2015 Minnesota Vikings season

2015 Minnesota Vikings season
OwnerZygi Wilf
General managerRick Spielman
Head coachMike Zimmer
Home fieldTCF Bank Stadium
Results
Record11–5
Division place1st NFC North
Playoff finishLost Wild Card Playoffs
(vs. Seahawks) 9–10
Pro Bowlers
5
AP All-Pros
2
Uniform

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

[edit]

Draft

[edit]
Main article: 2015 NFL draft
Pro Bowler
2015 Minnesota Vikings Draft
Draft order Player name Position College Contract Notes
Round Selection
1 11 Trae Waynes CB Michigan State 4 years / $12.944 million
2 45 Eric Kendricks ILB UCLA 4 years / $5.156 million
3 76 Traded to the Kansas City Chiefs[A]
80 Traded to the Detroit Lions[B] from Chiefs[A]
88 Danielle Hunter DE LSU 4 years / $3.077 million from Lions[B]
4 110 T. J. Clemmings OT Pittsburgh 4 years / $2.804 million
5 137 Traded to the Atlanta Falcons[C] from Buccaneers via Bills[D]
143 MyCole Pruitt TE Southern Illinois 4 years / $2.51 million from Lions via Broncos and Bears[B]
146 Stefon Diggs WR Maryland 4 years / $2.5 million from Falcons[C]
149 Traded to the Miami Dolphins[E]
6 185 Tyrus Thompson OT Oklahoma 4 years / $2.4 million from Falcons[C]
187 Traded to the Buffalo Bills[D]
193 B. J. Dubose DE Louisville 4 years / $2.399 million from Chiefs[A]
7 228 Austin Shepherd OT Alabama 4 years / $2.349 million
232 Edmond Robinson OLB Newberry 4 years / $2.34 million from 49ers via Dolphins[E]

Roster changes

[edit]
Re-signings
Date Player name Position Contract terms
March 8, 2015 Tom Johnson DE 3 years / $7 million[5]
March 10, 2015 Matt Asiata RB 1 year / $800,000[6]
March 11, 2015 Joe Berger C 2 years / $2.155 million[7]
Cullen Loeffler LS 1 year / $1.05 million[8]
March 17, 2015 Mike Harris OT 1 year / $1.542 million[9]
July 4, 2015 John Sullivan C 3 years / $16.7 million[10]
July 26, 2015 Blair Walsh K 4 year / $14 million[11]
Departures
Date Player name Position Note New team
February 27, 2015 Charlie Johnson G Released[12]
March 10, 2015 Matt Cassel QB Traded[D] Buffalo Bills
Jerome Felton FB UFA
March 13, 2015 Christian Ponder QB Oakland Raiders
March 14, 2015 Jasper Brinkley ILB Dallas Cowboys
Greg Jennings WR Released[13] Miami Dolphins
March 16, 2015 Vladimir Ducasse G UFA Chicago Bears
March 26, 2015 Justin Anderson LB Released[14] Dallas Cowboys
Jordan McCray G Released[14]
April 2, 2015 Pat Devlin QB Released[15] Chicago Bears
August 24, 2015 Cullen Loeffler LS Released[16]
August 30, 2015 Joe Banyard RB Released[17] Jacksonville Jaguars
Brandon Bostick TE Arizona Cardinals
Jalil Carter CB
Justin Coleman CB New England Patriots
DaVaris Daniels WR New England Patriots
Stephen Goodin OT Brooklyn Bolts (FXFL)
Josh Kaddu LB
Jordan Leslie WR Jacksonville Jaguars
Caesar Rayford DE Los Angeles Kiss (AFL)
Chrishon Rose DT
DeMarcus Van Dyke CB Atlanta Falcons
September 5, 2015 Babatunde Aiyegbusi OT Waived[18]
October 6, 2015 Gerald Hodges MLB Traded[19] San Francisco 49ers
November 17, 2015 Chase Ford TE Signed off Practice Squad Baltimore Ravens
Additions
Date Player name Position Previous team Contract terms
February 18, 2015 Brandon Bostick TE Green Bay Packers Claimed off waivers[20]
March 11, 2015 Shaun Hill QB St. Louis Rams 2 years / $6.5 million[21]
March 13, 2015 Mike Wallace WR Miami Dolphins Acquired in trade[E]
March 19, 2015 DuJuan Harris RB Green Bay Packers 1 year / $660,000[22]
March 24, 2015 Casey Matthews LB Philadelphia Eagles 1 years / $825,000[23]
Taylor Mays S Cincinnati Bengals 1 year / $795,000[23]
March 26, 2015 Babatunde Aiyegbusi OL Dresden Monarchs (GFL) 3 years / $1.575 million[24]
March 27, 2015 Terence Newman CB Cincinnati Bengals 1 year / $2.25 million[23]
April 2, 2015 Mike Kafka QB Tampa Bay Buccaneers[15] 1 year / $660,000[25]
Caesar Rayford DE Montreal Alouettes (CFL) 1 year / $660,000[26]
April 6, 2015 Kevin McDermott LS Baltimore Ravens 2 years / $1.26 million[27]
May 11, 2015 Isaac Fruechte WR Minnesota Golden Gophers (NCAA) 3 years / $1.575 million[28]
June 9, 2015 Chrishon Rose DT East Carolina Pirates (NCAA) [29]
July 24, 2015 Josh Thomas CB Detroit Lions [30]
August 1, 2015 Ryan Whalen WR Cincinnati Bengals [31]
August 14, 2015 Greg Hickman DT Detroit Lions [32]
October 6, 2015 Nick Easton C San Francisco 49ers Acquired in trade[19]

