1988 Minnesota Vikings season

NFL team season August 2023 March 2026 Minnesota Vikings 1988 11–5 2nd NFC Central Jerry Burns Bob Schnelker Floyd Peters Mike Lynn Metrodome Won Wild Card Playoffs(vs. Rams) 28–17Lost Divisional Playoffs(at 49ers) 9–34 S Joey BrownerWR Anthony CarterDE Chris DolemanTE Steve JordanCB Carl LeeDT Keith MillardLB Scott StudwellQB Wade WilsonT Gary Zimmerman S Joey Browner (1st team)CB Carl Lee (1st team)DT Keith Millard (1st team)T Gary Zimmerman (1st team) File:Vikings1987-88.png Vikings seasons The 1988 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 28th in the National Football League. They finished with an 11–5 record, and finished second to the Chicago Bears in the NFC Central division. The Vikings had one of the best defenses in the NFL in 1988. The team allowed 4,091 total yards, 4.3 yards per play, and 243 first downs, all best in the league. The Vikings also had a league-best 53 takeaways.Pro-Football-Reference.com: 1988 NFL Opposition & Defensive Statistics Opposing quarterbacks had a league-worst 41.2 passer rating against the Vikings' defense, the lowest total of the 1980s and fifth all-time for the Super Bowl era.Cold Hard Football Facts: Shutdown! The greatest pass defenses in history The Vikings made the postseason for the second consecutive time under coach Jerry Burns. They defeated the Los Angeles Rams 28–17 in the wildcard round, but lost 34–9 in the divisional round to the San Francisco 49ers, who went on to win their third Super Bowl. This was the last time the Vikings won a playoff game until 1997. Offseason 1988 draft 1988 NFL draft Hall of Famer 1988 Minnesota Vikings Draft Draft order Player name Position College Notes Round Selection 1 19 Randall McDaniel Guard Arizona State 2 45 Traded to the Denver BroncosBroncos The Vikings traded their second-round selection (45th overall) to the Broncos in exchange for the second-, fourth- and sixth-round selections (54th, 108th and 164th overall). 54 Brad Edwards Safety South Carolina From BroncosBroncos 3 71 Al Noga Defensive end Hawaii 4 97 Traded to the New England PatriotsPatriots The Vikings traded their fourth- and 11th-round selections (97th and 294th overall) to the Patriots in exchange for QB Rich Gannon. 108 Todd Kalis Guard Arizona State From BroncosBroncos 5 124 Darrell Fullington Safety Miami (FL) 6 156 Traded to the Miami DolphinsThe Vikings traded their sixth-round selection (156th overall) and a 1989 10th-round selection (275th overall) to the Dolphins for OT Greg Koch. 164 Derrick White Defensive back Oklahoma From BroncosBroncos 7 183 Brad Beckman Tight end Nebraska–Omaha 8 210 Joe Cain Linebacker Oregon Tech 9 237 Paul McGowan Linebacker Florida State 10 264 Brian Habib Offensive tackle Washington 11 296 Norman Floyd Safety South Carolina From Vikings,Patriots via PatriotsThe Vikings traded their 1989 ninth-round selection to the Patriots in exchange for the 11th-round selection that New England received in the Gannon trade (296th overall).Patriots 12 323 Traded to the New York GiantsThe Vikings traded their 12th-round selection (323rd overall) to the Giants in exchange for C Chris Foote. Notes: Supplemental draft 1988 NFL draft#Supplemental draft Round Name Position College Notes 5 Ryan Bethea Defensive back South Carolina Resulted in forfeiture of 1989 fifth-round selection. Undrafted free agents + 1988 undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegeBob FurlongGuardWisconsin–Stevens