1994 Minnesota Vikings season

1994 Minnesota Vikings season
1994 Minnesota Vikings season
Head coach	Dennis Green
Home field	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
Results
Record	10–6
Division place	1st NFC Central
Playoff finish	Lost Wild Card Playoffs; (vs. Bears) 18–35
Pro Bowlers	WR Cris Carter; LB Jack Del Rio; G Randall McDaniel; QB Warren Moon; DT John Randle; K Fuad Reveiz
AP All-Pros	WR Cris Carter (1st team); G Randall McDaniel (1st team); DT John Randle (1st team); K Fuad Reveiz (2nd team)
Uniform
	← 1993; Vikings seasons; 1995 →;

The 1994 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 34th in the National Football League (NFL) and their third under head coach Dennis Green. The team finished with a 10–6 record and reached the playoffs for a third straight season, but also failed to make it out of the wild-card round for the third year in a row, losing 35–18 to their division rival Chicago Bears.

Offseason edit

Additions	Subtractions
T Chris Hinton (Falcons)	WR Anthony Carter (Lions)
RB Amp Lee (49ers)	DE Chris Doleman (Falcons)
QB Warren Moon (Oilers)	LB Fred Strickland (Packers)

1994 Draft edit

	Pro Bowler

1994 Minnesota Vikings Draft
Draft order		Player name	Position	College	Notes
Round	Selection	Player name	Position	College	Notes
1	18	Dewayne Washington	Cornerback	North Carolina State	from Broncos^[a]
1	19	Todd Steussie	Offensive tackle	California
2	40	David Palmer	Wide receiver	Alabama	from Browns via Eagles and Falcons^[b]
	45	Traded to the Atlanta Falcons^[b]			Compensatory pick
	52	Traded to the Los Angeles Raiders^[c]
	55	Fernando Smith	Defensive end	Jackson State	from Raiders^[c]
3	88	Traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers^[d]
4	119	Traded to the Houston Oilers^[e]
4	125	Mike Wells	Defensive tackle	Iowa	from Raiders^[c]
5	134	Shelly Hammonds	Defensive back	Penn State	from Redskins^[e]
5	151	Traded to the Kansas City Chiefs^[f]
6	179	Andrew Jordan	Tight end	Western Carolina	from Broncos^[a]
6	180	Traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers^[d]
7	211	Pete Bercich	Linebacker	Notre Dame

^{^[a]} Denver traded their 1st round selection (18th overall), 6th round selection (179th overall), and 1995 2nd round selection to Minnesota in exchange for OT Gary Zimmerman on August 23, 1993.

^{^[b]} Atlanta traded a 2nd round selection (40th overall) and 1995 1st round selection to Minnesota in exchange for their 2nd round selection (45th overall) and DE Chris Doleman on April 24, 1994.

^{^[c]} The Raiders traded their 2nd round selection (55th overall) and 4th round selection (125th overall) to Minnesota to move up 3 spot to the 52nd overall selection and draft LB James Folston.

^{^[d]} Minnesota traded their 3rd round selection (88th overall) and 6th round selection (180th overall) to Pittsburgh for TE Adrian Cooper.

^{^[e]} Minnesota traded their 4th round selection (119th overall) and 1995 3rd round selection (89th overall) to Houston for QB Warren Moon.

^{^[e]} Washington traded a conditional 5th round selection (134th overall) to Minnesota in exchange for QB Rich Gannon on August 20, 1993.

^{^[f]} Minnesota traded their 5th round selection (151st overall) to Kansas City for RB Barry Word.

