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1987 Minnesota Vikings

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Record: 8-7-0, Finished 2nd in NFC Central Division
NFL Season Summary

Scored 336 points (22.4/g), 13th of 28 in the NFL.
 Allowed 335 points (22.3/g), 16th.
 Differential of 1 points (0.1/g), 12th.
 Expected W-L: 7.5-7.5.

 Takeaway/Giveaway Differential +4 (0.3/g), 12th.

Simple Rating System: Total -2.8, Offense: -0.2, Defense: -2.6, SoS: -2.6, versus averages of 0.0.

Coached by Jerry Burns (8-7-0)
 Other Notable Asst.: Pete Carroll (Defensive Backs)

Training Camp: Mankato State (Mankato, Minnesota)

Starters

ProBowl(*), 1st-team All-Pro(+),Hide Non-primary Starters
Pos Age Yrs GS Summary of Player Stats Drafted (tm/rnd/yr)
 Offensive Starters
QB Wade Wilson 28 6 7 140 for 264, 2,106 yards, 14 td, 13 int, & 41 rushes for 263 yards and 5 td Minnesota Vikings / 8th / 210th pick / 1981
QB Tommy Kramer 32 10 5 40 for 81, 452 yards, 4 td, 3 int, & 10 rushes for 44 yards and 2 td Minnesota Vikings / 1st / 27th pick / 1977
RB Darrin Nelson 28 5 9 131 rushes for 642 yards, 2 td, & 26 catches for 129 yards and 0 td Minnesota Vikings / 1st / 7th pick / 1982
FB Alfred Anderson 26 3 10 68 rushes for 319 yards, 2 td, & 7 catches for 69 yards and 0 td Minnesota Vikings / 3rd / 67th pick / 1984
WR Anthony Carter* 27 2 11 38 catches for 922 yards, 7 td Miami Dolphins / 12th / 334th pick / 1983
WR Leo Lewis 31 6 12 24 catches for 383 yards, 2 td, & 5 rushes for -7 yards and 0 td
TE Steve Jordan* 26 5 12 35 catches for 490 yards, 2 td Minnesota Vikings / 7th / 179th pick / 1982
LT Gary Zimmerman*+ 26 1 12 1 fumble recovered New York Giants / 1st / 3rd pick / 1984 Supp
LG Dave Huffman 30 8 12 Minnesota Vikings / 2nd / 43rd pick / 1979
C Kirk Lowdermilk 24 2 12 Minnesota Vikings / 3rd / 59th pick / 1985
RG Greg Koch 32 10 6 Green Bay Packers / 2nd / 39th pick / 1977
RG Terry Tausch 28 5 5 Minnesota Vikings / 2nd / 39th pick / 1982
RT Tim Irwin 29 6 12 Minnesota Vikings / 3rd / 74th pick / 1981
 Defensive Starters
LDE Doug Martin 30 7 12 9.0 sacks, 0 interceptions, 0 fumbles recovered Minnesota Vikings / 1st / 9th pick / 1980
LDT Henry Thomas 22 Rook 12 2.5 sacks, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovered Minnesota Vikings / 3rd / 72nd pick / 1987
RDT Keith Millard 25 2 8 3.5 sacks, 0 interceptions, 2 fumbles recovered Minnesota Vikings / 1st / 13th pick / 1984
RDT Stafford Mays 29 7 7 7.0 sacks, 0 interceptions, 2 fumbles recovered St. Louis Cardinals / 9th / 225th pick / 1980
RDE Chris Doleman* 26 2 12 11.0 sacks, 0 interceptions, 0 fumbles recovered Minnesota Vikings / 1st / 4th pick / 1985
LLB Jesse Solomon 24 1 12 2.0 sacks, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovered Minnesota Vikings / 12th / 318th pick / 1986
MLB Scott Studwell* 33 10 11 1.0 sacks, 2 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered Minnesota Vikings / 9th / 250th pick / 1977
RLB David Howard 26 2 7 0.0 sacks, 1 interception, 0 fumbles recovered Minnesota Vikings / 3rd / 67th pick / 1984 Supp
LCB Wymon Henderson 26 Rook 8 0.0 sacks, 4 interceptions, 0 fumbles recovered
LCB Issiac Holt 25 2 6 0.0 sacks, 2 interceptions, 0 fumbles recovered Minnesota Vikings / 2nd / 30th pick / 1985
RCB Carl Lee 26 4 12 0.0 sacks, 3 interceptions, 0 fumbles recovered Minnesota Vikings / 7th / 186th pick / 1983
SS Joey Browner*+ 27 4 12 1.0 sacks, 6 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered Minnesota Vikings / 1st / 19th pick / 1983
FS John Harris 31 9 12 0.0 sacks, 3 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered Seattle Seahawks / 7th / 173rd pick / 1978
 Special Teams Starters
K Chuck Nelson 27 4 0 13 of 24 field goals & 36 of 37 extra points Los Angeles Rams / 4th / 87th pick / 1983
P Greg Coleman 33 10 0 45 punts for a 39.7 average, 1 blocked Cincinnati Bengals / 14th / 398th pick / 1976
PR Leo Lewis 31 6 12 22 punt returns for a 12.5 average and 1 td
KR Neal Guggemos 23 1 1 36 kick returns for a 22.4 average and 0 td

