2004 Minnesota Vikings

2004 was the 44th year of season play for the Minnesota Vikings and the 85th regular season of the National Football League.

The Vikings finished the 2004 season going 3-7 over the final 10 weeks just like they did in 2003. However, they made the playoffs with an 8-8 record. 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, becoming the second team in NFL history to have a .500 record (8-8) in the regular season and win a playoff game (the first team to do it was the St. Louis Rams, who beat Seattle 27-20 the day before the Vikings-Packers game took place). In the divisional round, the Vikings were defeated by the eventual NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles 27-14, ending their season in a game noted for Viking penalties, turnovers, and other miscues.