From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base
1982 Minnesota Vikings season
NFL team season; first one in the Metrodome
NFL team season; first one in the Metrodome
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| team | Minnesota Vikings |
| year | 1982 |
| record | 5–4 |
| division_place | 4th NFC (2nd NFC Central) |
| coach | Bud Grant |
| general manager | Mike Lynn |
| stadium | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome |
| playoffs | Won Wild Card Playoffs |
| (vs. Falcons) 30–24 | |
| Lost Divisional Playoffs | |
| (at Redskins) 7–21 | |
| pro bowlers | LB Matt Blair |
| uniform | File:Vikings1975-86.png |
| shortnavlink | Vikings seasons |
(vs. Falcons) 30–24 Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Redskins) 7–21 The 1982 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 22nd season in the National Football League (NFL) and their first in the newly constructed Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. The team was looking to improve on its 7–9 record from 1981. However, a players strike meant seven of the team's 16 games were canceled, and each NFL team was only able to play nine games. The Vikings won their opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before losing the next week to the Buffalo Bills, a game in which they had a 19–0 lead before the Bills pulled off a comeback to win 23–22.
After the strike ended, the Vikings lost 26–7 to the Packers in Green Bay before beating the Bears 35–7 the following week to sit at 2–2. After a loss to the Dolphins, the Vikings won their next two games to sit at 4–3. In their final game of the season, they upset the Dallas Cowboys 31–27 to clinch the NFC's fourth place spot in the playoffs In the playoffs, the Vikings defeated the Atlanta Falcons 30–24 to reach the divisional round. However, in that game, they lost 21–7 to the eventual champion Redskins.
Offseason
1982 draft
Main article: 1982 NFL draft
| Pro Bowler |
|---|
| Minnesota Vikings | year=1982 | border=2}}" | 1982 Minnesota Vikings Draft | Minnesota Vikings | year=1982 | border=2}}" | Draft order | Minnesota Vikings | year=1982 | border=2}}" | Player name | Minnesota Vikings | year=1982 | border=2}}" | Position | Minnesota Vikings | year=1982 | border=2}}" | College | Minnesota Vikings | year=1982 | border=2}}" | Notes | Minnesota Vikings | year=1982 | border=2}}" | Round | Minnesota Vikings | year=1982 | border=2}}" | Selection | 1 | 7 | 2 | 39 | 3 | 66 | 4 | 92 | 5 | 120 | 6 | 147 | 7 | 179 | 8 | 206 | 9 | 233 | 10 | 260 | 11 | 286 | 12 | 318 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Darrin Nelson | Running back | Stanford | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Terry Tausch | Guard | Texas | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *Traded to the New Orleans Saints* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jim Fahnhorst | Linebacker | Minnesota | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *Traded to the Miami Dolphins* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Greg Storr | Linebacker | Boston College | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Steve Jordan | Tight end | Brown | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kirk Harmon | Linebacker | Pacific | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bryan Howard | Defensive back | Tennessee State | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gerald Lucear | Wide receiver | Temple | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Curtis Rouse | Guard | Chattanooga | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hobson Milner | Running back | Cincinnati |
Notes
Roster
Preseason
| Minnesota Vikings | year=1982 | border=2}}" | Week | Minnesota Vikings | year=1982 | border=2}}" | Date | Minnesota Vikings | year=1982 | border=2}}" | Opponent | Minnesota Vikings | year=1982 | border=2}}" | Result | Minnesota Vikings | year=1982 | border=2}}" | Record | Minnesota Vikings | year=1982 | border=2}}" | Venue | Minnesota Vikings | year=1982 | border=2}}" | Attendance | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore Colts | W 30–14 | 1–0 | Fawcett Stadium (Canton, Ohio) | 23,379 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| at Atlanta Falcons | L 17–20 | 1–1 | Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium | 49,831 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Seattle Seahawks | W 7–3 | 2–1 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 57,880 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| at Denver Broncos | L 17–27 | 2–2 | Mile High Stadium | 73,371 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| New Orleans Saints | W 24–21 | 3–2 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 59,810 |
Regular season
The Vikings opened their new stadium with a 17–10 win over Tampa Bay in the season opener. A close loss to Buffalo on the road followed.
The season was then interrupted by the players' 57-day strike that reduced the NFL regular season to nine games. Upon resumption of play in November, the Vikings went 4–3 to close out the abbreviated regular season and closed the campaign with a 5–4 record. Games against Chicago, Detroit, Green Bay, New Orleans, San Francisco, Tampa Bay and Washington were canceled.
As three of Minnesota's losses were to AFC opponents, their 4–1 conference record put them at the top of a logjam of teams with similar records in the playoff seedings. In 1982, the NFL took the top eight teams from each conference regardless of division record for playoff consideration. The Vikings earned the #4 seed based on this tiebreaker and home field advantage in round one.
