2007 Minnesota Vikings season
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| 2007 Minnesota Vikings season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Brad Childress |
| Home field | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome |
| Results | |
| Record | 2-3 |
| Division place | 3rd |
| Playoff finish | TBD |
The 2007 Minnesota Vikings season is the 47th year of season play for the Minnesota Vikings and the 88th regular season of the National Football League. The team is trying to improve on their 6-10 record in 2006 under second year head coach Brad Childress.
Offseason
The Vikings began the 2007 offseason by losing their Defensive Coordinator Mike Tomlin who was hired to be the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers on January 21, 2007. Coach Brad Childress waited until after the Super Bowl to hire Leslie Frazier, who served as Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Backs Coach under Tony Dungy. Frazier left the Indianapolis Colts to become the Vikings new Defensive Coordinator on February 8th. Frazier played Cornerback for the 1985 Chicago Bears, and was fresh off of a Super Bowl XLI victory over his former Bears team when he was hired by the Vikings.
2007 Draft Results
| Round | Pick | Name | Position | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | (7) | Adrian Peterson | Running Back | Oklahoma |
| 2 | (44) | Sidney Rice | Wide Receiver | South Carolina |
| 3 | (72) | Marcus McCauley | Cornerback | Fresno State |
| 4 | (102) | Brian Robison | Defensive End | Texas |
| 5 | (146) | Aundrae Allison | Wide Receiver | East Carolina |
| 6 | (176) | Rufus Alexander | Linebacker | Oklahoma |
| 7 | (217) | Tyler Thigpen | Quarterback | Coastal Carolina |
| 7 | (233) | Chandler Williams | Wide Receiver | Florida International |
2007 Vikings Player Movement
Re-signed- Status
- Chris Kluwe, P Free Agent 1-year ($435,000)
- Heath Farwell, LB Free Agent 1-year ($435,000)
- Anthony Herrera, OG Free Agent 1-year ($850,000)
- Spencer Johnson, DT Free Agent 1-year ($850,000)
- Richard Owens, TE Free Agent 1-year ($850,000)
- Artose Pinner, RB Free Agent 1-year ($850,000)
- Darrion Scott, DE Free Agent 1-year ($850,000)
- Tank Williams, SS Free Agent 1-year ($595,000)
- Drew Henson, QB Free Agent 1-year ($765,000)
Additions- Status (Old Team)
- Visanthe Shiancoe, TE Free Agent (NYG) 5-years ($18.2 Million)
- Vinny Ciurciu, LB Free Agent (CAR) 3-years ($3 Million)
- Bobby Wade, WR Free Agent (TEN) 5-years ($15 Million)
- Mike Doss, S Free Agent (IND) 1-year ($1 Million)
Subtractions- Status (New Team)
- Jason Whittle, OG Free Agent (BUF) 1-year ($720,000)
- Fred Smoot, CB Free Agent (WAS) 5-years ($25 Million)
- Brad Johnson, QB Free Agent (DAL) 3-years ($7.5 Million)
- Napoleon Harris, LB Free Agent (KC) 6-years ($24 Million)
- Bethel Johnson, WR Free Agent (PHI) 1-year
- Jermaine Wiggins, TE Free Agent (JAC) 1-year ($1 Million)
Last Updated 3/23/07 (DTR)
Schedule and standings
Preseason
| Week | Date | Opponent | Time/Result | Venue | Television | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aug 10 | St. Louis Rams | 13-10 L | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | KSTP-TV | 0-1 |
| 2 | Aug 17 | New York Jets | 37-20 W | Giants Stadium | FOX | 1-1 |
| 3 | Aug 25 | Seattle Seahawks | 30-13 L | Qwest Field | KSTP-TV | 1-2 |
| 4 | Aug 30 | Dallas Cowboys | 23-14 W | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | KSTP-TV | 2-2 |
Regular season
Note: Sunday Gametimes might change due to scheduling changes made by the NFL's broadcast partners.
