1982 Minnesota Vikings season

NFL team season; first one in the Metrodome August 2023 March 2026 Minnesota Vikings 1982 5–4 4th NFC (2nd NFC Central) Bud Grant Jerry Burns Bob Hollway Mike Lynn Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Won Wild Card Playoffs(vs. Falcons) 30–24Lost Divisional Playoffs(at Redskins) 7–21 LB Matt Blair File:Vikings1975-86.png Vikings seasons The 1982 Minnesota Vikings season was the team's 22nd season in the National Football League (NFL) and their first in the newly constructed Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. The team was looking to improve on its 7–9 record from 1981. However, a players strike meant seven of the team's 16 games were canceled, and each NFL team was only able to play nine games. The Vikings won their opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before losing the next week to the Buffalo Bills, a game in which they had a 19–0 lead before the Bills pulled off a comeback to win 23–22. After the strike ended, the Vikings lost 26–7 to the Packers in Green Bay before beating the Bears 35–7 the following week to sit at 2–2. After a loss to the Dolphins, the Vikings won their next two games to sit at 4–3. In their final game of the season, they upset the Dallas Cowboys 31–27 to clinch the NFC's fourth place spot in the playoffsDivisions were ignored in 1982 and standings were determined by conference. In the playoffs, the Vikings defeated the Atlanta Falcons 30–24 to reach the divisional round. However, in that game, they lost 21–7 to the eventual champion Redskins. Offseason 1982 draft 1982 NFL draft Pro Bowler 1982 Minnesota Vikings Draft Draft order Player name Position College Notes Round Selection 1 7 Darrin Nelson Running back Stanford 2 39 Terry Tausch Guard Texas 3 66 Traded to the New Orleans Saints"Saintstrade" The Vikings traded their third-round selection (66th overall) to the Saints in exchange for RB Tony Galbreath. 4 92 Jim Fahnhorst Linebacker Minnesota 5 120 Traded to the Miami Dolphins"Dolphinstrade" The Vikings traded their fifth-round selection (120th overall) and a 1981 sixth-round selection (154th overall) to the Dolphins in exchange for C Jim Langer. 6 147 Greg Storr Linebacker Boston College 7 179 Steve Jordan Tight end Brown 8 206 Kirk Harmon Linebacker Pacific 9 233 Bryan Howard Defensive back Tennessee State 10 260 Gerald Lucear Wide receiver Temple 11 286 Curtis Rouse Guard Chattanooga 12 318 Hobson Milner Running back Cincinnati Notes Roster 1982 Minnesota Vikings 12 Steve Dils  9 Tommy Kramer 11 Wade Wilson American football 23 Ted Brown American football 32 Tony Galbreath 36 Sam Harrell 20 Darrin Nelson y 31 Eddie Payton 22 Jarvis Redwine 34 Rickey Young 89 Harold Jackson American football 80 Terry LeCount 87 Leo Lewis wide receiver 84 Sam McCullum 85 Sammy White American football 83 Steve Jordan tight end y 81 Joe Senser 62 Brent Boyd G 61 Wes Hamilton G 51 Jim Hough G 56 Dave Huffman C/G 76 Tim Irwin T 78 Steve Riley American football T 68 Curtis Rouse y G/T 67 Dennis Swilley C 66 Terry Tausch y T 75 Randy Holloway DE 65 Charlie Johnson defensive tackle NT 79 Doug Martin defensive end DE 77 Mark Mullaney DE 72 James White defensive tackle NT 91 Ray Yakavonis DE 59 Matt Blair OLB 52 Dennis Johnson linebacker ILB 53 Henry Johnson American football ILB 54 Fred McNeill OLB 57 Robin Sendlein OLB 50 Jeff Siemon ILB 55 Scott Studwell ILB 21 Rufus Bess CB 45 Tommy Hannon SS 24 Bryan Howard y no SS 25 Kurt Knoff FS 49 Keith Nord FS 29 John Swain CB 37 Willie Teal CB 27 John Turner American football FS/CB  8 Greg Coleman American football P  7 Rick Danmeier K 82 Bob Bruer TE IR 73 Neil Elshire DE IR 88 Mardye McDole WR IR 28 Ahmad Rashad WR IR 71 Bill Stephanos no T IR -- Greg Storr no y LB NF-Inj. Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendancehttps://www.profootballarchives.com/1982nflmin.html 1982 Minnesota Vikings (NFL) - Pro Football Archives 1 August 7, 1982 Baltimore ColtsHall of Fame Game W 30–14 1–0 Fawcett Stadium (Canton, Ohio) 23,379 2 August 14, 1982 at Atlanta Falcons L 17–20 1–1 Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium 49,831 3 August 21, 1982 Seattle Seahawks W 7–3 2–1 Hubert H. Humphrey MetrodomeFirst Vikings game at the Metrodome 57,880 4 August 28, 1982 at Denver Broncos L 17–27 2–2 Mile High Stadium 73,371 5 September 3, 1982 New Orleans Saints W 24–21 3–2 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 59,810 Regular season The Vikings opened their new stadium with a 17–10 win over Tampa Bay in the season opener. A close loss to Buffalo on the road followed. The season was then interrupted by the players' 57-day strike that reduced the NFL regular season to nine games. Upon resumption of play in November, the Vikings went 4–3 to close out the abbreviated regular season and closed the campaign with a 5–4 record. Games against Chicago, Detroit, Green Bay, New Orleans, San Francisco, Tampa Bay and Washington were canceled. As three of Minnesota's losses were to AFC opponents, their 4–1 conference record put them at the top of a logjam of teams with similar records in the playoff seedings. In 1982, the NFL took the top eight teams from each conference regardless of division record for playoff consideration. The Vikings earned the #4 seed based on this tiebreaker and home field advantage in round one. In their opening round playoff game, the Vikings took on the Atlanta Falcons. The game was a back-and-forth affair that saw Minnesota take a 13–7 halftime lead, only to see the Falcons retake the lead late in the final period on a 41-yard field goal by Mick Luckhurst. With just under two minutes remaining, the Vikings began a game-winning drive that culminated in a Ted Brown 5-yard touchdown run to win the game and send the Vikings on to round two. In the second round, the Vikings were defeated by the eventual Super Bowl champion Washington Redskins, 21–7, at RFK Stadium. The Vikings trailed 14–0 after one quarter. Ted Brown's touchdown run in the second period cut it to 14–7, but Joe Theismann hit Alvin Garrett late in the quarter with an 18-yard touchdown strike to make it 21–7. Neither team scored in the second half. QB Tommy Kramer threw for 2,037 yards and 15 touchdowns in the short season. RB Ted Brown had 515 yards to lead all rushers, and WR Sammy White tallied 503 yards and five touchdowns to lead receivers. LB Matt Blair anchored the Vikings defense and also made the 1982 Pro Bowl. Schedule Week Originalweek Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 1 September 12 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 17–10 1–0 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 58,440 2 2 September 16, 1982 at Buffalo Bills L 22–23 1–1 Rich Stadium 77,753 — 3 September 26 Dallas Cowboys Postponed 1–1 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome1982 NFL players strike — 4 October 3 at Chicago Bears Canceled 1–1 Soldier Field — 5 October 10 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tampa Stadium — 6 October 17 New Orleans Saints Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome — 7 October 24 Green Bay Packers Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome — 8 November 1 Detroit Lions Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome — 9 November 7 at San Francisco 49ers Candlestick Park — 10 November 14 at Washington Redskins Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium 3 11 November 21 at Green Bay Packers L 7–26 1–2 Milwaukee County Stadium 44,681 4 12 November 28 Chicago Bears W 35–7 2–2 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 54,724 5 13 December 5 at Miami Dolphins L 14–22 2–3 Miami Orange Bowl 45,721 6 14 December 12 Baltimore Colts W 13–10 3–3 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 53,981 7 15 December 19 at Detroit Lions W 34–31 4–3 Pontiac Silverdome 73,058 8 16 December 26 New York Jets L 14–42 4–4 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 58,672 9 17 January 