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Record: 9-7-0, Finished 2nd in NFC North Division
NFL Season Summary
Scored 416 points (26.0/g), 6th of 32 in the NFL.
Allowed 353 points (22.1/g), 23rd.
Differential of 63 points (3.9/g), 11th.
Expected W-L: 9.5-6.5.
Takeaway/Giveaway Differential +11 (0.7/g), 5th.
Coached by Mike Tice (9-7-0)
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2003 Statistics / Starters & Roster / Games & Schedule / Team Draftees
| Pos | Age | Yrs | GS | Summary of Player Stats | Drafted (tm/rnd/yr) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Offensive Starters | Complete Team Stats | |||||
| QB | Daunte Culpepper* | 26 | 4 | 14 | 295 for 454, 3,479 yards, 25 td, 11 int, & 73 rushes for 422 yards and 4 td | Minnesota Vikings / 1st / 11th pick / 1999 |
| RB | Moe Williams | 29 | 7 | 7 | 174 rushes for 745 yards, 5 td, & 65 catches for 644 yards and 3 td | Minnesota Vikings / 3rd / 75th pick / 1996 |
| RB | Michael Bennett | 25 | 2 | 7 | 90 rushes for 447 yards, 1 td, & 12 catches for 132 yards and 0 td | Minnesota Vikings / 1st / 27th pick / 2001 |
| WR | Nate Burleson | 22 | Rook | 9 | 29 catches for 455 yards, 2 td | Minnesota Vikings / 3rd / 71st pick / 2003 |
| WR | Kelly Campbell | 23 | 1 | 6 | 25 catches for 522 yards, 4 td, & 10 rushes for 71 yards and 0 td | |
| WR | Randy Moss*+ | 26 | 5 | 16 | 111 catches for 1,632 yards, 17 td, & 6 rushes for 18 yards and 0 td | Minnesota Vikings / 1st / 21st pick / 1998 |
| WR | D'Wayne Bates | 28 | 4 | 8 | 15 catches for 151 yards, 1 td | Chicago Bears / 3rd / 71st pick / 1999 |
| TE | Jim Kleinsasser | 26 | 4 | 16 | 46 catches for 401 yards, 4 td, & 2 rushes for 15 yards and 0 td | Minnesota Vikings / 2nd / 44th pick / 1999 |
| TE | Hunter Goodwin | 31 | 7 | 5 | 4 catches for 26 yards, 0 td | Minnesota Vikings / 4th / 97th pick / 1996 |
| LT | Bryant McKinnie | 24 | 1 | 16 | Minnesota Vikings / 1st / 7th pick / 2002 |
|
| LG | Chris Liwienski | 28 | 5 | 16 | Detroit Lions / 7th / 207th pick / 1998 |
|
| C | Matt Birk* | 27 | 5 | 16 | 1 fumble recovered | Minnesota Vikings / 6th / 173rd pick / 1998 |
| RG | David Dixon | 34 | 9 | 16 | 1 fumble recovered | New England Patriots / 9th / 232nd pick / 1992 |
| RT | Mike Rosenthal | 26 | 4 | 16 | New York Giants / 5th / 149th pick / 1999 |
|
| Defensive Starters | ||||||
| LDE | Kevin Williams | 23 | Rook | 16 | 10.5 sacks, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovered | Minnesota Vikings / 1st / 9th pick / 2003 |
| LDT | Fred Robbins | 26 | 3 | 12 | 0.5 sacks, 0 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered | Minnesota Vikings / 2nd / 55th pick / 2000 |
| RDT | Chris Hovan | 25 | 3 | 16 | 2.0 sacks, 0 interceptions, 0 fumbles recovered | Minnesota Vikings / 1st / 25th pick / 2000 |
| RDE | Kenny Mixon | 28 | 5 | 16 | 5.0 sacks, 0 interceptions, 0 fumbles recovered | Miami Dolphins / 2nd / 49th pick / 1998 |
| LLB | Henri Crockett | 29 | 6 | 15 | Atlanta Falcons / 4th / 100th pick / 1997 |
|
| MLB | Greg Biekert | 34 | 10 | 16 | 1.0 sacks, 0 interceptions, 0 fumbles recovered | Los Angeles Raiders / 7th / 181st pick / 1993 |
