Record 6–10 Playoff finish did not qualify Start date 2002 | Division place 2nd NFC North Head coach Mike Tice | |
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Home field Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome People also search for 2001 Minnesota Vikings season | ||
The 2002 Minnesota Vikings season was the franchise's 42nd season in the National Football League.
On January 10, 2002, Mike Tice was named the sixth Head Coach in Vikings history. Tice was the third of the six Vikings head coaches to be promoted from within the team's coaching ranks but was the first to have actually played for the Vikings. The Vikings dropped their opening game in Chicago 27–23 after blowing a 20–10 halftime lead.
Most games during the season were like that. They started out the games strong, but ended up struggling down the stretch. They were winless on the road in 2001 but did win two road games in 2002. They won in New Orleans 32–31 on a touchdown pass to Randy Moss and a two-point conversion with just a few seconds left on the clock in Week 15 and 38–36 in Detroit in Week 17. The team struggled to a 6–10 record but won their last three games.
Second-year running back Michael Bennett enjoyed a successful season, rushing for 1,296 yards. He was named to the Pro Bowl after the season.