1988 Minnesota Vikings season

NFL team season

1988 Minnesota Vikings season
General manager	Mike Lynn
Head coach	Jerry Burns
Home field	Metrodome
Local radio	WCCO
Results
Record	11–5
Division place	2nd NFC Central
Playoff finish	Won Wild Card Playoffs (vs. Rams) 28–17 Lost Divisional Playoffs (at 49ers) 9–34
Pro Bowlers	S Joey Browner WR Anthony Carter DE Chris Doleman TE Steve Jordan CB Carl Lee DT Keith Millard LB Scott Studwell QB Wade Wilson T Gary Zimmerman
AP All-Pros	S Joey Browner (1st team) CB Carl Lee (1st team) DT Keith Millard (1st team) T Gary Zimmerman (1st team)
Uniform

← 1987 Vikings seasons 1989 →

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. 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.

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

Main article: 1988 NFL draft

Hall of Famer

1988 Minnesota Vikings Draft
Draft order		Player name	Position	College	Notes
Round	Selection	Player name	Position	College	Notes
1	19	Randall McDaniel	Guard	Arizona State
2	45	Traded to the Denver Broncos
2	54	Brad Edwards	Safety	South Carolina	From Broncos
3	71	Al Noga	Defensive end	Hawaii
4	97	Traded to the New England Patriots
4	108	Todd Kalis	Guard	Arizona State	From Broncos
5	124	Darrell Fullington	Safety	Miami (FL)
6	156	Traded to the Miami Dolphins
6	164	Derrick White	Defensive back	Oklahoma	From Broncos
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, via Patriots
12	323	Traded to the New York Giants

Notes:

^ 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).
^ The Vikings traded their fourth- and 11th-round selections (97th and 294th overall) to the Patriots in exchange for QB Rich Gannon.
The Vikings traded their sixth-round selection (156th overall) and a 1989 10th-round selection (275th overall) to the Dolphins for OT Greg Koch.
The 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).
The Vikings traded their 12th-round selection (323rd overall) to the Giants in exchange for C Chris Foote.

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 note
Player	Position	College
Bob Furlong	Guard	Wisconsin–Stevens Point
Mike Greenfield	Quarterback	Northwestern
Darryl Harris	Running back	Arizona State
Van Sheppard	Wide receiver	Nebraska
Reggie Ward	Wide receiver	Notre Dame

Staff

**1988 Minnesota Vikings staff**
	Front office President – Wheelock Whitney, Jr. General manager – Mike Lynn Head coaches Head coach – Jerry Burns Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator – Bob Schnelker Receivers – Dick Rehbein Offensive assistant/wide receivers – Jerry Brown Running backs – John Brunner Offensive line – John Michels			Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Floyd Peters Defensive line – Paul Wiggin Linebackers – Monte Kiffin Defensive backs – Pete Carroll Special teams coaches Special teams/tight ends – Tom Batta

Roster

**1988 Minnesota Vikings roster**
Quarterbacks (QB) 16 Rich Gannon 9 Tommy Kramer 11 Wade Wilson Running backs (RB) 46 Alfred Anderson FB 42 D. J. Dozier 31 Rick Fenney FB 32 Darryl Harris KR 20 Darrin Nelson 36 Allen Rice Wide receivers (WR) 81 Anthony Carter 80 Jim Gustafson 84 Hassan Jones 87 Leo Lewis PR Tight ends (TE) 82 Carl Hilton 83 Steve Jordan 86 Mike Mularkey		Offensive linemen (OL) 62 Chris Foote C 76 Tim Irwin T 69 Todd Kalis G 63 Kirk Lowdermilk C 64 Randall McDaniel G 52 Randy Rasmussen C/G 66 Terry Tausch G 65 Gary Zimmerman T Defensive linemen (DL) 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 97 Henry Thomas DT		Linebackers (LB) 58 Walker Lee Ashley MLB 50 Ray Berry OLB 51 David Howard OLB 54 Jesse Solomon OLB 55 Scott Studwell MLB Defensive backs (DB) 47 Joey Browner SS 27 Brad Edwards FS 29 Darrell Fullington FS 44 John Harris FS 24 Wymon Henderson CB 30 Issiac Holt CB 39 Carl Lee CB 48 Reggie Rutland CB Special teams 1 Chuck Nelson K 13 Bucky Scribner P		Practice squad None Reserve -- Norman Floyd S (IR) 74 Brian Habib G (IR) 72 Dave Huffman G (IR) 79 Doug Martin DE (IR) Rookies in italics 47 active, 4 reserve

