2003 Minnesota Vikings

2003 Minnesota Vikings season
Head Coach	Mike Tice
Home Field	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
Results
Record	9–7
Place	2nd NFC North
Playoff Finish	did not qualify
Timeline
Previous Season	Next Season
2002	2004

2003 was the 43rd year of season play for the Minnesota Vikings and the 84th regular season of the National Football League.

The Vikings began 2003 with a fast 6-0 start. However, the Vikings ended up going 3-7 the rest of the season, missing the playoffs when a touchdown reception on 4th-and-long by Arizona Cardinals receiver Nate Poole gave the Vikings a last-second 18-17 loss in their final game. Green Bay won the division at 10-6, while the Vikings were 9-7. The following season the Cardinals hired Dennis Green as their head coach. Green had been Viking head coach from 1992 until the final week of 2001. The Vikings set a new mark for futility during the season when they lost to every 4-12 team (Giants, Chargers, Raiders, and Cardinals) during their 3-7 finish. However, the Vikings were ranked #1 in offense for the 2003 season.

2003 Draft

Round	Pick	Name	Position	College
1	(9)	Kevin Williams	Defensive Tackle	Oklahoma State
2	(40)	E.J. Henderson	Linebacker	Maryland
3	(71)	Nate Burleson	Wide Receiver	Nevada
4	(105)	Onterrio Smith	Running Back	Oregon
6	(180)	Eddie Johnson	Punter	Idaho State
6	(190)	Mike Nattiel	Linebacker	Florida
7	(221)	Keenan Howry	Wide Receiver	Oregon

Personnel

Staff

2003 Minnesota Vikings staff
Front Office Owner – Red McCombs President – Gary Woods Vice President of Football Operations – Rob Brzezinski Head Coaches Head Coach – Mike Tice Offensive Coaches Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks – Scott Linehan Running Backs – Dean Dalton Wide Receivers – Charlie Baggett Tight Ends/Assistant Offensive Line – John Tice Offensive Line – Steve Loney Offensive Quality Control – Randy Hanson			Defensive Coaches Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line – George O'Leary Linebackers – Brian Baker Secondary – Chuck Knox, Jr. Assistant Secondary – Kevin Ross Defensive Assistant/Assistant Defensive Line – Pete Bercich Defensive Quality Control – Jim Panagos Special Teams Coaches Special Teams – Rusty Tillman Strength and Conditioning Strength and Conditioning – Steve Wetzel Assistant Strength and Conditioning – Daryl Lawrence

Regular season

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Venue	Record	Attendance
1	September 7	at Green Bay Packers	W 30-25	Lambeau Field	1 - 0	70,505
2	September 14	Chicago Bears	W 24-13	Metrodome	2 - 0	64,144
3	September 21	at Detroit Lions	W 23-13	Ford Field	3 - 0	60,865
4	September 28	San Francisco 49ers	W 35-7	Metrodome	4 - 0	64,111
5	October 5	at Atlanta Falcons	W 39-26	Georgia Dome	5 - 0	70,427
6	Bye week
7	October 19	Denver Broncos	W 28-20	Metrodome	6 - 0	64,381
8	October 26	New York Giants	L 17-29	Metrodome	6 - 1	64,114
9	November 2	Green Bay Packers	L 27-30	Metrodome	6 - 2	64,482
10	November 9	at San Diego Chargers	L 28-42	Qualcomm Stadium	6 - 3	64,738
11	November 16	at Oakland Raiders	L 18-28	Oakland Coliseum	6 - 4	56,653
12	November 23	Detroit Lions	W 24-14	Metrodome	7 - 4	63,946
13	November 30	at St. Louis Rams	L 17-48	Edward Jones Dome	7 - 5	66,134
14	December 7	Seattle Seahawks	W 34-7	Metrodome	8 - 5	63,968
15	December 14	at Chicago Bears	L 10-13	Soldier Field	8 - 6	61,804
16	December 20	Kansas City Chiefs	W 45-20	Metrodome	9 - 6	64,291
17	December 28	at Arizona Cardinals	L 17-18	Sun Devil Stadium	9 - 7	52,734

Standings

Template:2003 NFC North standings