1997 Minnesota Vikings

1997 Minnesota Vikings season
Head Coach	Dennis Green
Home Field	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
Results
Record	9–7
Place	4th NFC Central
Playoff Finish	Won Wild Card Playoffs (at Giants) 23–22 Lost Divisional Playoffs (at 49ers) 22–38
Timeline
Previous Season	Next Season
1996	1998

1997 was the 37th year of season play for the Minnesota Vikings and the 78th regular season of the National Football League.

The Vikings finished with a record of nine wins and seven losses. Their record was good enough to qualify for a wild card berth. In the wild card round against the New York Giants, the Vikings came back from a 22-13 deficit with 90 seconds to play to defeat the Giants 23-22. It was their first playoff victory since 1988 and their first under head coach Dennis Green. In the Divisional round, the Vikings were defeated by the San Francisco 49ers, 38-22.

Vikings defensive tackle John Randle led the league in sacks with 15.5. Wide receiver Cris Carter's 13 touchdown receptions also were most in the league.

Before the season, the Vikings acquired Randall Cunningham after a year out of the game, a move that reunited Cunningham with his former Philadelphia Eagles teammate Cris Carter.

Personnel

Staff

1997 Minnesota Vikings staff
Front Office Chairman of the Board – John Skoglund President/Chief Executive Officer – Roger Headrick Head Coaches Head Coach – Dennis Green Offensive Coaches Offensive Coordinator – Brian Billick Quarterbacks – Ray Sherman Running Backs – Carl Hargrave Receivers – Chip Myers Tight Ends – Dave Atkins Offensive Line – Mike Tice Coaching Assistant – Wade Harman			Defensive Coaches Defensive Coordinator – Foge Fazio Defensive Line – John Levra Inside Linebackers – Tom Olivadotti Outside Linebackers – Trent Walters Defensive Backs – Richard Solomon Special Teams Coaches Special Teams – Gary Zauner Strength and Conditioning Strength and Conditioning – Steve Wetzel Assistant Strength and Conditioning – Jeff Friday

Regular season

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Attendance
1	August 31	at Buffalo Bills	W 34-13	79,139
2	September 7	at Chicago Bears	W 27-24	59,263
3	September 14	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	L 28-14	63,697
4	September 21	at Green Bay Packers	L 38-32	60,115
5	September 28	Philadelphia Eagles	W 28-19	55,149
6	October 5	at Arizona Cardinals	W 20-19	45,550
7	October 12	Carolina Panthers	W 21-14	62,625
8	Bye week
9	October 26	at Tampa Bay Buccaneers	W 10-6	66,815
10	November 2	New England Patriots	W 23-18	62,917
11	November 9	Chicago Bears	W 29-22	63,443
12	November 16	at Detroit Lions	L 38-15	68,910
13	November 23	at New York Jets	L 23-21	70,131
14	December 1	Green Bay Packers	L 27-11	64,001
15	December 7	at San Francisco 49ers	L 28-17	55,761
16	December 14	Detroit Lions	L 14-13	60,982
17	December 21	Indianapolis Colts	W 39-28	54,107

Standings

NFC Central
Team	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA
Green Bay Packers	13	3	0	.813	422	282
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	10	6	0	.625	299	263
Detroit Lions	9	7	0	.563	379	306
Minnesota Vikings	9	7	0	.563	354	359
Chicago Bears	4	12	0	.250	263	421

Roster

Quarterbacks 14 Brad Johnson  7 Randall Cunningham Running Backs 26 Robert Smith 44 Leroy Hoard 32 Robert Green 31 Scottie Graham 21 Moe Williams 29 Chuck Evans 33 Harold Morrow Wide Receivers 80 Chris Carter 86 Jake Reed 89 Matthew Hatchette 81 Chris Walsh 22 David Palmer 84 Tony Bland Tight Ends 89 Andrew Jordan 87 Hunter Goodwin 85 Greg DeLong 82 Andrew Glover

Offensive Linemen 73 Todd Steussie 77 Korey Stringer 76 Scott Dill 71 David Dixon 61 Everett Lindsay 78 Bob Sapp 64 Randall McDaniel 69 LeShun Daniels 74 Orlando Bobo 62 Jeff Christy 68 Mike Morris Defensive Linemen 90 Derrick Alexander 92 Duane Clemons 95 Fernando Smith 99 Stalin Colinet 96 Jerry Ball 72 Jason Fisk 93 John Randle 94 Tony Williams

Linebackers 58 Ed McDaniel 59 Dixon Edwards 50 Jeff Brady 56 Pete Bercich 55 Ron George 57 Dwayne Rudd Defensive Backs 42 Orlando Thomas 24 Robert Griffith 23 Torrian Gray 31 Duane Butler 43 Greg Briggs 83 Robert Tate 37 Leonard Wheeler 20 Dewayne Washington 40 Anthony Prior 27 Corey Fuller Special Teams  3 Eddie Murray  5 Greg Davis 17 Mitch Berger

Playoffs

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Attendance
Wildcard	December 27	at New York Giants	W 23-22	77,497
Division	January 3	at San Francisco 49ers	L 38-22	65,018

Awards and records

• David Palmer, NFL Kickoff Return Leader