| Team: | Minnesota Vikings |
| Year: | 2002 |
| Record: | 6–10 |
| Division Place: | 2nd NFC North |
| Coach: | Mike Tice |
| Stadium: | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome |
| Playoffs: | Did not qualify |
| Ap All-Pros: | DT Chris Hovan (2nd team) |
| Uniform: | File:Vikings 1996-2005.png |
| Shortnavlink: | Vikings seasons |
The 2002 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 42nd in the National Football League, and the first under head coach Mike Tice. Tice was the third of the Vikings' six head coaches to be promoted from within the team's coaching ranks but the first to have actually played for the team.
This for the first time since 1989, Cris Carter was not on the opening day roster.
The Vikings lost their opening game in Chicago 27–23 after surrendering a 20–10 halftime lead, and ended up going 0–4 before their bye week. Results improved after the bye, but they ultimately went 6–6 in their remaining games, including a three-game winning streak to end the season. They finished the season with a 6–10 record and missed the playoffs for the second year in a row.
Second-year running back Michael Bennett enjoyed a successful year, rushing for 1,296 yards, resulting in a Pro Bowl selection at the end of the season. After losing Cris Carter to retirement, Randy Moss had a career-high 106 receptions, but only had 7 touchdowns.
| Additions | Subtractions | |
|---|---|---|
| WR Derrick Alexander (Chiefs) | T Brad Badger (Raiders) | |
| WR D'Wayne Bates (Bears) | P Mitch Berger (Rams) | |
| LB Greg Biekert (Raiders) | WR Cris Carter (Dolphins) | |
| CB Corey Chavous (Cardinals) | CB Dale Carter (Saints) | |
| LB Henri Crockett (Falcons) | WR Jake Reed (Saints) | |
| DE Kenny Mixon (Dolphins) | LB Kailee Wong (Texans) | |
| P Kyle Richardson (Ravens) | WR Troy Walters (Colts) | |
| FS Ronnie Bradford (Falcons) | FS Robert Griffith (Browns) | |
| DE Lorenzo Bromell (Dolphins) | CB Robert Tate (Ravens) | |
| TE Hunter Goodwin (Dolphins) | CB Kenny Wright (Texans) | |
| DE Chuck Wiley (Falcons) |
See main article: 2002 NFL draft.
| Pro Bowler |
| 2002 Minnesota Vikings Draft | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Draft order | Player name | Position | College | Notes | ||
| Round | Overall | |||||
| 1 | 7 | bgcolor=lightsteelblue | Bryant McKinnie | Offensive tackle | Miami (FL) | |
| 2 | 38 | Raonall Smith | Linebacker | Washington State | ||
| 3 | 70 | Willie Offord | Safety | South Carolina | ||
| 4 | 105 | Brian Williams | Cornerback | NC State | ||
| 132 | Ed Ta'amu | Guard | Utah | Compensatory pick | ||
| 5 | 141 | Traded to the Cleveland Browns | ||||
| 6 | 177 | Nick Rogers | Linebacker | Georgia Tech | ||
| 7 | 218 | Chad Beasley | Offensive tackle | Virginia Tech | ||
| Jack Brewer | Safety | Minnesota | |
| Shaun Hill | Quarterback | Maryland |
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | NFL.com recap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | August 10 | Cleveland Browns | L 15–27 | 0–1 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 63,532 | Recap | |
| 2 | August 16 | at Buffalo Bills | W 24–21 | 1–1 | Ralph Wilson Stadium | 47,027 | Recap | |
| 3 | August 23 | Tennessee Titans | W 14–10 | 2–1 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 63,845 | Recap | |
| 4 | August 29 | at Pittsburgh Steelers | L 14–17 | 2–2 | Heinz Field | 57,062 | Recap |
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | NFL.com recap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 8 | at Chicago Bears | L 23–27 | 0–1 | Memorial Stadium | 52,168 | Recap | |
| 2 | September 15 | Buffalo Bills | L 39–45 | 0–2 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 64,047 | Recap | |
| 3 | September 22 | Carolina Panthers | L 14–21 | 0–3 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 63,945 | Recap | |
| 4 | September 29 | at Seattle Seahawks | L 23–48 | 0–4 | Seahawks Stadium | 65,212 | Recap | |
| 5 | Bye | |||||||
| 6 | October 13 | Detroit Lions | W 31–24 | 1–4 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 64,013 | Recap | |
| 7 | October 20 | at New York Jets | L 7–20 | 1–5 | Giants Stadium | 78,516 | Recap | |
| 8 | October 27 | Chicago Bears | W 25–7 | 2–5 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 64,122 | Recap | |
| 9 | November 3 | at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | L 24–38 | 2–6 | Raymond James Stadium | 65,667 | Recap | |
| 10 | November 10 | New York Giants | L 20–27 | 2–7 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 64,005 | Recap | |
| 11 | November 17 | Green Bay Packers | W 31–21 | 3–7 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 64,153 | Recap | |
| 12 | November 24 | at New England Patriots | L 17–24 | 3–8 | Gillette Stadium | 68,436 | Recap | |
| 13 | December 1 | Atlanta Falcons | L 24–30 | 3–9 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 63,947 | Recap | |
| 14 | December 8 | at Green Bay Packers | L 22–26 | 3–10 | Lambeau Field | 64,070 | Recap | |
| 15 | December 15 | at New Orleans Saints | W 32–31 | 4–10 | Louisiana Superdome | 67,851 | Recap | |
| 16 | December 21 | Miami Dolphins | W 20–17 | 5–10 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 64,285 | Recap | |
| 17 | December 29 | at Detroit Lions | W 38–36 | 6–10 | Ford Field | 60,233 | Recap | |
| width=150px style="" | Category | width=150px style="" | Player(s) | width=75px style="" | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passing yards | 3,853 | ||||
| Passing touchdowns | 18 | ||||
| Rushing yards | 1,296 | ||||
| Rushing touchdowns | 11 | ||||
| Receiving yards | 1,347 | ||||
| Receiving touchdowns | 7 | ||||
| Points | 90 | ||||
| Kickoff return yards | 516 | ||||
| Punt return yards | 190 | ||||
| Tackles | 101 | ||||
| Sacks | 7 | ||||
| Interceptions | 4 | ||||
| Forced fumbles | 3 |
| width=150px style="" | Category | width=100px style="" | Total yards | width=110px style="" | Yards per game | width=80px style="" | NFL rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passing offense | 3,685 | 230.3 | 9th | ||||
| Rushing offense | 2,507 | 156.7 | 1st | ||||
| Total offense | 6,192 | 387.0 | 2nd | ||||
| Passing defense | 4,103 | 256.4 | 29th | ||||
| Rushing defense | 1,666 | 104.1 | 10th | ||||
| Total defense | 5,769 | 360.6 | 26th |