PointMike GreenfieldQuarterbackNorthwesternDarryl HarrisRunning backArizona StateVan SheppardWide receiverNebraskaReggie WardWide receiverNotre Dame Staff 1988 Minnesota Vikings #3B0160 white #F0BF00 President – Wheelock Whitney, Jr. General manager – Mike Lynn Head coach – Jerry Burns Offensive coordinator – Bob Schnelker Receivers – Dick Rehbein Offensive assistant/wide receivers – Jerry Brown Running backs – John Brunner Offensive line – John Michels Defensive coordinator – Floyd Peters Defensive line – Paul Wiggin Linebackers – Monte Kiffin Defensive backs – Pete Carroll Special teams/tight ends – Tom Batta 2010 Minnesota Vikings Media Guide 265 http://www.vikings.com/news/media-guide.html February 18, 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20101224103239/http://www.vikings.com/news/media-guide.html December 24, 2010 dead Roster 1988 Minnesota Vikings 47 4 16 Rich Gannon  9 Tommy Kramer 11 Wade Wilson American football 46 Alfred Anderson American football FB 42 D. J. Dozier 31 Rick Fenney FB 32 Darryl Harris running back KR y 20 Darrin Nelson 36 Allen Rice 81 Anthony Carter American football 80 Jim Gustafson 84 Hassan Jones 87 Leo Lewis wide receiver PR 82 Carl Hilton 83 Steve Jordan tight end 86 Mike Mularkey 62 Chris Foote American football C 76 Tim Irwin T 69 Todd Kalis G y 63 Kirk Lowdermilk C 64 Randall McDaniel G y 52 Randy Rasmussen American football b. 1960 C/G 66 Terry Tausch G 65 Gary Zimmerman T 60 Al Baker DE 78 Barry Bennett DT 56 Chris Doleman DE 73 Stafford Mays DT 75 Keith Millard DT 96 Tim Newton DT 99 Al Noga DE y 97 Henry Thomas American football DT 58 Walker Lee Ashley MLB 50 Ray Berry OLB 51 David Howard linebacker OLB 54 Jesse Solomon OLB 55 Scott Studwell MLB 47 Joey Browner SS 27 Brad Edwards American football FS y 29 Darrell Fullington FS y 44 John Harris safety FS 24 Wymon Henderson CB 30 Issiac Holt CB 39 Carl Lee American football CB 48 Reggie Rutland CB  1 Chuck Nelson K 13 Bucky Scribner P -- Norman Floyd y S IR 74 Brian Habib y G IR 72 Dave Huffman G IR 79 Doug Martin defensive end DE IR None Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendancehttps://www.profootballarchives.com/1988nflmin.html 1988 Minnesota Vikings (NFL) - Pro Football Archives Notes 1 August 7 New Orleans Saints L 20–23 0–1 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 47,624 2 August 14 Chicago Bears W 28–21 1–1 Ullevi Stadium (Gothenburg, Sweden) 33,115 Volvo American Football Classic 3 August 21 at Phoenix Cardinals W 19–16 (OT) 2–1 Sun Devil Stadium 45,429 4 August 26 Miami Dolphins W 24–17 3–1 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 51,463 Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 September 4 at Buffalo Bills L 10–13 0–1 Rich Stadium 76,783 2 September 11 New England Patriots W 36–6 1–1 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 55,545 3 September 18 at Chicago Bears W 31–7 2–1 Soldier Field 63,990 4 September 25 Philadelphia Eagles W 23–21 3–1 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 56,012 5 October 2 at Miami Dolphins L 7–24 3–2 Joe Robbie Stadium 59,867 6 October 9 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 14–13 4–2 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 55,274 7 October 16 Green Bay Packers L 14–34 4–3 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 59,053 8 October 23 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 49–20 5–3 Tampa Stadium 48,020 9 October 30 at San Francisco 49ers