Roster

ProBowl(*), 1st-team All-Pro(+),
No. Age Pos G GS Wt Ht College/Univ BirthDate Yrs Drafted (tm/rnd/yr)
53 Steve Ache 25 LB 3 0 229 6-3 SW Missouri St. 3/16/1962 Rook
7 Tony Adams 37 QB 3 3 198 6-0 Texas,Utah St. 3/9/1950 12 San Diego Chargers / 14th / 343rd pick / 1973
46 Alfred Anderson 26 RB 10 10 219 6-1 Baylor 8/4/1961 3 Minnesota Vikings / 3rd / 67th pick / 1984
53 Sam Anno 22 LB 6 0 236 6-2 USC 1/26/1965 Rook
58 Walker Lee Ashley 27 LB 12 0 234 6-0 Penn St. 7/28/1960 4 Minnesota Vikings / 3rd / 73rd pick / 1983
50 Ray Berry 24 LB 11 0 227 6-2 Baylor 10/28/1963 Rook Minnesota Vikings / 2nd / 44th pick / 1987
21 Rufus Bess 31 DB 3 2 184 5-9 South Carolina St. 9/13/1956 8
95 Don Bramlett 25 DT 3 1 270 6-2 Memphis 10/5/1962 Rook
84 James Brim 24 WR 3 3 187 6-3 Wake Forest 2/28/1963 Rook
86 Larry Brown 24 WR 1 0 180 5-11 Mankato St. 9/4/1963 Rook
47 Joey Browner*+ 27 DB 12 12 221 6-2 USC 5/15/1960 4 Minnesota Vikings / 1st / 19th pick / 1983
13 Dave Bruno 24 P 2 0 235 6-1 Moriane Valley CC (IL) 3/19/1963 Rook
94 Tim Bryant 25 LB 1 0 217 6-1 Vanderbilt,Southern Miss 5/5/1962 Rook
71 Derek Burton 24 T 3 3 270 6-2 Oklahoma St. 8/10/1963 Rook
81 Anthony Carter* 27 WR 12 11 168 5-11 Michigan 9/17/1960 2 Miami Dolphins / 12th / 334th pick / 1983
91 Dan Coleman 25 DE 3 1 249 6-4 Murray St. 8/14/1962 Rook
8 Greg Coleman 33 P 9 0 185 6-0 Florida A&M 9/9/1954 10 Cincinnati Bengals / 14th / 398th pick / 1976
59 Fabray Collins 26 LB 3 1 215 6-2 Southern Illinois 9/16/1961 Rook
82 Ron Daugherty 29 WR 3 0 185 6-3 NE Illinois 3/17/1958 Rook
4 Dale Dawson 23 K 3 0 213 6-0 East. Kentucky 11/2/1964 Rook
52 Jim Dick 23 LB 3 2 230 6-1 North Dakota St. 6/18/1964 Rook
56 Chris Doleman* 26 DE-LB 12 12 289 6-5 Pittsburgh 10/16/1961 2 Minnesota Vikings / 1st / 4th pick / 1985
42 D.J. Dozier 22 RB 9 3 200 6-0 Penn St. 9/21/1965 Rook Minnesota Vikings / 1st / 14th pick / 1987
87 Clifton Eley 26 TE 2 0 230 6-5 Mississippi St. 6/21/1961 Rook
26 David Evans 28 DB 3 3 178 6-0 Central Arkansas 5/1/1959 1
31 Rick Fenney 23 RB 11 0 235 6-1 Washington 12/7/1964 Rook Minnesota Vikings / 8th / 211th pick / 1987
85 Steve Finch 26 WR 1 1 200 6-0 Elmhurst 1/2/1961 Rook
29 Jamie Fitzgerald 22 DB 2 0 180 6-0 Idaho St. 4/30/1965 Rook
62 Chris Foote 31 C-G 6 0 256 6-3 USC 12/2/1956 7 Baltimore Colts / 6th / 144th pick / 1980