Division Standings
| NFC North | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA | STK | |
| Green Bay Packers | 5 | 1 | 0 | .883 | 142 | 107 | W-1 |
| Detroit Lions | 4 | 2 | 0 | .667 | 140 | 171 | W-1 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 2 | 3 | 0 | .400 | 101 | 90 | W-1 |
| Chicago Bears | 2 | 4 | 0 | .333 | 118 | 149 | L-1 |
Regular season week-by-week results
Week 1: vs. Atlanta Falcons
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Falcons | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Vikings | 7 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 24 |
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: Indoors
- TV announcers (Fox Sports): Ron Pitts (play-by-play), Tony Boselli (color commentator), and Dawn Mitchell (sideline reporter)
- Game attendance (paid): 62,815
- Referee: John Parry
Game summary
The Vikings began their 2007 campaign at home against the Atlanta Falcons. In the first quarter, Minnesota got off to a fast start with DT Kevin Williams returing an interception 54 yards for a touchdown (along with the only score of the half). In the third quarter, kicker Ryan Longwell helped improve the lead with a 49-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, the Falcons would get their only score of the game, with kicker Matt Prater getting a 45-yard field goal. From there, the Vikings dominated for the rest of the game with QB Tarvaris Jackson completing an amazing 60-yard TD pass to rookie RB Adrian Peterson. To seal the win, CB Antoine Winfield would return an interception 14 yards for a touchdown.
With the win, Minnesota began its season at 1-0.
Scoring summary
Q1 - MIN - 7:56 - Kevin Williams 54 yard interception return TD (Ryan Longwell kick) (MIN 7-0)
Q3 - MIN - 1:51 - Ryan Longwell 49 yard FG (MIN 10-0)
Q4 - ATL - 9:28 - Matt Prater 45 yard FG (MIN 10-3)
Q4 - MIN - 7:31 - 60 yard TD pass from Tarvaris Jackson to Adrian Peterson (Longwell kick) (MIN 17-3)
Q4 - MIN - 2:48 - Antoine Winfield 14 yard interception return TD (Longwell kick) (MIN 24-3)
Week 2: at Detroit Lions
at Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vikings | 0 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 17 |
| Lions | 0 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 20 |
- Game time: 4:15 p.m. EST/3:15 p.m. CST
- Game weather: Indoors
- TV announcers (Fox Sports): Matt Vasgersian (play-by-play), J.C. Pearson (color commentator), and Jennifer Hammond (sideline reporter)
- Game attendance (paid): 61,771
- Referee: Bill Leavy
Game summary
Following their easy home win over the Falcons, the Vikings flew to Ford Field for a Week 2 divisional match-up with the Detroit Lions. At stake was first place in the NFC North. After a scoreless first quarter, Minnesota trailed early as Lions QB Jon Kitna completed a 9-yard TD pass to WR Roy Williams. The Vikings would tie the game with QB Tarvaris Jackson getting a 1-yard TD run. However, Detroit retook the lead with kicker Jason Hanson's 30-yard field goal.
In the third quarter, the Lions increased their lead with QB J. T. O'Sullivan's 7-yard TD pass to WR Calvin Johnson. Fortunately, Minnesota would tie the game with kicker Ryan Longwell's 32-yard field goal and DE Ray Edwards' 9-yard fumble return for a touchdown. After both teams failed to score in the fourth quarter, the Vikings would get the ball to begin overtime. However, nine plays into their drive, back-up QB Brooks Bollinger would fumble the ball and Detroit would recover it (which would be the game's 10th overall turnover). In the end, the Lions took the fumble recovery and turn it into Hanson's game-winning 37-yard field goal.
With the loss, Minnesota fell to 1-1.
