1995 Minnesota Vikings season
Head coachDennis Green
Home fieldHubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
Results
Record8–8
Division place4th NFC Central
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Uniform

The 1995 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 35th in the National Football League (NFL). Under head coach Dennis Green, they finished with an 8–8 record and still had a chance to make the playoffs entering Week 17 against the Cincinnati Bengals; however, victories by the Chicago Bears and the Atlanta Falcons in their final games rendered the Vikings' defeat to the Bengals inconsequential, and Minnesota missed the playoffs for the first time since the 1991 season. Despite the team's poor play, rookie safety Orlando Thomas recorded a league-leading 9 interceptions of the season.

Offseason

AdditionsSubtractions
LB Jeff Brady (Buccaneers)DT Henry Thomas (Lions)
DB Donald Frank (Raiders)FS Vencie Glenn (Giants)

1995 Expansion Draft

Minnesota Vikings selected during the Expansion Draft
Round Selection Name Position Expansion team
1122 Dave GarnettLinebackerCarolina Panthers
2652 William SimsLinebackerCarolina Panthers
3263 Eric GulifordWide receiverCarolina Panthers

1995 Draft

Pro Bowler
1995 Minnesota Vikings Draft
Draft order Player name Position College Notes
Round Selection
111 Derrick AlexanderDefensive endFlorida Statefrom Broncos via Falcons[a]
24 Korey StringerOffensive tackleOhio State
242 Orlando ThomasSafetyLouisiana-Lafayettefrom Broncos[b]
55 Corey FullerCornerbackFlorida State
389 Traded to the Houston Oilers[c]
4111 Chad MayQuarterbackKansas Statefrom Broncos[d]
121 Traded to the Denver Broncos[d]
5157 James StewartRunning backMiami
6189 John SolomonDefensive endSam Houston Statefrom Giants[e]
196 Traded to the Denver Broncos[d]
7232 Jose WhiteDefensive tackleHoward
243 Jason FiskDefensive tackleStanfordCompensatory pick
^[a] The Vikings traded a 1994 second-round selection (45th overall) and DE Chris Doleman to the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for the Falcons' 1994 second-round selection (40th overall) and a 1995 first-round selection (11th overall) on April 24, 1994.
^[b] The Vikings traded OT Gary Zimmerman to the Denver Broncos in exchange for the Broncos' 1994 first-round selection (18th overall), 1994 sixth-round selection (179th overall) and 1995 second-round selection (42nd overall) on August 23, 1993.
^[c] The Vikings traded QB Warren Moon to the Houston Oilers in exchange for the Oilers' third-round selection (89th overall) and 1994 fourth-round selection (119th overall).
^[d] The Vikings traded a fourth-round selection (121st overall) and a sixth-round selection (196th overall) to the Denver Broncos in exchange for the Broncos' fourth-round selection (111th overall).
^[e] The Vikings traded a 1996 sixth-round selection (182nd overall) and S Vencie Glenn to the New York Giants in exchange for the Giants' sixth-round selection (189th overall) and a 1996 fifth-round selection (137th overall).

Preseason

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance[1]
1 August 7 at San Diego Chargers W 23–19 1–0 Jack Murphy Stadium 47,934
2 August 12 at New England Patriots L 14–21 1–1 Foxboro Stadium 56,241
3 August 18 Oakland Raiders W 20–17 2–1 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 45,306
4 August 26 Kansas City Chiefs L 13–17 2–2 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 39,349

Regular season

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance
1 September 3 at Chicago Bears L 14–31 0–1 Soldier Field 63,036
2 September 10 Detroit Lions W 20–10 1–1 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 52,234
3 September 17 Dallas Cowboys L 17–23 (OT) 1–2 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 60,088
4 September 24 at Pittsburgh Steelers W 44–24 2–2 Three Rivers Stadium 57,853
5 Bye
6 October 8 Houston Oilers W 23–17 (OT) 3–2 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 56,430
7 October 15 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 17–20 (OT) 3–3 Tampa Stadium 55,703
8 October 22 at Green Bay Packers L 21–38 3–4 Lambeau Field 60,332
9 October 30 Chicago Bears L 6–14 3–5 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 61,238
10 November 5 Green Bay Packers W 27–24 4–5 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 62,839
11 November 12 at Arizona Cardinals W 30–24 (OT) 5–5 Sun Devil Stadium 51,342
12 November 19 New Orleans Saints W 43–24 6–5 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 58,108
13 November 23 at Detroit Lions L 38–44 6–6 Silverdome 74,559
14 December 3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 31–17 7–6 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 52,879
15 December 9 Cleveland Browns W 27–11 8–6 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 47,984
16 December 18 at San Francisco 49ers L 30–37 8–7 Candlestick Park 64,975
17 December 24 at Cincinnati Bengals L 24–27 8–8 Riverfront Stadium 34,568

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Standings

NFC Central
W L T PCT PF PA STK
(3) Green Bay Packers 11 5 0 .688 404 314 W2
(5) Detroit Lions 10 6 0 .625 436 336 W7
Chicago Bears 9 7 0 .563 392 360 W2
Minnesota Vikings 8 8 0 .500 412 385 L2
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 7 9 0 .438 238 335 L2

Statistics

Team leaders

Category Player(s) Value
Passing yardsWarren Moon4,228
Passing touchdownsWarren Moon33
Rushing yardsRobert Smith632
Rushing touchdownsRobert Smith5
Receiving yardsCris Carter1,371
Receiving touchdownsCris Carter17
PointsFuad Reveiz122
Kickoff return yardsQadry Ismail1,037
Punt return yardsDavid Palmer342
TacklesEd McDaniel115
SacksJohn Randle10.5
InterceptionsOrlando Thomas9
Forced fumblesEd McDaniel6

League rankings

Category Total yards Yards per game NFL rank
(out of 30)
Passing offense4,205262.85th
Rushing offense1,733108.316th
Total offense5,938371.14th
Passing defense4,122257.628th
Rushing defense1,32983.14th
Total defense5,451340.720th

Staff

1995 Minnesota Vikings staff

Front office

  • Chairman of the board – John Skoglund
  • President/chief executive officer – Roger Headrick

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning

  • Strength and conditioning – Steve Wetzel
  • Assistant strength and conditioning – Mark Asanovich

[2]

Roster

1995 Minnesota Vikings final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists


Practice squad


Rookies in italics
53 active, 2 inactive, 5 practice squad

Awards and records

  • Cris Carter, led NFL in receiving touchdowns
  • Cris Carter, All-Pro selection
  • Cris Carter, Pro Bowl selection
  • Orlando Thomas, NFL interceptions leader (9)

Milestones

  • Cris Carter, 100 reception season [3]
  • Warren Moon, 4th 4,000-yard passing season

References

  1. "1995 Minnesota Vikings (NFL) - Pro Football Archives".
  2. 2009 Minnesota Vikings Media Guide. p. 251. Archived from the original on December 24, 2010. Retrieved February 26, 2010.
  3. NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York,NY, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2, p. 440
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