22 Steve Freeman 34 DB 12 0 185 5-11 Mississippi St. 5/8/1953 12 New England Patriots / 5th / 117th pick / 1975
37 Phil Frye 29 RB 1 1 180 5-11 Utah St. 12/20/1958 Rook
16 Rich Gannon 22 QB 4 0 210 6-3 Delaware 12/20/1965 Rook New England Patriots / 4th / 98th pick / 1987
86 Willie Gillespie 26 WR 1 1 170 5-9 Tenn-Chattanooga 10/24/1961 1
41 Neal Guggemos 23 DB 12 1 187 6-0 St. Thomas 6/14/1964 1
80 Jim Gustafson 26 WR 12 0 177 6-1 St. Thomas 3/16/1961 1
64 Mark Hanson 22 G 1 0 260 6-2 Mankato St. 2/3/1965 Rook
36 Sam Harrell 30 RB 1 1 217 6-2 East Carolina 2/7/1957 6 Minnesota Vikings / 11th / 288th pick / 1980
44 John Harris 31 DB 12 12 200 6-2 Arizona St. 6/13/1956 9 Seattle Seahawks / 7th / 173rd pick / 1978
32 Steve Harris 25 RB 2 0 194 5-11 Northern Iowa 12/12/1962 Rook
78 Mike Hartenstine 34 DE 5 0 251 6-3 Penn St. 7/27/1953 12 Chicago Bears / 2nd / 31st pick / 1975
24 Wymon Henderson 26 DB 12 8 190 5-10 UNLV 12/15/1961 Rook
82 Carl Hilton 23 TE 11 1 232 6-3 Houston 2/8/1964 1 Minnesota Vikings / 7th / 179th pick / 1986
30 Issiac Holt 25 DB 9 6 200 6-2 Alcorn St. 10/4/1962 2 Minnesota Vikings / 2nd / 30th pick / 1985
51 David Howard 26 LB 10 7 232 6-2 Oregon St.,Long Beach St. 12/8/1961 2 Minnesota Vikings / 3rd / 67th pick / 1984 Supp
72 Dave Huffman 30 G-C 12 12 280 6-6 Notre Dame 4/4/1957 8 Minnesota Vikings / 2nd / 43rd pick / 1979
76 Tim Irwin 29 T 12 12 300 6-7 Tennessee 12/13/1958 6 Minnesota Vikings / 3rd / 74th pick / 1981
84 Hassan Jones 23 WR 12 0 198 6-0 Florida St. 7/2/1964 1 Minnesota Vikings / 5th / 120th pick / 1986
69 Wayne Jones 27 G 6 0 270 6-4 Utah 2/10/1960 Rook Miami Dolphins / 10th / 276th pick / 1982
83 Steve Jordan* 26 TE 12 12 236 6-3 Brown 1/10/1961 5 Minnesota Vikings / 7th / 179th pick / 1982
80 Keith Kidd 25 WR 1 0 195 6-1 Arkansas 9/10/1962 Rook Minnesota Vikings / 9th / 235th pick / 1984
68 Greg Koch 32 T-G 9 6 270 6-4 Arkansas 6/14/1955 10 Green Bay Packers / 2nd / 39th pick / 1977
9 Tommy Kramer 32 QB 6 5 200 6-2 Rice 3/7/1955 10 Minnesota Vikings / 1st / 27th pick / 1977
80 Terry LeCount 31 WR 1 0 178 5-10 Florida 7/9/1956 9 San Francisco 49ers / 4th / 91st pick / 1978
39 Carl Lee 26 DB 12 12 185 5-11 Marshall 2/6/1961 4 Minnesota Vikings / 7th / 186th pick / 1983
87 Leo Lewis 31 WR 12 12 170 5-8 Missouri 9/17/1956 6
38 Fletcher Louallen 25 DB 3 3 195 6-0 West Alabama 9/12/1962 Rook