Preseason

[edit]

Schedule

[edit]

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.

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance NFL.com
recap
HOF August 9 Pittsburgh Steelers W 14–3 1–0 Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium (Canton, Ohio) 22,364 Recap
1 August 15 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 26–16 2–0 TCF Bank Stadium 50,610 Recap
2 August 22 Oakland Raiders W 20–12 3–0 TCF Bank Stadium 50,656 Recap
3 August 29 at Dallas Cowboys W 28–14 4–0 AT&T Stadium 86,082 Recap
4 September 3 at Tennessee Titans L 17–24 4–1 Nissan Stadium 61,294 Recap

Game summaries

[edit]

Hall of Fame Game: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

[edit]
Hall of Fame Game: Minnesota Vikings vs. Pittsburgh Steelers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Steelers 0 3 003
Vikings 0 7 7014

at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, Canton, Ohio

Game information

Week 1: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

[edit]
Preseason Week 1: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Buccaneers 3 6 7016
Vikings 9 14 3026

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
Game information

Week 2: vs. Oakland Raiders

[edit]
Preseason Week 2: Oakland Raiders at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Raiders 6 3 3012
Vikings 0 13 7020

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
Game information

Week 3: at Dallas Cowboys

[edit]
Preseason Week 3: Minnesota Vikings at Dallas Cowboys – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Vikings 3 10 8728
Cowboys 0 14 0014

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
Game information

Week 4: at Tennessee Titans

[edit]
Preseason Week 4: Minnesota Vikings at Tennessee Titans – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Vikings 0 3 7717
Titans 14 0 3724

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
Game information

Regular season

[edit]

Schedule

[edit]

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

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance NFL.com
recap
1 September 14 at San Francisco 49ers L 3–20 0–1 Levi's Stadium 70,499 Recap
2 September 20 Detroit Lions W 26–16 1–1 TCF Bank Stadium 52,319 Recap
3 September 27 San Diego Chargers W 31–14 2–1 TCF Bank Stadium 52,400 Recap
4 October 4 at Denver Broncos L 20–23 2–2 Sports Authority Field at Mile High 77,029 Recap
5 Bye
6 October 18 Kansas City Chiefs W 16–10 3–2 TCF Bank Stadium 52,480 Recap
7 October 25 at Detroit Lions W 28–19 4–2 Ford Field 60,231 Recap
8 November 1 at Chicago Bears W 23–20 5–2 Soldier Field 62,311 Recap
9 November 8 St. Louis Rams W 21–18 (OT) 6–2 TCF Bank Stadium 52,406 Recap
10 November 15 at Oakland Raiders W 30–14 7–2 O.co Coliseum 54,700 Recap
11 November 22 Green Bay Packers L 13–30 7–3 TCF Bank Stadium 52,529 Recap
12 November 29 at Atlanta Falcons W 20–10 8–3 Georgia Dome 70,610 Recap
13 December 6 Seattle Seahawks L 7–38 8–4 TCF Bank Stadium 52,430 Recap
14 December 10 at Arizona Cardinals L 20–23 8–5 University of Phoenix Stadium 64,784 Recap
15 December 20 Chicago Bears W 38–17 9–5 TCF Bank Stadium 52,421 Recap
16 December 27 New York Giants W 49–17 10–5 TCF Bank Stadium 52,455 Recap
17 January 3 at Green Bay Packers W 20–13 11–5 Lambeau Field 78,412 Recap