Undrafted free agents edit

1994 Undrafted Free Agents of note
Player	Position	College
Tony Carter	Fullback	Minnesota
Robert Griffith	Safety	San Diego State

Staff edit

**1994 Minnesota Vikings staff**
	Front office Chairman of the board – John Skoglund President/chief executive officer – Roger Headrick Head coaches Head coach – Dennis Green Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks – Brian Billick Running backs – Tyrone Willingham Receivers – Jerry Rhome Offensive line – Keith Rowen Assistant offensive line – Chris Foerster Offensive assistant – Carl Hargrave			Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Tony Dungy Defensive line – John Teerlinck Inside linebackers – Monte Kiffin Outside linebackers – Trent Walters Defensive backs – Richard Solomon Special teams coaches Special teams – Gary Zauner Strength and conditioning Strength and conditioning – Steve Wetzel Strength and conditioning assistant – Mike Wolf

^[1]

Roster edit

**1994 Minnesota Vikings final roster**

	Quarterbacks 14 Brad Johnson 1 Warren Moon 12 Sean Salisbury Running backs 21 Terry Allen 29 Chuck Evans FB 31 Scottie Graham 32 Amp Lee 26 Robert Smith KR Wide receivers 80 Cris Carter 84 Eric Guliford 82 Qadry Ismail KR 22 David Palmer PR 86 Jake Reed 81 Chris Walsh Tight ends 46 John Gerak 89 Andrew Jordan 83 Steve Jordan		Offensive linemen 62 Jeff Christy C 75 Bernard Dafney G 71 David Dixon G 78 Chris Hinton T 64 Randall McDaniel G 60 Reggie McElroy G/T 63 Mike Ruether C 73 Todd Steussie T Defensive linemen 92 Roy Barker DE 99 James Harris DE 90 Robert Harris DE 91 Martin Harrison DE 79 Roosevelt Nix DE 93 John Randle DT 95 Fernando Smith DE 97 Henry Thomas DT 98 Esera Tuaolo DT		Linebackers 50 Bobby Abrams OLB 52 Richard Brown MLB 55 Jack Del Rio MLB 54 Dave Garnett OLB 51 Carlos Jenkins OLB 58 Ed McDaniel OLB 59 Ashley Sheppard OLB 57 William Sims MLB Defensive backs 36 Malik Boyd CB 34 Brian Davis CB 25 Vencie Glenn FS 24 Robert Griffith FS 37 Lamar McGriggs SS 27 Anthony Parker CB 38 Todd Scott SS 20 Dewayne Washington CB Special teams 68 Mike Morris LS 7 Fuad Reveiz K 4 Mike Saxon P		Reserve lists -- Frank Boudreaux DT (PUPTooltip Physically unable to perform) 87 Adrian Cooper TE (IRTooltip Injured reserve) -- Donald Jones LB (IRTooltip Injured reserve) 61 Everett Lindsay G (IRTooltip Injured reserve) 85 Brent Novoselsky TE (IRTooltip Injured reserve) Practice squad 56 Pete Bercich LB -- Shelly Hammonds CB/S -- Royce Nelson G -- Robert Staten FB Rookies in italics 53 active, 5 inactive, 4 practice squad

Preseason edit

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Venue	Attendance^[2]	Notes
1	July 31	at Dallas Cowboys	L 9–17	0–1	Texas Stadium	59,062
2	August 7	Kansas City Chiefs	W 17–9	1–1	Tokyo Dome (Tokyo, Japan)	49,555	American Bowl
3	August 13	New Orleans Saints	W 21–17	2–1	Metrodome	46,067
4	August 20	at Seattle Seahawks	L 19–30	2–2	Husky Stadium	45,797
5	August 26	Miami Dolphins	W 31–16	3–2	Metrodome	46,933

Regular season edit

Schedule edit

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Venue	Attendance
1	September 4	at Green Bay Packers	L 16–10	0–1	Lambeau Field	59,487
2	September 11	Detroit Lions	W 10–3	1–1	Metrodome	57,349
3	September 18	at Chicago Bears	W 42–14	2–1	Soldier Field	61,073
4	September 25	Miami Dolphins	W 38–35	3–1	Metrodome	64,035
5	October 2	at Arizona Cardinals	L 17–7	3–2	Sun Devil Stadium	67,950
6	October 10	at New York Giants	W 27–10	4–2	Giants Stadium	77,294
7	Bye
8	October 20	Green Bay Packers	W 13–10 (OT)	5–2	Metrodome	63,041
9	October 30	at Tampa Bay Buccaneers	W 36–13	6–2	Tampa Stadium	42,110
10	November 6	New Orleans Saints	W 21–20	7–2	Metrodome	57,564
11	November 13	at New England Patriots	L 26–20 (OT)	7–3	Foxboro Stadium	58,382
12	November 20	New York Jets	L 31–21	7–4	Metrodome	60,687
13	November 27	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	L 20–17 (OT)	7–5	Metrodome	47,259
14	December 1	Chicago Bears	W 33–27 (OT)	8–5	Metrodome	61,483
15	December 11	at Buffalo Bills	W 21–17	9–5	Rich Stadium	66,501
16	December 17	at Detroit Lions	L 41–19	9–6	Silverdome	73,881
17	December 26	San Francisco 49ers	W 21–14	10–6	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	63,326