23 Terry Love 29 DB 1 0 205 6-2 Murray St. 8/25/1958 Rook
63 Kirk Lowdermilk 24 C 12 12 269 6-3 Ohio St. 4/10/1963 2 Minnesota Vikings / 3rd / 59th pick / 1985
71 Mark MacDonald 26 G 12 1 267 6-4 Boston Col. 4/30/1961 2 Minnesota Vikings / 5th / 115th pick / 1985
57 Chris Martin 27 LB 12 4 236 6-2 Auburn 12/19/1960 4
79 Doug Martin 30 DE-NT 12 12 260 6-3 Washington 5/22/1957 7 Minnesota Vikings / 1st / 9th pick / 1980
88 Marc May 29 TE 3 3 230 6-4 Purdue 1/1/1958 Rook
73 Stafford Mays 29 DE-DT-NT 12 7 252 6-2 Washington 3/13/1958 7 St. Louis Cardinals / 9th / 225th pick / 1980
74 Mike McCurry 24 G 3 3 258 6-3 Indiana 3/26/1963 Rook
98 Phil Micech 26 DE 3 3 265 6-5 Wisc-Platteville 8/11/1961 Rook
75 Keith Millard 25 DT-NT-DE 9 8 260 6-6 Washington St. 3/18/1962 2 Minnesota Vikings / 1st / 13th pick / 1984
5 Larry Miller 25 QB 2 0 220 6-4 Northern Iowa 2/8/1962 Rook
64 Ted Million 24 G 1 0 260 6-4 Duke 5/9/1963 Rook
90 Fred Molden 24 DT 2 0 272 6-2 Southern Miss,Jackson St. 8/12/1963 Rook
45 Leonard Moore 24 RB 1 1 222 6-0 Jackson St. 1/27/1963 Rook
86 Mike Mularkey 26 TE 9 0 245 6-4 Florida 11/19/1961 4 San Francisco 49ers / 9th / 229th pick / 1983
48 Najee Mustafaa 23 DB 7 0 190 6-1 Georgia Tech 6/20/1964 Rook Minnesota Vikings / 4th / 100th pick / 1987
51 Peter Najarian 24 LB 5 3 233 6-2 Minnesota 12/22/1963 Rook
1 Chuck Nelson 27 K 12 0 175 5-11 Washington 2/23/1960 4 Los Angeles Rams / 4th / 87th pick / 1983
20 Darrin Nelson 28 RB 10 9 184 5-9 Stanford 1/2/1959 5 Minnesota Vikings / 1st / 7th pick / 1982
96 Tim Newton 24 DT-NT 9 0 280 6-0 Florida 3/23/1963 2 Minnesota Vikings / 6th / 164th pick / 1985
97 Tony Norman 32 DE 2 0 270 6-5 Iowa St. 1/27/1955 Rook
69 Frank Ori 23 G 3 3 244 6-2 Northern Iowa 3/20/1964 Rook
81 Rickey Parks 23 WR 2 1 179 6-1 Ark-Pine Bluff 2/19/1964 Rook
63 Kurt Ploeger 25 DE-DT 1 1 259 6-5 Gustavus Adolphus 12/1/1962 1 Dallas Cowboys / 6th / 144th pick / 1985
92 Kelly Quinn 24 LB 3 2 220 6-1 Michigan St. 8/20/1963 Rook
52 Randy R. Rasmussen 27 C-G 5 0 253 6-7 Minnesota 9/27/1960 3 Pittsburgh Steelers / 8th / 220th pick / 1984
36 Allen Rice 25 RB 12 2 203 5-10 Baylor 4/5/1962 3 Minnesota Vikings / 5th / 140th pick / 1984
89 Greg Richardson 23 WR 2 0 171 5-7 Alabama 10/6/1964 Rook Minnesota Vikings / 6th / 156th pick / 1987