L 21–24 5–4 Candlestick Park 60,738 10 November 6 Detroit Lions W 44–17 6–4 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 55,573 11 November 13 at Dallas Cowboys W 43–3 7–4 Texas Stadium 57,830 12 November 20 Indianapolis Colts W 12–3 8–4 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 58,342 13 November 24 at Detroit Lions W 23–0 9–4 Silverdome 46,379 14 December 4 New Orleans Saints W 45–3 10–4 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 61,215 15 December 11 at Green Bay Packers L 6–18 10–5 Lambeau Field 48,892 16 December 19 Chicago Bears W 28–27 11–5 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 62,067 Game summaries Week 5: at Miami Dolphins Minnesota Vikings 1988 2;text-align:center; autocollapse Week 5: Minnesota Vikings at Miami Dolphins – Game summary October 2 4:00 p.m. EST Vikings 0 0 0 7 Dolphins 0 17 7 0 Joe Robbie Stadium, Miami, Florida 59,867 88 F C Jerry Markbreit (9) CBS Dick Stockton and Dan Fouts Pro-Football-Reference First quarter No scoring plays. Second quarter MIA – Fuad Reveiz 38-yard field goal. Dolphins 3–0. MIA – Jim Jensen 3-yard pass from Dan Marino (Fuad Reveiz kick). Dolphins 10–0. MIA – Lorenzo Hampton 1-yard pass from Dan Marino (Fuad Reveiz kick). Dolphins 17–0. Third quarter MIA – Lorenzo Hampton 5-yard pass from Dan Marino (Fuad Reveiz kick). Dolphins 24–0. Fourth quarter MIN – Carl Lee 48-yard interception return (Chuck Nelson kick). Dolphins 24–7. Top passers MIN – Tommy Kramer – 13/33, 220 yards, 4 INT MIA – Dan Marino – 20/37, 264 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT Top rushers MIN – Allen Rice – 4 rushes, 20 yards MIA – Troy Stradford – 7 rushes, 42 yards Top receivers MIN – Anthony Carter – 4 receptions, 92 yards MIA – Mark Duper – 6 receptions, 81 yards Week 11: at Dallas Cowboys Minnesota Vikings 1988 2;text-align:center; autocollapse Week 11: Minnesota Vikings at Dallas Cowboys – Game summary November 13 7:00 p.m. Vikings 17 0 17 9 Cowboys 0 3 0 0 Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas 57,830 59 F C Pro-Football-Reference.com First quarter MIN – Hassan Jones 26-yard pass from Wade Wilson (Chuck Nelson kick). Vikings 7–0. MIN – Henry Thomas 2-yard fumble return (Chuck Nelson kick). Vikings 14–0. MIN – Chuck Nelson 39-yard field goal. Vikings 17–0. Second quarter DAL – Roger Ruzek 50-yard field goal. Vikings 17–3. Third quarter MIN – Hassan Jones 64-yard pass from Wade Wilson (Chuck Nelson kick). Vikings 24–3. MIN – Chuck Nelson 27-yard field goal. Vikings 27–3. MIN – Steve Jordan 3-yard pass from Wade Wilson (Chuck Nelson kick). Vikings 34–3. Fourth quarter MIN – D. J. Dozier 19-yard run (Chuck Nelson kick). Vikings 41–3. MIN – Kevin Sweeney tackled by Al Baker in the end zone for a safety. Vikings 43–3. Top passers MIN – Wade Wilson – 12/27, 240 yards, 3 TD, INT DAL – Kevin Sweeney – 10/28, 93 yards, 4 INT Top rushers MIN – D. J. Dozier – 4 rushes, 36 yards, TD DAL – Herschel Walker – 21 rushes, 86 yards Top receivers MIN – Hassan Jones – 3 receptions, 132 yards, 2 TD DAL – Michael Irvin – 2 receptions, 42 yards Standings Playoffs 1988–89 NFL playoffs thumb|upright|A ticket for the 1988 NFC Wildcard Game between the Vikings and the Rams Schedule Week Date Opponent (seed) Result Record Venue Attendance Wild Card December 26 Los Angeles Rams (5) W 28–17 1–0 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 57,666 Divisional January 1 at San Francisco 49ers (2) L 9–34 1–1 Candlestick Park 61,848 