Record 9–7 Start date 1997 | Division place 4th NFC Central Head coach Dennis Green | |
Playoff finish Won Wild Card Playoffs (at Giants) 23–22
Lost Divisional Playoffs (at 49ers) 22–38 Home field Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome People also search for 1996 Minnesota Vikings season | ||
The 1997 Minnesota Vikings season was the 37th year of season play for the Minnesota Vikings and the 78th regular season of the National Football League. The Vikings finished with a record of nine wins and seven losses. Their record was good enough to qualify for a wild card berth. In the wild card round against the New York Giants, the Vikings came back from a 22–13 deficit with 90 seconds to play to defeat the Giants 23–22. It was their first playoff victory since 1988 and their first under head coach Dennis Green. In the Divisional round, the Vikings were defeated by the San Francisco 49ers, 38–22.
The season is notable for John Randle leading the league in sacks (15.5).
Before the season, the Vikings acquired Randall Cunningham after being out of football last season. This move reunited Cunningham with former Philadelphia teammate Cris Carter.