3, 1983 Dallas Cowboys W 31–27 5–4 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 60,007Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. Game summaries Week 1: vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers Minnesota Vikings 1982 2;text-align:center; autocollapse Week 1: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary September 12 12:00 p.m. CDT Buccaneers 3 0 0 7 Vikings 0 7 7 3 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota 58,440 None (indoor stadium) Gene Barth Recap, Game Book First quarter TB – Bill Capece 51-yard field goal, 2:00. Buccaneers 3–0. Drive: 8 plays, 47 yards, 4:55. Second quarter MIN – Rickey Young 3-yard run (Rick Danmeier kick), 6:31. Vikings 7–3. Drive: 12 plays, 77 yards, 5:19. Third quarter MIN – Sammy White 22-yard pass from Tommy Kramer (Rick Danmeier kick), 6:48. Vikings 14–3. Drive: 14 plays, 81 yards, 8:12. Fourth quarter TB – Jimmie Giles 20-yard pass from Doug Williams (Bill Capece kick), 5:06. Vikings 14–10. Drive: 9 plays, 80 yards, 3:30. MIN – Rick Danmeier 33-yard field goal, 2:06. Vikings 17–10. Drive: 4 plays, 7 yards, 1:13. Top passers TB – Doug Williams – 21/38, 290 yards, TD, 3 INT MIN – Tommy Kramer – 16/28, 131 yards, TD Top rushers TB – James Owens – 12 rushes, 31 yards MIN – Ted Brown – 12 rushes, 56 yards Top receivers TB – Jimmie Giles – 5 receptions, 100 yards, TD MIN – Sammy White – 2 receptions, 35 yards, TD Week 4: vs Chicago Bears Minnesota Vikings 1982 2;text-align:center; autocollapse Week 4: Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary November 28 12:00 p.m. CST Bears 0 7 0 0 Vikings 0 14 7 14 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota 54,724 None (indoor stadium) Red Cashion Recap, Game Book First quarter No scoring plays. Second quarter CHI – Emery Moorehead 50-yard pass from Jim McMahon (John Roveto kick), 14:53. Bears 7–0. Drive: 2 plays, 55 yards, 0:47. MIN – Sammy White 5-yard pass from Tommy Kramer (Rick Danmeier kick), 9:07. Tied 7–7. Drive: 4 plays, 49 yards, 2:16. MIN – Joe Senser 1-yard pass from Tommy Kramer (Rick Danmeier kick), 2:43. Vikings 14–7. Drive: 8 plays, 42 yards, 3:45. Third quarter MIN – Sammy White 8-yard pass from Tommy Kramer (Rick Danmeier kick), 5:44. Vikings 21–7. Drive: 8 plays, 95 yards, 3:37. Fourth quarter MIN – Leo Lewis 31-yard pass from Tommy Kramer (Rick Danmeier kick), 12:48. Vikings 28–7. Drive: 2 plays, 43 yards, 0:52. MIN – Sammy White 13-yard pass from Tommy Kramer (Rick Danmeier kick), 6:17. Vikings 35–7. Drive: 6 plays, 67 yards, 2:38. Top passers CHI – Jim McMahon – 12/20, 139 yards, TD, INT MIN – Tommy Kramer – 26/35, 342 yards, 5 TD, 2 INT Top rushers CHI – Walter Payton – 12 rushes, 67 yards MIN – Ted Brown – 5 rushes, 43 yards Top receivers CHI – Emery Moorehead – 4 receptions, 79 yards, TD MIN – Sammy White – 10 receptions, 177 yards, 3 TD Week 5: at Miami Dolphins Minnesota Vikings 1982 2;text-align:center; autocollapse Week 5: Minnesota Vikings at Miami Dolphins – Game summary December 5 1:00 p.m. EST Vikings 0 7 0 7 Dolphins 6 3 3 10 Miami Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida 45,721 Clear, 82 F C 1 Fred Silva Recap, Game Book First quarter MIA – David Woodley 1-yard run (kick blocked), 2:48. Dolphins 6–0. Drive: 9 plays, 64 yards, 5:08. Second quarter MIN – Tommy Kramer 18-yard run (Rick Danmeier kick), 12:10. Vikings 7–6. Drive: 11 plays, 82 yards, 5:38. MIA – Uwe von Schamann 34-yard field goal, 0:00. Dolphins 9–7. Drive: 3 plays, 36 yards, 0:17. Third quarter MIA – Uwe von Schamann 28-yard field goal, 5:48. Dolphins 12–7. Drive: 16 plays, 62 yards, 9:12. Fourth quarter MIA – Andra Franklin 9-yard run (Uwe von Schamann kick), 14:17. Dolphins 19–7. Drive: 8 plays, 52 yards, 4:12. MIN – Tony Galbreath 1-yard run (Rick Danmeier kick), 9:25. Dolphins 19–14. Drive: 5 plays, 22 yards, 2:22. MIA – Uwe von Schamann 24-yard field goal, 1:46. Dolphins 22–14. Drive: 6 plays, 23 yards, 2:44. Top passers MIN – Tommy Kramer – 16/28, 127 