95 Gerald Robinson 24 DE-DT 4 0 262 6-3 Auburn 5/4/1963 1 Minnesota Vikings / 1st / 14th pick / 1986
28 Ted Rosnagle 26 DB 3 3 205 6-3 Portland St. 9/29/1961 2
78 John Scardina 29 T 3 3 265 6-4 Concordia (WI),Lincoln (MO) 7/26/1958 Rook
89 Ed Schenk 27 TE 3 0 230 6-4 Baldwin-Wallace,Central Florida 12/20/1960 Rook
50 Randy Scott 28 LB 2 1 223 6-1 Alabama 1/31/1959 6
13 Bucky Scribner 27 P 4 0 207 6-0 Kansas 7/11/1960 4 Green Bay Packers / 11th / 299th pick / 1983
60 Ron Selesky 22 C 2 0 266 6-1 North Central 9/4/1965 Rook
35 Mike Slaton 23 DB 1 0 194 6-2 South Dakota 9/25/1964 Rook Minnesota Vikings / 9th / 232nd pick / 1986
43 Jimmy K. Smith 27 RB 1 1 205 6-0 Purdue,Elon 9/25/1960 3 Washington Redskins / 4th / 102nd pick / 1984
40 Wayne Smith 30 DB 6 1 171 6-0 Wisc-LaCrosse,Purdue 5/9/1957 7 Detroit Lions / 11th / 278th pick / 1980
54 Jesse Solomon 24 LB 12 12 240 6-0 Florida St. 11/4/1963 1 Minnesota Vikings / 12th / 318th pick / 1986
34 Timothy Starks 24 DB 1 0 175 5-9 Kent St. 12/30/1963 Rook
73 Joe Stepanek 24 DT 1 1 268 6-5 Minnesota 11/6/1963 Rook
55 Scott Studwell* 33 LB 12 11 228 6-2 Illinois 8/27/1954 10 Minnesota Vikings / 9th / 250th pick / 1977
67 Dennis Swilley 32 C-G-T 6 0 253 6-3 Texas A&M,North Texas 6/28/1955 10 Minnesota Vikings / 2nd / 55th pick / 1977
66 Terry Tausch 28 G-T 5 5 275 6-5 Texas 2/5/1959 5 Minnesota Vikings / 2nd / 39th pick / 1982
35 Andre Thomas 27 RB 1 0 205 6-0 Mississippi 11/28/1960 Rook
97 Henry Thomas 22 DT-NT 12 12 277 6-2 LSU 1/12/1965 Rook Minnesota Vikings / 3rd / 72nd pick / 1987
27 John Turner 31 DB 2 0 197 6-0 Miami (FL) 2/22/1956 9 Minnesota Vikings / 2nd / 48th pick / 1978
61 Mike Turner 27 G 1 0 255 6-3 LSU 9/10/1960 Rook
49 Adam Walker 24 RB 2 0 220 5-11 Carthage 4/9/1963 Rook
93 Jimmy Walker 30 DT 2 2 265 6-2 Arkansas 12/30/1957 Rook
68 Kevin Webster 25 G 3 3 260 6-2 Northern Iowa 3/6/1962 Rook
62 Brad White 29 NT-DT 1 1 256 6-2 Tennessee 8/18/1958 6 Tampa Bay Buccaneers / 12th / 310th pick / 1981
45 Brett Wilson 27 RB 3 1 220 6-0 Illinois 12/29/1960 Rook
11 Wade Wilson 28 QB 12 7 210 6-3 Texas A&M-Commerce 2/1/1959 6 Minnesota Vikings / 8th / 210th pick / 1981
33 Jeff Womack 24 RB 2 1 188 5-9 Memphis 6/26/1963 Rook
65 Gary Zimmerman*+ 26 T 12 12 294 6-6 Oregon 12/13/1961 1 New York Giants / 1st / 3rd pick / 1984 Supp
Team Total 26.4 15 224.8 6-1.6 2.5