In their opening round playoff game, the Vikings took on the Atlanta Falcons. The game was a back-and-forth affair that saw Minnesota take a 13–7 halftime lead, only to see the Falcons retake the lead late in the final period on a 41-yard field goal by Mick Luckhurst. With just under two minutes remaining, the Vikings began a game-winning drive that culminated in a Ted Brown 5-yard touchdown run to win the game and send the Vikings on to round two.
In the second round, the Vikings were defeated by the eventual Super Bowl champion Washington Redskins, 21–7, at RFK Stadium. The Vikings trailed 14–0 after one quarter. Ted Brown's touchdown run in the second period cut it to 14–7, but Joe Theismann hit Alvin Garrett late in the quarter with an 18-yard touchdown strike to make it 21–7. Neither team scored in the second half.
QB Tommy Kramer threw for 2,037 yards and 15 touchdowns in the short season. RB Ted Brown had 515 yards to lead all rushers, and WR Sammy White tallied 503 yards and five touchdowns to lead receivers.
LB Matt Blair anchored the Vikings defense and also made the 1982 Pro Bowl.
Schedule
| Minnesota Vikings | year=1982 | border=2}}" | Week | Minnesota Vikings | year=1982 | border=2}}" | Original | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| week | Minnesota Vikings | year=1982 | border=2}}" | Date | Minnesota Vikings | year=1982 | border=2}}" | Opponent | Minnesota Vikings | year=1982 | border=2}}" | Result | Minnesota Vikings | year=1982 | border=2}}" | Record | Minnesota Vikings | year=1982 | border=2}}" | Venue | Minnesota Vikings | year=1982 | border=2}}" | Attendance | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | — | 3 | 1982 NFL players strike | — | 4 | October 3 | at Chicago Bears | Canceled | 1–1 | Soldier Field | — | 5 | October 10 | at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Tampa Stadium | — | 6 | October 17 | New Orleans Saints | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | — | 7 | October 24 | Green Bay Packers | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | — | 8 | November 1 | Detroit Lions | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | — | 9 | November 7 | at San Francisco 49ers | Candlestick Park | — | 10 | November 14 | at Washington Redskins | Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium | 3 | 11 | 4 | 12 | 5 | 13 | 6 | 14 | 7 | 15 | 8 | 16 | 9 | 17 |
| September 12 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | W 17–10 | 1–0 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 58,440 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| at Buffalo Bills | L 22–23 | 1–1 | Rich Stadium | 77,753 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 26 | Dallas Cowboys | Postponed | 1–1 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 21 | at Green Bay Packers | L 7–26 | 1–2 | Milwaukee County Stadium | 44,681 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 28 | Chicago Bears | W 35–7 | 2–2 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 54,724 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 5 | at Miami Dolphins | L 14–22 | 2–3 | Miami Orange Bowl | 45,721 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 12 | Baltimore Colts | W 13–10 | 3–3 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 53,981 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 19 | at Detroit Lions | W 34–31 | 4–3 | Pontiac Silverdome | 73,058 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 26 | New York Jets | L 14–42 | 4–4 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 58,672 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dallas Cowboys | W 31–27 | 5–4 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 60,007 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minnesota Vikings | year=1982 | border=2}}" | Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. |
Game summaries
Week 1: vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
First quarter
- TB – Bill Capece 51-yard field goal, 2:00. ''Buccaneers 3–0. '''Drive: 8 plays, 47 yards, 4:55.''''' Second quarter
- MIN – Rickey Young 3-yard run (Rick Danmeier kick), 6:31. ''Vikings 7–3. '''Drive: 12 plays, 77 yards, 5:19.''''' Third quarter
- MIN – Sammy White 22-yard pass from Tommy Kramer (Rick Danmeier kick), 6:48. ''Vikings 14–3. '''Drive: 14 plays, 81 yards, 8:12.''''' Fourth quarter
- TB – Jimmie Giles 20-yard pass from Doug Williams (Bill Capece kick), 5:06. ''Vikings 14–10. '''Drive: 9 plays, 80 yards, 3:30.'''''
- MIN – Rick Danmeier 33-yard field goal, 2:06. ''Vikings 17–10. '''Drive: 4 plays, 7 yards, 1:13. ''''' Top passers
- TB – Doug Williams – 21/38, 290 yards, TD, 3 INT
- MIN – Tommy Kramer – 16/28, 131 yards, TD Top rushers
- TB – James Owens – 12 rushes, 31 yards
- MIN – Ted Brown – 12 rushes, 56 yards Top receivers
- TB – Jimmie Giles – 5 receptions, 100 yards, TD
- MIN – Sammy White – 2 receptions, 35 yards, TD
Week 4: vs Chicago Bears
First quarter
- No scoring plays. Second quarter
- CHI – Emery Moorehead 50-yard pass from Jim McMahon (John Roveto kick), 14:53. ''Bears 7–0. '''Drive: 2 plays, 55 yards, 0:47.'''''