Scoring summary
Q2 - DET - 11:09 - 9 yard TD pass from Jon Kitna to Roy Williams (Jason Hanson kick) (DET 7-0)
Q2 - MIN - 8:25 - Tarvaris Jackson 1 yard TD run (Ryan Longwell kick) (7-7)
Q2 - DET - 1:06 - Hanson 30 yard FG (DET 10-7)
Q3 - DET - 10:06 - 7 yard TD pass from J. T. O'Sullivan to Calvin Johnson (Hanson kick) (DET 17-7)
Q3 - MIN - 5:57 - Longwell 32 yard FG (DET 17-10)
Q3 - MIN - 5:08 - Ray Edwards 9 yard fumble return TD (Longwell kick) (17-17)
OT - DET - 8:55 - Hanson 37 yard FG (DET 20-17)
Week 3: at Kansas City Chiefs
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vikings | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Chiefs | 0 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 13 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: 83°F (Clear Skies)
- TV announcers (Fox Sports): Matt Vasgersian (play-by-play), J.C. Pearson (color commentator), and Jennifer Hammond (sideline reporter)
- Game attendance: 78,038
- Referee: Walt Anderson
Following their divisional road loss to the Lions, the Vikings flew to Arrowhead Stadium for an interconference duel with the Kansas City Chiefs. In the first quarter, the Vikes got off to a fast start as rookie RB Adrian Peterson got an 11-yard TD run for the only score of the period. In the second quarter, Minnesota increased its lead with kicer Ryan Longwell getting a 22-yard field goal. The Chiefs would end the half with kicker Dave Rayner getting a 39-yard field goal.
However, in the second half, Kansas City took over for the rest of the game. In the third quarter, K.C. drew closer with Rayner kicking a 49-yard field goal, while in the fourth quarter, the Chiefs closed out a win with QB Damon Huard completing a 16-yard TD pass to WR Dwayne Bowe.
With the loss, the Vikings fell to 1-2.
Week 4: vs. Green Bay Packers
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Packers | 7 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 23 |
| Vikings | 0 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 16 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Game time: 1:05 P.M. EDT/12:05 P.M. CDT
- Game attendance: 63,779
- Referee: Ed Hochuli
Trying to snap a two-game skid, the Vikings went home, donned their throwback uniforms, and prepared for an NFC North duel with the Green Bay Packers. With QB Tarvaris Jackson recovering from injuries, QB Kelly Holcomb would get the start for the game. In the first quarter, the Vikes trailed early as QB Brett Favre threw career TD pass #421 to WR Greg Jennings on a 16-yard pass, surpassing Dan Marino for the most career touchdown passes by a quarterback. After Favre was honored for his accomplishment, Minnesota drew close with kicker Ryan Longwell getting a 44-yard and 35-yard field goal. Green Bay would end the half with kicker Mason Crosby getting a 28-yard field goal.
In the third quarter, Minnesota continued to struggle as Crosby gave the Packers a 44-yard field goal. The Vikings would respond with Longwell kicking a 48-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, the Vikes' deficit increased with Crosby nailing a 33-yard field goal, along with Favre completing TD pass #422 to WR James Jones on a 33-yard TD pass. Minnesota tried to rebound with Holcomb completing a 15-yard TD pass to rookie WR Sidney Rice, along with recovering a Green Bay fumble. Unfortunately, the game ended sour for the Vikes as Holcomb was intercepted by Atari Bigby. One positive from the game was that rookie RB Adrian Peterson became the first Vikings rookie RB since Chuck Foreman to get a 100-yard rushing game for his first three games as a starter, as he ran 12 times for 112 yards on the day.
With the loss, the Vikings entered their bye week at 1-3.
Week 6: at Chicago Bears
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vikings | 7 | 7 | 7 | 13 | 34 |
| Bears | 7 | 7 | 0 | 17 | 31 |
Week 7: at Dallas Cowboys
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vikings | 0 | ||||
| Cowboys | 0 |
References
- "National Football League Game Summary: Atlanta Falcons At Minnesota Vikings" (PDF). National Football League. 2007-09-09. Retrieved 2007-09-16.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - "NFL game previews for Week 1". USA Today. 2007-09-06. Retrieved 2007-09-16.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - "Week 2 game previews". USA Today. 2007-09-13. Retrieved 2007-09-16.
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