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

[edit]

Week 1: at San Francisco 49ers

[edit]
Week 1: Minnesota Vikings at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Vikings 0 0 033
49ers 0 7 31020

at Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California

Game information

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

[edit]
Week 2: Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Lions 0 10 0616
Vikings 7 10 6326

at TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Game information

Week 3: vs. San Diego Chargers

[edit]
Week 3: San Diego Chargers at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Chargers 0 7 0714
Vikings 3 7 14731

at TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Game information

Week 4: at Denver Broncos

[edit]
Week 4: Minnesota Vikings at Denver Broncos – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Vikings 0 10 01020
Broncos 3 10 7323

at Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Denver, Colorado

Game information

Week 6: vs. Kansas City Chiefs

[edit]
Week 6: Kansas City Chiefs at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 0 0 01010
Vikings 3 7 3316

at TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Game information

Week 7: at Detroit Lions

[edit]
Week 7: Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Vikings 3 12 10328
Lions 14 3 0219

at Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan

Game information

Week 8: at Chicago Bears

[edit]
Week 8: Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Vikings 7 3 01323
Bears 3 7 3720

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
Game information

Week 9: vs. St. Louis Rams

[edit]
Week 9: St. Louis Rams at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34OTTotal
Rams 6 9 03018
Vikings 10 0 80321

at TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Game information

Week 10: at Oakland Raiders

[edit]
Week 10: Minnesota Vikings at Oakland Raiders – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Vikings 10 10 01030
Raiders 0 14 0014

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
Game information

Week 11: vs. Green Bay Packers

[edit]
Week 11: Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Packers 6 10 31130
Vikings 6 0 7013

at TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Game information

Week 12: at Atlanta Falcons

[edit]
Week 12: Minnesota Vikings at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Vikings 7 0 31020
Falcons 0 3 0710

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
Game information

Week 13: vs. Seattle Seahawks

[edit]
Week 13: Seattle Seahawks at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Seahawks 7 14 14338
Vikings 0 0 707

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
Game information

Week 14: at Arizona Cardinals

[edit]
Week 14: Minnesota Vikings at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Vikings 7 3 01020
Cardinals 10 0 7623

at University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

Game information

Week 15: vs. Chicago Bears

[edit]
Week 15: Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Bears 0 7 3717
Vikings 7 10 71438

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
Game information

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

[edit]
Week 16: New York Giants at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Giants 0 3 7717
Vikings 3 16 131749

at TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Game information

Week 17: at Green Bay Packers

[edit]
Week 17: Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Vikings 3 3 14020
Packers 3 0 01013

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
Game information

Standings

[edit]

Division

[edit]
NFC North
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
(3) Minnesota Vikings 11 5 0 .688 5–1 8–4 365 302 W3
(5) Green Bay Packers 10 6 0 .625 3–3 7–5 368 323 L2
Detroit Lions 7 9 0 .438 3–3 6–6 358 400 W3
Chicago Bears 6 10 0 .375 1–5 3–9 335 397 L1