| RLB | Chris Claiborne | 25 | 4 | 12 | 3.0 sacks, 1 interception, 2 fumbles recovered | Detroit Lions / 1st / 9th pick / 1999 |
| RLB | Nick Rogers | 24 | 1 | 5 | Minnesota Vikings / 6th / 177th pick / 2002 |
|
| LCB | Brian Williams | 24 | 1 | 16 | 3.0 sacks, 5 interceptions, 0 fumbles recovered | Minnesota Vikings / 4th / 105th pick / 2002 |
| LCB | Denard Walker | 30 | 6 | 8 | 0.0 sacks, 1 interception, 0 fumbles recovered | Tennessee Oilers / 3rd / 75th pick / 1997 |
| RCB | Ken Irvin | 31 | 8 | 8 | 0.0 sacks, 1 interception, 0 fumbles recovered | Buffalo Bills / 4th / 109th pick / 1995 |
| RCB | Brian Williams | 24 | 1 | 16 | 3.0 sacks, 5 interceptions, 0 fumbles recovered | Minnesota Vikings / 4th / 105th pick / 2002 |
| SS | Corey Chavous* | 27 | 5 | 16 | 0.0 sacks, 8 interceptions, 0 fumbles recovered | Arizona Cardinals / 2nd / 33rd pick / 1998 |
| FS | Brian Russell | 25 | 1 | 16 | 1.0 sacks, 9 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered | |
| Special Teams Starters | ||||||
| K | Aaron Elling | 25 | Rook | 0 | 18 of 25 field goals & 48 of 48 extra points | |
| P | Eddie Johnson | 22 | Rook | 0 | 56 punts for a 39.1 average, 1 blocked | Minnesota Vikings / 6th / 180th pick / 2003 |
| PR | Keenan Howry | 22 | Rook | 1 | 35 punt returns for a 7.1 average and 0 td | Minnesota Vikings / 7th / 221st pick / 2003 |
| KR | Onterrio Smith | 23 | Rook | 3 | 27 kick returns for a 21.8 average and 0 td | Minnesota Vikings / 4th / 105th pick / 2003 |
| Age | Pos | G | GS | Wt | Ht | College/Univ | BirthDate | Yrs | Drafted (tm/rnd/yr) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leo Araguz | 33 | P | 2 | 0 | 190 | 5-11 | Stephen F. Austin | 1/18/1970 | 7 | |
| John Avery | 27 | RB | 6 | 0 | 188 | 5-9 | Mississippi | 1/11/1976 | 5 | Miami Dolphins / 1st / 29th pick / 1998 |
| D'Wayne Bates | 28 | WR | 10 | 8 | 212 | 6-2 | Northwestern | 12/4/1975 | 4 | Chicago Bears / 3rd / 71st pick / 1999 |
| Michael Bennett | 25 | RB | 8 | 7 | 211 | 5-9 | Wisconsin | 8/13/1978 | 2 | Minnesota Vikings / 1st / 27th pick / 2001 |
| Sean Berton | 24 | TE | 16 | 0 | 272 | 6-4 | North Carolina State,West Virginia | 10/31/1979 | Rook | |
| Greg Biekert | 34 | LB | 16 | 16 | 253 | 6-2 | Colorado | 3/14/1969 | 10 | Los Angeles Raiders / 7th / 181st pick / 1993 |
| Matt Birk* | 27 | C | 16 | 16 | 300 | 6-4 | Harvard | 7/23/1976 | 5 | Minnesota Vikings / 6th / 173rd pick / 1998 |
| Jack Brewer | 24 | DB | 6 | 0 | 190 | 6-0 | Minnesota,SMU | 1/8/1979 | 1 | |
| Nate Burleson | 22 | WR | 16 | 9 | 192 | 6-0 | Nevada-Reno | 8/19/1981 | Rook | Minnesota Vikings / 3rd / 71st pick / 2003 |
| Kelly Campbell | 23 | WR | 15 | 6 | 173 | 5-10 | Georgia Tech | 7/23/1980 | 1 | |
| Doug Chapman | 26 | RB | 4 | 0 | 213 | 5-10 | Marshall | 8/22/1977 | 2 | Minnesota Vikings / 3rd / 88th pick / 2000 |
| Corey Chavous* | 27 | DB | 16 | 16 | 205 | 6-1 | Vanderbilt | 1/15/1976 | 5 | Arizona Cardinals / 2nd / 33rd pick / 1998 |
| Chris Claiborne | 25 | LB | 12 | 12 | 259 | 6-3 | USC | 7/26/1978 | 4 | Detroit Lions / 1st / 9th pick / 1999 |
| Kenny Clark | 25 | WR | 1 | 0 | 217 | 6-1 | Central Florida | 5/14/1978 | Rook | |
| Jose Cortez | 28 | K | 2 | 0 | 200 | 5-11 | Oregon State | 5/27/1975 | 4 | |