yards, 3 INT MIA – David Woodley – 13/20, 132 yards Top rushers MIN – Darrin Nelson – 6 rushes, 36 yards MIA – Andra Franklin – 28 rushes, 129 yards, TD Top receivers MIN – Sammy White – 2 receptions, 32 yards MIA – Jimmy Cefalo – 2 receptions, 71 yards Week 6: vs Baltimore Colts Minnesota Vikings 1982 2;text-align:center; autocollapse Week 6: Baltimore Colts at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary December 12 12:00 p.m. CST Colts 0 3 7 0 Vikings 7 0 3 3 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota 53,981 None (indoor stadium) Jerry Markbreit Recap, Game Book First quarter MIN – Sammy White 24-yard pass from Tommy Kramer (Rick Danmeier kick), 4:49. Vikings 7–0. Drive: 10 plays, 65 yards, 4:43. Second quarter BAL – Mike Wood 39-yard field goal, 10:57. Vikings 7–3. Drive: 13 plays, 56 yards, 6:50. Third quarter BAL – Jim Burroughs 94-yard interception return (Mike Wood kick), 6:42. Colts 10–7. MIN – Rick Danmeier 23-yard field goal, 3:21. Tied 10–10. Drive: 9 plays, 56 yards, 3:11. Fourth quarter MIN – Rick Danmeier 40-yard field goal, 9:09. Vikings 13–10. Drive: 9 plays, 48 yards, 4:41. Top passers BAL – Mike Pagel – 14/32, 116 yards, 2 INT MIN – Tommy Kramer – 19/35, 258 yards, TD, INT Top rushers BAL – Curtis Dickey – 13 rushes, 42 yards MIN – Ted Brown – 20 rushes, 75 yards Top receivers BAL – Randy McMillan – 5 receptions, 32 yards MIN – Sammy White – 3 receptions, 78 yards, TD Week 8: vs New York Jets Minnesota Vikings 1982 2;text-align:center; autocollapse Week 8: New York Jets at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary December 26 3:00 p.m. CST Jets 7 14 7 14 Vikings 0 7 0 7 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota 58,672 None (indoor stadium) Gene Barth Recap, Game Book First quarter NYJ – Freeman McNeil 2-yard run (Pat Leahy kick), 6:07. Jets 7–0. Drive: 8 plays, 80 yards, 4:54. Second quarter NYJ – Bobby Jackson 80-yard return of blocked field goal (Pat Leahy kick), 5:43. Jets 14–0. NYJ – Freeman McNeil 1-yard run (Pat Leahy kick), 5:17. Jets 21–0. Drive: 3 plays, 9 yards, 0:22. MIN – Tommy Kramer 1-yard run (Rick Danmeier kick), 0:32. Jets 21–7. Drive: 11 plays, 84 yards, 4:25. Third quarter NYJ – Mickey Shuler 20-yard pass from Pat Ryan (Pat Leahy kick), 1:12. Jets 28–7. Drive: 8 plays, 86 yards, 2:32. Fourth quarter MIN – Ted Brown 16-yard pass from Tommy Kramer (Rick Danmeier kick), 13:23. Jets 28–14. Drive: 7 plays, 76 yards, 2:36. NYJ – Bruce Harper 39-yard pass from Richard Todd (Pat Leahy kick), 11:33. Jets 35–14. Drive: 5 plays, 65 yards, 1:38. NYJ – Bobby Jackson 77-yard interception return (Pat Leahy kick), 7:18. Jets 42–14. Top passers NYJ – Richard Todd – 15/22, 236 yards, TD MIN – Tommy Kramer – 32/56, 328 yards, TD, 3 INT Top rushers NYJ – Freeman McNeil – 18 rushes, 82 yards, 2 TD MIN – Ted Brown – 15 rushes, 57 yards Top receivers NYJ – Mickey Shuler – 3 receptions, 80 yards, TD MIN – Joe Senser – 10 receptions, 115 yards Standings Postseason Schedule Round Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Wild Card January 9 Atlanta Falcons (5) W 30–24 1–0 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 60,560 Division January 15 at Washington Redskins (1) L 7–21 1–1 Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium 54,593 Statistics Team leaders Category Player(s) Value Passing yards Tommy Kramer 2,037 Passing touchdowns Tommy Kramer 15 Rushing yards Ted Brown 515 Rushing touchdowns Tommy Kramer 3 Receiving yards Sammy White 503 Receiving touchdowns Sammy White 5 Points Rick Danmeier 47 Kickoff return yards Jarvis Redwine 286 Punt return yards Eddie Payton 179 Sacks Doug Martin 11.5 Interceptions Willie Teal 4 League rankings Category Total yards Yards per game NFL rank(out of 28) Passing offense 1,967 122.9 5th Rushing offense 912 57.0 22nd Total offense 2,879 179.9 14th Passing defense 1,875 117.2 20th Rushing defense 1,020 63.8 14th Total defense 2,895 180.9 19th Notes References 1982 Minnesota Minnesota Vikings