Game summaries edit

Week 13: vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers edit

Week 13: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	OT	Total
Buccaneers	7	7	0	3	3	20
Vikings	0	9	0	8	0	17

at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Date: November 27, 1994
Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
Game attendance: 47,250
Referee: Red Cashion (43)
TV: Fox
Pro-Football-Reference.com, NFL Game Book

Game information

First quarter

TB – Errict Rhett 1-yard run (Michael Husted kick), 11:14. Buccaneers 7–0. Drive: 3 plays, 6 yards, 1:26.

Second quarter

MIN – Fuad Reveiz 23-yard field goal, 13:36. Buccaneers 7–3. Drive: 12 plays, 61 yards, 6:10.
MIN – Fuad Reveiz 21-yard field goal, 8:16. Buccaneers 7–6. Drive: 9 plays, 49 yards, 2:58.
TB – Courtney Hawkins 14-yard pass from Craig Erickson (Michael Husted kick), 5:13. Buccaneers 14–6. Drive: 8 plays, 55 yards, 3:03.
MIN – Fuad Reveiz 51-yard field goal, 0:33. Buccaneers 14–9. Drive: 10 plays, 53 yards, 2:41.

Third quarter

No scoring plays.

Fourth quarter

TB – Michael Husted 27-yard field goal, 5:24. Buccaneers 17–9. Drive: 14 plays, 86 yards, 7:58.
MIN – Qadry Ismail 40-yard pass from Warren Moon (Warren Moon–Cris Carter pass), 1:27. Tied 17–17. Drive: 3 plays, 52 yards, 0:31.

Overtime

TB – Michael Husted 22-yard field goal, 12:52. Buccaneers 20–17. Drive: 6 plays, 58 yards, 2:08.

Top passers

TB – Craig Erickson – 20/38, 254 yards, TD, INT
MIN – Warren Moon – 24/46, 286 yards, TD, INT

Top rushers

TB – Errict Rhett – 24 rushes, 55 yards, TD
MIN – Terry Allen – 16 rushes, 54 yards

Top receivers

TB – Courtney Hawkins – 6 receptions, 80 yards, TD
MIN – Qadry Ismail – 6 receptions, 101 yards, TD

Standings edit

NFC Central
view talk edit	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA	STK
⁽³⁾ Minnesota Vikings	10	6	0	.625	356	314	W1
⁽⁴⁾ Green Bay Packers	9	7	0	.563	382	287	W3
⁽⁵⁾ Detroit Lions	9	7	0	.563	357	342	L1
⁽⁶⁾ Chicago Bears	9	7	0	.563	271	307	L1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	6	10	0	.375	251	351	L1

Postseason edit

Game summaries edit

NFC Wild Card Playoffs: vs. (#6) Chicago Bears edit

NFC Wild Card Playoffs: (#6) Chicago Bears at (#3) Minnesota Vikings – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Bears	0	14	7	14	35
Vikings	3	6	3	6	18

at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Date: January 1
Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST/3:00 p.m. CST
Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
Game attendance: 60,347
Referee: Red Cashion (43)
TV announcers (Fox): Pat Summerall and John Madden
Pro-Football-Reference.com, NFL Game Book

Game information

First quarter

MIN – Fuad Reveiz 29-yard field goal, 8:01. Vikings 3–0. 4 plays, −6 yards, 1:20.