Preseason

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Venue	Attendance	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

Week 5: Minnesota Vikings at Miami Dolphins – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Vikings	0	0	0	7	7
Dolphins	0	17	7	0	24

at Joe Robbie Stadium, Miami, Florida

Date: October 2
Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST
Game weather: 88 °F (31 °C)
Game attendance: 59,867
Referee: Jerry Markbreit (9)
TV announcers (CBS): Dick Stockton and Dan Fouts
Pro-Football-Reference

Game information

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

Week 11: Minnesota Vikings at Dallas Cowboys – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Vikings	17	0	17	9	43
Cowboys	0	3	0	0	3

at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas

Date: November 13
Game time: 7:00 p.m.
Game weather: 59 °F (15 °C)
Game attendance: 57,830
Pro-Football-Reference.com

Game information

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

NFC Central
view talk edit	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	STK
Chicago Bears	12	4	0	.750	6–2	9–3	312	215	L1
Minnesota Vikings	11	5	0	.688	6–2	9–3	406	233	W1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	5	11	0	.313	4–4	4–8	261	350	W1
Detroit Lions	4	12	0	.250	2–6	3–11	220	315	L2
Green Bay Packers	4	12	0	.250	2–6	3–9	240	313	W2

Playoffs

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

NFC Wild Card Playoff: (#5) Los Angeles Rams at (#4) Minnesota Vikings – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Rams	0	7	3	7	17
Vikings	14	0	7	7	28

at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Date: December 26, 1988
Game time: 2:30 p.m. EST/1:30 p.m. CST
Game attendance: 57,666
Referee: Dick Hantak
TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall (play-by-play) and John Madden (color commentator)
Pro-Football-Reference.com

Game information

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

NFC Divisional Playoff: (#4) Minnesota Vikings at (#2) San Francisco 49ers – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Vikings	3	0	6	0	9
49ers	7	14	0	13	34

at Candlestick Park, San Francisco

Date: January 1, 1989
Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST/1:00 p.m. PST
Game attendance: 61,848
Referee: Jerry Markbreit
TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall and John Madden
Pro-Football-Reference.com

Game information

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 Doleman Keith 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

Pro-Football-Reference.com: 1988 NFL Opposition & Defensive Statistics
Cold Hard Football Facts: Shutdown! The greatest pass defenses in history
2010 Minnesota Vikings Media Guide. p. 265. Archived from the original on December 24, 2010. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
"1988 Minnesota Vikings (NFL) - Pro Football Archives".

v t e Minnesota Vikings
Founded in 1961 Based in Minneapolis, Minnesota Headquartered in Eagan, Minnesota
Franchise	Franchise History Expansion draft All-time roster First-round draft picks Quarterbacks Head coaches Seasons Statistics Draft Broadcasters Ownership Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center
Stadiums	Metropolitan Stadium Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome TCF Bank Stadium U.S. Bank Stadium
Culture	Purple People Eaters "Skol, Vikings" How I Met Your Mother "Little Minnesota" "Tailgate" Cheerleaders Alan Roach Truth Hurts (song) Quarterback "Higher" (Creed song)
Lore	The Wrong Way Run Hail Mary Ed Thorp Memorial Trophy Santa Claus game Miracle at the Met Herschel Walker trade Gary Anderson's missed field goal Love Boat scandal Minneapolis Miracle 33–0
Rivalries	Chicago Bears Dallas Cowboys Detroit Lions Green Bay Packers Los Angeles Rams New Orleans Saints
Division championships (21)	1968 1969 1970 1971 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1980 1989 1992 1994 1998 2000 2008 2009 2015 2017 2022
Conference championships (4)	1969 1973 1974 1976
League championships (1)	1969
Retired numbers	10 53 70 77 80 88
Current league affiliations	League: National Football League Conference: National Football Conference Division: North Division

v t e Minnesota Vikings seasons
1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Bold indicates NFL Championship (1920–69) or Super Bowl (1966–) victory Italics indicates Super Bowl (1966–) appearance

1988 NFL season

East	Central	West	East	Central	West
Buffalo	Cincinnati	Denver	Dallas	Chicago	Atlanta
Indianapolis	Cleveland	Kansas City	NY Giants	Detroit	LA Rams
Miami	Houston	LA Raiders	Philadelphia	Green Bay	New Orleans
New England	Pittsburgh	San Diego	Phoenix	Minnesota	San Francisco
NY Jets		Seattle	Washington	Tampa Bay

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