- MIN – Sammy White 5-yard pass from Tommy Kramer (Rick Danmeier kick), 9:07. ''Tied 7–7. '''Drive: 4 plays, 49 yards, 2:16.'''''
- MIN – Joe Senser 1-yard pass from Tommy Kramer (Rick Danmeier kick), 2:43. ''Vikings 14–7. '''Drive: 8 plays, 42 yards, 3:45.''''' Third quarter
- MIN – Sammy White 8-yard pass from Tommy Kramer (Rick Danmeier kick), 5:44. ''Vikings 21–7. '''Drive: 8 plays, 95 yards, 3:37.''''' Fourth quarter
- MIN – Leo Lewis 31-yard pass from Tommy Kramer (Rick Danmeier kick), 12:48. ''Vikings 28–7. '''Drive: 2 plays, 43 yards, 0:52.'''''
- MIN – Sammy White 13-yard pass from Tommy Kramer (Rick Danmeier kick), 6:17. ''Vikings 35–7. '''Drive: 6 plays, 67 yards, 2:38.''''' Top passers
- CHI – Jim McMahon – 12/20, 139 yards, TD, INT
- MIN – Tommy Kramer – 26/35, 342 yards, 5 TD, 2 INT Top rushers
- CHI – Walter Payton – 12 rushes, 67 yards
- MIN – Ted Brown – 5 rushes, 43 yards Top receivers
- CHI – Emery Moorehead – 4 receptions, 79 yards, TD
- MIN – Sammy White – 10 receptions, 177 yards, 3 TD
Week 5: at Miami Dolphins
First quarter
- MIA – David Woodley 1-yard run (kick blocked), 2:48. ''Dolphins 6–0. '''Drive: 9 plays, 64 yards, 5:08.''''' Second quarter
- MIN – Tommy Kramer 18-yard run (Rick Danmeier kick), 12:10. ''Vikings 7–6. '''Drive: 11 plays, 82 yards, 5:38.'''''
- MIA – Uwe von Schamann 34-yard field goal, 0:00. ''Dolphins 9–7. '''Drive: 3 plays, 36 yards, 0:17.''''' Third quarter
- MIA – Uwe von Schamann 28-yard field goal, 5:48. ''Dolphins 12–7. '''Drive: 16 plays, 62 yards, 9:12.''''' Fourth quarter
- MIA – Andra Franklin 9-yard run (Uwe von Schamann kick), 14:17. ''Dolphins 19–7. '''Drive: 8 plays, 52 yards, 4:12.'''''
- MIN – Tony Galbreath 1-yard run (Rick Danmeier kick), 9:25. ''Dolphins 19–14. '''Drive: 5 plays, 22 yards, 2:22.'''''
- MIA – Uwe von Schamann 24-yard field goal, 1:46. ''Dolphins 22–14. '''Drive: 6 plays, 23 yards, 2:44.''''' Top passers
- MIN – Tommy Kramer – 16/28, 127 yards, 3 INT
- MIA – David Woodley – 13/20, 132 yards Top rushers
- MIN – Darrin Nelson – 6 rushes, 36 yards
- MIA – Andra Franklin – 28 rushes, 129 yards, TD Top receivers
- MIN – Sammy White – 2 receptions, 32 yards
- MIA – Jimmy Cefalo – 2 receptions, 71 yards
Week 6: vs Baltimore Colts
First quarter
- MIN – Sammy White 24-yard pass from Tommy Kramer (Rick Danmeier kick), 4:49. ''Vikings 7–0. '''Drive: 10 plays, 65 yards, 4:43.''''' Second quarter
- BAL – Mike Wood 39-yard field goal, 10:57. ''Vikings 7–3. '''Drive: 13 plays, 56 yards, 6:50.''''' Third quarter
- BAL – Jim Burroughs 94-yard interception return (Mike Wood kick), 6:42. Colts 10–7.
- MIN – Rick Danmeier 23-yard field goal, 3:21. ''Tied 10–10. '''Drive: 9 plays, 56 yards, 3:11.''''' Fourth quarter
- MIN – Rick Danmeier 40-yard field goal, 9:09. ''Vikings 13–10. '''Drive: 9 plays, 48 yards, 4:41.''''' Top passers
- BAL – Mike Pagel – 14/32, 116 yards, 2 INT
- MIN – Tommy Kramer – 19/35, 258 yards, TD, INT Top rushers
- BAL – Curtis Dickey – 13 rushes, 42 yards
- MIN – Ted Brown – 20 rushes, 75 yards Top receivers
- BAL – Randy McMillan – 5 receptions, 32 yards
- MIN – Sammy White – 3 receptions, 78 yards, TD
Week 8: vs New York Jets
First quarter
- NYJ – Freeman McNeil 2-yard run (Pat Leahy kick), 6:07. ''Jets 7–0. '''Drive: 8 plays, 80 yards, 4:54.''''' Second quarter
- NYJ – Bobby Jackson 80-yard return of blocked field goal (Pat Leahy kick), 5:43. Jets 14–0.
