announce Roster Moves". vikings.com. Minnesota Vikings Football. August 30, 2015. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  18. ^ Tomasson, Chris (September 5, 2015). "Babatunde Aiyegbusi experiment over as massive tackle waived by Vikings". TwinCities.com. Digital First Media. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  19. ^ a b Alper, Josh (October 6, 2015). "Vikings trade Gerald Hodges to 49ers for Nick Easton and a pick". NBCSports.com. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
  20. ^ "Brandon Bostick claimed by Vikings one day after being waived". SportingNews.com. February 18, 2015. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
  21. ^ Goessling, Ben (March 10, 2015). "Breaking down Shaun Hill's contract". ESPN.com. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  22. ^ Gates, Christopher (March 19, 2015). "Minnesota Vikings Sign Running Back DuJuan Harris". Daily Norseman. Vox Media. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  23. ^ a b c Goessling, Ben (April 3, 2015). "Breaking down contracts for Terence Newman, Casey Matthews and Taylor Mays". ESPN.com. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  24. ^ "Babatunde Aiyegbusi Contract, Salary Cap Details & Breakdowns". Spotrac. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  25. ^ Goessling, Ben (July 30, 2015). "Mike Kafka: Vikings QB on the field, entrepreneur off it". ESPN.com. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  26. ^ Berhow-Goll, Dean (April 1, 2015). "Defensive end Caesar Rayford signs with Vikings". 247Sports. Archived from the original on April 5, 2015. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  27. ^ "Kevin McDermott Contract, Salary Cap Details & Breakdowns". Spotrac. Archived from the original on April 17, 2015. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  28. ^ "Isaac Fruechte Contract, Salary Cap Details & Breakdowns". Spotrac. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  29. ^ Vensel, Matt (June 9, 2015). "Vikings sign rookie DT Chrishon Rose". StarTribune. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  30. ^ Berhow-Goll, Dean (July 24, 2015). "Vikings announce signing of CB Josh Thomas". 247Sports. Archived from the original on July 27, 2015. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  31. ^ Vensel, Matt (August 1, 2015). "Vikings sign wideout Ryan Whalen". StarTribune. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  32. ^ Vensel, Matt (August 14, 2015). "Vikings sign Hickman, waive Lutman". StarTribune. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  33. ^ Sessler, Marc (February 11, 2015). "Steelers, Vikings to square off in Hall of Fame Game". NFL.com. Retrieved February 11, 2015.
  34. ^ "Vikings Announce 2015 Preseason Schedule". vikings.com. Minnesota Vikings Football. April 9, 2015. Archived from the original on April 11, 2015. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  35. ^ Hanzus, Dan (April 20, 2015). "NFL will release 2015 schedule on Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET". NFL.com. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
  36. ^ "Adrian Peterson Selected To 7th Career Pro Bowl". vikings.com. Minnesota Vikings Football. December 22, 2015. Archived from the original on December 30, 2015. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
  37. ^ "Everson Griffen Named To First Career Pro Bowl". Vikings.com. Minnesota Vikings Football. January 14, 2016. Archived from the original on January 16, 2016. Retrieved January 16, 2016.
  38. ^ Young, Lindsey (January 25, 2016). "Harrison Smith Headed to 1st Career Pro Bowl". Vikings.com. Minnesota Vikings Football. Archived from the original on March 30, 2016. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
  39. ^ "Teddy Bridgewater and Anthony Barr Selected To The Pro Bowl". Vikings.com. Minnesota Vikings Football. January 25, 2016. Archived from the original on January 29, 2018. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
  40. ^ "Minnesota Vikings Team Statistics". Minnesota Vikings. January 4, 2016. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
  41. ^ "NFL.com Statistics". NFL.com. January 4, 2016. Retrieved January 4, 2016.

External links