Second quarter

CHI – Lewis Tillman 1-yard run (Kevin Butler kick), 11:46. Bears 7–3. Drive: 16 plays, 80 yards, 8:51.
CHI – Keith Jennings 9-yard pass from Steve Walsh (Kevin Butler kick), 8:03. Bears 14–3. Drive: 4 plays, 71 yards, 2:02.
MIN – Cris Carter 4-yard pass from Warren Moon (pass failed), 0:19. Bears 14–9. Drive: 6 plays, 47 yards, 1:26.

Third quarter

CHI – Raymont Harris 29-yard run (Kevin Butler kick), 12:57. Bears 21–9. Drive: 4 plays, 75 yards, 2:03.
MIN – Fuad Reveiz 48-yard field goal, 0:05. Bears 21–12. Drive: 6 plays, 37 yards, 0:54.

Fourth quarter

CHI – Jeff Graham 21-yard pass from Steve Walsh (Kevin Butler kick), 12:42. Bears 28–12. Drive: 6 plays, 60 yards, 2:23.
MIN – Amp Lee 11-yard pass from Warren Moon (pass failed), 5:36. Bears 28–18. Drive: 16 plays, 76 yards, 7:06.
CHI – Kevin Miniefield 48-yard fumble return (Kevin Butler kick), 3:05. Bears 35–18.

Top passers

CHI – Steve Walsh – 15/23, 221 yards, 2 TD, INT
MIN – Warren Moon – 29/52, 292 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT

Top rushers

CHI – Raymont Harris – 13 rushes, 67 yards, TD
MIN – Terry Allen – 12 rushes, 27 yards

Top receivers

CHI – Jeff Graham – 4 receptions, 108 yards, TD
MIN – Amp Lee – 11 receptions, 159 yards, TD

The Bears picked off Warren Moon twice while Steve Walsh threw two touchdowns, backs Raymont Harris and Lewis Tillman added rushing scores, and Kevin Miniefield ran back a Vikings fumble for a touchdown.

Statistics edit

Team leaders edit

Category	Player(s)	Value
Passing yards	Warren Moon	4,264
Passing touchdowns	Warren Moon	18
Rushing yards	Terry Allen	1,031
Rushing touchdowns	Terry Allen	8
Receptions	Cris Carter	122 *
Receiving yards	Cris Carter	1,256
Receiving touchdowns	Cris Carter	7
Points	Fuad Reveiz	132
Kickoff return yards	Qadry Ismail	807
Punt return yards	David Palmer	193
Tackles	Jack Del Rio	128
Sacks	John Randle	13.5
Interceptions	Vencie Glenn Anthony Parker	4
Forced fumbles	John Randle	3

* Vikings single season record (tie).

League rankings edit

Category	Total yards	Yards per game	NFL rank (out of 28)
Passing offense	4,324	270.2	3rd
Rushing offense	1,524	95.2	20th
Total offense	5,848	365.5	3rd
Passing defense	3,652	228.2	21st
Rushing defense	1,090	68.1	1st
Total defense	4,742	296.4	5th

Awards and honors edit

Cris Carter, Led NFL in receptions
Cris Carter, All-Pro selection
Cris Carter, Pro Bowl selection
Warren Moon, Pro Bowl selection 1994
Warren Moon, NFL leader, passing yards, (4,264)

Milestones edit

Cris Carter, 100 reception season (Carter finished the season with 122 receptions) ^[3]
Warren Moon, 3rd 4,000-yard passing season
Warren Moon, 5th 400-yard passing game (November 6)
Warren Moon, 6th 400-yard passing game (November 20)

References edit

^ 2009 Minnesota Vikings Media Guide. p. 251. Archived from the original on December 24, 2010. Retrieved February 26, 2010.
^ "1994 Minnesota Vikings (NFL) – Pro Football Archives".
^ NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York,NY, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2, p. 440

External links edit

Vikings on Football Reference

[1] 2009 Minnesota Vikings Media Guide. p. 251. Archived from the original on December 24, 2010. Retrieved February 26, 2010.

[2] "1994 Minnesota Vikings (NFL) – Pro Football Archives".

[3] NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York,NY, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2, p. 440

[1]

[2]

[3]