- NYJ – Freeman McNeil 1-yard run (Pat Leahy kick), 5:17. ''Jets 21–0. '''Drive: 3 plays, 9 yards, 0:22.'''''
- MIN – Tommy Kramer 1-yard run (Rick Danmeier kick), 0:32. ''Jets 21–7. '''Drive: 11 plays, 84 yards, 4:25.''''' Third quarter
- NYJ – Mickey Shuler 20-yard pass from Pat Ryan (Pat Leahy kick), 1:12. ''Jets 28–7. '''Drive: 8 plays, 86 yards, 2:32.''''' Fourth quarter
- MIN – Ted Brown 16-yard pass from Tommy Kramer (Rick Danmeier kick), 13:23. ''Jets 28–14. '''Drive: 7 plays, 76 yards, 2:36.'''''
- NYJ – Bruce Harper 39-yard pass from Richard Todd (Pat Leahy kick), 11:33. ''Jets 35–14. '''Drive: 5 plays, 65 yards, 1:38.'''''
- NYJ – Bobby Jackson 77-yard interception return (Pat Leahy kick), 7:18. Jets 42–14. Top passers
- NYJ – Richard Todd – 15/22, 236 yards, TD
- MIN – Tommy Kramer – 32/56, 328 yards, TD, 3 INT Top rushers
- NYJ – Freeman McNeil – 18 rushes, 82 yards, 2 TD
- MIN – Ted Brown – 15 rushes, 57 yards Top receivers
- NYJ – Mickey Shuler – 3 receptions, 80 yards, TD
- MIN – Joe Senser – 10 receptions, 115 yards
Standings
Postseason
Schedule
| Minnesota Vikings | year=1982 | border=2}}" | Round | Minnesota Vikings | year=1982 | border=2}}" | Date | Minnesota Vikings | year=1982 | border=2}}" | Opponent | Minnesota Vikings | year=1982 | border=2}}" | Result | Minnesota Vikings | year=1982 | border=2}}" | Record | Minnesota Vikings | year=1982 | border=2}}" | Venue | Minnesota Vikings | year=1982 | border=2}}" | Attendance | Wild Card | Division |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 9 | Atlanta Falcons (5) | W 30–24 | 1–0 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 60,560 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| January 15 | at Washington Redskins (1) | L 7–21 | 1–1 | Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium | 54,593 |
Statistics
Team leaders
| Minnesota Vikings | year=1982 | border=2}}" | Category | Minnesota Vikings | year=1982 | border=2}}" | Player(s) | Minnesota Vikings | year=1982 | border=2}}" | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passing yards | Tommy Kramer | 2,037 | |||||||||
| Passing touchdowns | Tommy Kramer | 15 | |||||||||
| Rushing yards | Ted Brown | 515 | |||||||||
| Rushing touchdowns | Tommy Kramer | 3 | |||||||||
| Receiving yards | Sammy White | 503 | |||||||||
| Receiving touchdowns | Sammy White | 5 | |||||||||
| Points | Rick Danmeier | 47 | |||||||||
| Kickoff return yards | Jarvis Redwine | 286 | |||||||||
| Punt return yards | Eddie Payton | 179 | |||||||||
| Sacks | Doug Martin | 11.5 | |||||||||
| Interceptions | Willie Teal | 4 |
League rankings
| Minnesota Vikings | year=1982 | border=2}}" | Category | Minnesota Vikings | year=1982 | border=2}}" | Total yards | Minnesota Vikings | year=1982 | border=2}}" | Yards per game | Minnesota Vikings | year=1982 | border=2}}" | NFL rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (out of 28) | Total offense | 2,879 | 179.9 | 14th | Total defense | 2,895 | 180.9 | 19th | |||||||
| Passing offense | 1,967 | 122.9 | 5th | ||||||||||||
| Rushing offense | 912 | 57.0 | 22nd | ||||||||||||
| Passing defense | 1,875 | 117.2 | 20th | ||||||||||||
| Rushing defense | 1,020 | 63.8 | 14th |
Notes
References
References
This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.
Ask Mako anything about 1982 Minnesota Vikings season — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.
Research with MakoFree with your Surf account
Create a free account to save articles, ask Mako questions, and organize your research.
Sign up freeThis content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.
Report