Game summaries NFC Wild Card: vs. (#5) Los Angeles Rams Minnesota Vikings 1988 2;text-align:center; autocollapse NFC Wild Card Playoff: (#5) Los Angeles Rams at (#4) Minnesota Vikings – Game summary December 26, 1988 2:30 p.m. EST/1:30 p.m. CST Rams 0 7 3 7 Vikings 14 0 7 7 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota 57,666 Dick Hantak CBS Pat Summerall (play-by-play) and John Madden (color commentator) Pro-Football-Reference.com First quarter MIN – Alfred Anderson 7-yard run (Chuck Nelson kick). Vikings 7–0. MIN – Allen Rice 17-yard run (Chuck Nelson kick). Vikings 14–0. Second quarter LAR – Damone Johnson 3-yard pass from Jim Everett (Mike Lansford kick). Vikings 14–7. Third quarter MIN – Alfred Anderson 1-yard run (Chuck Nelson kick). Vikings 21–7. LAR – Mike Lansford 33-yard field goal. Vikings 21–10. Fourth quarter MIN – Carl Hilton 5-yard pass from Wade Wilson (Chuck Nelson kick). Vikings 28–10. LAR – Pete Holohan 11-yard pass from Jim Everett (Mike Lansford kick). Vikings 28–17. Top passers LAR – Jim Everett – 19/45, 247 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT MIN – Wade Wilson – 17/28, 253 yards, TD Top rushers LAR – Greg Bell – 17 rushes, 91 yards MIN – Allen Rice – 17 rushes, 79 yards, TD Top receivers LAR – Henry Ellard – 4 receptions, 54 yards MIN – Anthony Carter – 4 receptions, 102 yards NFC Divisional Playoffs: at (#2) San Francisco 49ers Minnesota Vikings 1988 2;text-align:center; autocollapse NFC Divisional Playoff: (#4) Minnesota Vikings at (#2) San Francisco 49ers – Game summary January 1, 1989 4:00 p.m. EST/1:00 p.m. PST Vikings 3 0 6 0 49ers 7 14 0 13 Candlestick Park, San Francisco 61,848 Jerry Markbreit CBS Pat Summerall and John Madden Pro-Football-Reference.com First quarter MIN – Chuck Nelson 47-yard field goal. Vikings 3–0. SF – Jerry Rice 2-yard pass from Joe Montana (Mike Cofer kick) 49ers 7–3. Second quarter SF – Jerry Rice 4-yard pass from Joe Montana (Mike Cofer kick). 49ers 14–3. SF – Jerry Rice 11-yard pass from Joe Montana (Mike Cofer kick). 49ers 21–3. Third quarter MIN – Hassan Jones 5-yard pass from Wade Wilson (kick failed). 49ers 21–9. Fourth quarter SF – Roger Craig 4-yard run (Mike Cofer kick). 49ers 28–9. SF – Roger Craig 80-yard run (kick failed). 49ers 34–9. Top passers MIN – Wade Wilson – 23/47, 255 yards, TD, 2 INT SF – Joe Montana – 16/27, 178 yards, 3 TD, INT Top rushers MIN – Allen Rice – 5 rushes, 20 yards SF – Roger Craig – 21 rushes, 135 yards, 2 TD Top receivers MIN – Hassan Jones – 7 receptions, 71 yards, TD SF – Jerry Rice – 5 receptions, 61 yards, 3 TD Statistics Team leaders Category Player(s) Value Passing yards Wade Wilson 2,746 Passing touchdowns Wade Wilson 15 Rushing yards Darrin Nelson 380 Rushing touchdowns Alfred Anderson 7 Receiving yards Anthony Carter 1,225 Receiving touchdowns Anthony Carter 6 Points Chuck Nelson 108 Kickoff return yards Darryl Harris 833 Punt return yards Leo Lewis 550 * Tackles Jesse Solomon 124 Sacks Chris DolemanKeith Millard 8.0 Interceptions Carl Lee 8 Forced fumbles Henry Thomas 4 * Vikings single season record League rankings Category Total yards Yards per game NFL rank(out of 28) Passing offense 3,789 236.8 4th Rushing offense 1,806 112.9 20th Total offense 5,595 349.7 7th Passing defense 2,489 155.6 2nd Rushing defense 1,602 100.1 5th Total defense 4,091 255.7 1st References Vikings on Pro Football Reference Vikings on jt-sw.com Category:Minnesota Vikings seasons Minnesota Minnesota Vikings