Conference

[edit]
NFC
# Team Division W L T PCT DIV CONF SOS SOV STK
Division Leaders
1 Carolina Panthers South 15 1 0 .938 5–1 11–1 .441 .438 W1
2 Arizona Cardinals West 13 3 0 .813 4–2 10–2 .477 .457 L1
3 Minnesota Vikings North 11 5 0 .688 5–1 8–4 .504 .449 W3
4 Washington Redskins East 9 7 0 .563 4–2 8–4 .465 .403 W4
Wild Cards
5[a] Green Bay Packers North 10 6 0 .625 3–3 7–5 .531 .450 L2
6[a] Seattle Seahawks West 10 6 0 .625 3–3 7–5 .520 .431 W1
Did not qualify for the postseason
7 Atlanta Falcons South 8 8 0 .500 1–5 5–7 .480 .453 L1
8[b] St. Louis Rams West 7 9 0 .438 4–2 6–6 .527 .482 L1
9[b] Detroit Lions North 7 9 0 .438 3–3 6–6 .535 .429 W3
10[b] Philadelphia Eagles East 7 9 0 .438 3–3 4–8 .508 .473 W1
11[b] New Orleans Saints South 7 9 0 .438 3–3 5–7 .504 .402 W2
12[c] New York Giants East 6 10 0 .375 2–4 4–8 .500 .396 L3
13[c] Chicago Bears North 6 10 0 .375 1–5 3–9 .547 .469 L1
14[c] Tampa Bay Buccaneers South 6 10 0 .375 3–3 5–7 .484 .406 L4
15 San Francisco 49ers West 5 11 0 .313 1–5 4–8 .539 .463 W1
16 Dallas Cowboys East 4 12 0 .250 3–3 3–9 .531 .438 L4
Tiebreakers[d]
  1. ^ a b Green Bay finished ahead of Seattle based on head-to-head victory.
  2. ^ a b c d St. Louis and Detroit finished ahead of Philadelphia and New Orleans based on conference record. St. Louis finished ahead of Detroit based on head-to-head victory.
    Detroit finished ahead of Philadelphia and New Orleans based on head-to-head sweep, while Philadelphia finished ahead of New Orleans based on head-to-head victory.
  3. ^ a b c The New York Giants and Chicago each finished ahead of Tampa Bay based on head-to-head victory, while the Giants finished ahead of Chicago based on conference record.
  4. ^ When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest-ranked remaining team from each division.

Postseason

[edit]
See also: 2015–16 NFL playoffs

Schedule

[edit]
Round Date Opponent (seed) Result Record Venue Attendance NFL.com
recap
Wild Card January 10, 2016 Seattle Seahawks (6) L 9–10 0–1 TCF Bank Stadium 52,090 Recap

Game summaries

[edit]

NFC Wild Card Playoffs: vs. #6 Seattle Seahawks

[edit]
NFC Wild Card Playoffs: #6 Seattle Seahawks at #3 Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Seahawks 0 0 01010
Vikings 3 0 609

at TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Game information

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

[edit]

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

[edit]
2015 Minnesota Vikings roster
Quarterbacks (QB)

Running backs (RB)

Wide receivers (WR)

Tight ends (TE)

Offensive linemen (OL)

Defensive linemen (DL)

Linebackers (LB)

Defensive backs (DB)

Special teams

Practice squad

Reserve

Rookies in italics
53 active, 10 reserve, 10 practice squad

Staff

[edit]
2015 Minnesota Vikings staff

Front office

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning


Statistics

[edit]

Team leaders

[edit]
Category Player(s) Value
Passing yards Teddy Bridgewater 3,231
Passing touchdowns Teddy Bridgewater 14
Rushing yards Adrian Peterson 1,485
Rushing touchdowns Adrian Peterson 11
Receptions Stefon Diggs 52
Receiving yards Stefon Diggs 720
Receiving touchdowns Kyle Rudolph 5
Points Blair Walsh 135
Kickoff return yards Cordarrelle Patterson 1,019
Punt return yards Marcus Sherels 311
Tackles Eric Kendricks 92
Sacks Everson Griffen 10.5
Interceptions Terence Newman 3
Forced fumbles Anthony Barr 3

Source: Minnesota Vikings' official website[40]

League rankings

[edit]
Category Total yards Yards per game NFL rank
(out of 32)
Passing offense 2,928 183.0 31st
Rushing offense 2,211 138.2 4th
Total offense 5,139 321.2 29th
Passing defense 3,759 234.9 12th
Rushing defense 1,748 109.2 17th
Total defense 5,507 344.2 13th

Source: NFL.com.[41]

Notes

[edit]
  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

[edit]
  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.
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  28. ^ "Isaac Fruechte Contract, Salary Cap Details & Breakdowns". Spotrac. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
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  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.
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