| Henri Crockett | 29 | LB | 16 | 15 | 240 | 6-2 | Florida State | 10/28/1974 | 6 | Atlanta Falcons / 4th / 100th pick / 1997 |
| Daunte Culpepper* | 26 | QB | 14 | 14 | 264 | 6-4 | Central Florida | 1/28/1977 | 4 | Minnesota Vikings / 1st / 11th pick / 1999 |
| Nick Davis | 24 | WR | 1 | 0 | 180 | 6-0 | Wisconsin | 10/6/1979 | 1 | |
| David Dixon | 34 | G | 16 | 16 | 343 | 6-5 | Arizona State | 1/5/1969 | 9 | New England Patriots / 9th / 232nd pick / 1992 |
| Aaron Elling | 25 | K | 16 | 0 | 201 | 6-2 | George Fox,Wyoming | 5/31/1978 | Rook | |
| Gus Frerotte | 32 | QB | 16 | 2 | 237 | 6-3 | Tulsa | 7/31/1971 | 9 | Washington Redskins / 7th / 197th pick / 1994 |
| Hunter Goodwin | 31 | TE | 16 | 5 | 268 | 6-5 | Texas A&M,Texas A&M-Kingsville | 10/10/1972 | 7 | Minnesota Vikings / 4th / 97th pick / 1996 |
| E.J. Henderson | 23 | LB | 16 | 0 | 245 | 6-1 | Maryland | 8/3/1980 | Rook | Minnesota Vikings / 2nd / 40th pick / 2003 |
| Chris Hovan | 25 | DT | 16 | 16 | 296 | 6-2 | Boston College | 5/12/1978 | 3 | Minnesota Vikings / 1st / 25th pick / 2000 |
| Keenan Howry | 22 | WR | 16 | 1 | 172 | 5-10 | Oregon | 6/17/1981 | Rook | Minnesota Vikings / 7th / 221st pick / 2003 |
| Ken Irvin | 31 | DB | 16 | 8 | 182 | 5-11 | Memphis | 7/11/1972 | 8 | Buffalo Bills / 4th / 109th pick / 1995 |
| Ron Israel | 25 | DB | 1 | 0 | 212 | 6-0 | Notre Dame | 1/5/1978 | Rook | |
| Eddie Johnson | 22 | P | 14 | 0 | 236 | 6-3 | Idaho State | 3/2/1981 | Rook | Minnesota Vikings / 6th / 180th pick / 2003 |
| Lance Johnstone | 30 | DE | 16 | 0 | 250 | 6-4 | Temple | 6/11/1973 | 7 | Oakland Raiders / 2nd / 57th pick / 1996 |
| Rushen Jones | 23 | DB | 11 | 0 | 194 | 5-10 | Vanderbilt | 4/4/1980 | Rook | |
| Eric Kelly | 26 | DB | 16 | 0 | 201 | 5-10 | Kentucky | 1/15/1977 | 2 | Minnesota Vikings / 3rd / 69th pick / 2001 |
| Lewis Kelly | 26 | T-G | 6 | 0 | 306 | 6-4 | South Carolina State | 4/21/1977 | 2 | Minnesota Vikings / 7th / 248th pick / 2000 |
| Jim Kleinsasser | 26 | TE-FB | 16 | 16 | 272 | 6-3 | North Dakota | 1/31/1977 | 4 | Minnesota Vikings / 2nd / 44th pick / 1999 |
| Brody Liddiard | 26 | TE | 16 | 0 | 240 | 6-4 | Colorado | 6/12/1977 | 3 | |
| Everett Lindsay | 33 | T-G | 12 | 0 | 305 | 6-4 | Mississippi | 9/18/1970 | 10 | Minnesota Vikings / 5th / 133rd pick / 1993 |
| Chris Liwienski | 28 | G-T | 16 | 16 | 325 | 6-5 | Indiana | 8/2/1975 | 5 | Detroit Lions / 7th / 207th pick / 1998 |
| Billy Lyon | 30 | DE-DT | 13 | 0 | 295 | 6-5 | Marshall | 12/10/1973 | 5 | |
| Bryant McKinnie | 24 | T | 16 | 16 | 335 | 6-8 | Miami (FL) | 9/23/1979 | 1 | Minnesota Vikings / 1st / 7th pick / 2002 |
| Kenny Mixon | 28 | DE | 16 | 16 | 271 | 6-4 | LSU | 5/31/1975 | 5 | Miami Dolphins / 2nd / 49th pick / 1998 |
| Randy Moss*+ | 26 | WR | 16 | 16 | 215 | 6-4 | Marshall | 2/13/1977 | 5 | Minnesota Vikings / 1st / 21st pick / 1998 |
| Mike Nattiel | 23 | LB | 16 | 0 | 227 | 6-0 | Florida | 11/8/1980 | Rook | Minnesota Vikings / 6th / 190th pick / 2003 |
| Larry Ned | 25 | RB | 3 | 0 | 217 | 5-11 | San Diego State | 8/23/1978 | Rook | Oakland Raiders / 6th / 197th pick / 2002 |
| Rhett Nelson | 23 | DB | 3 | 0 | 200 | 6-0 | Colorado State | 2/16/1980 | Rook | |
| Willie Offord | 25 | DB | 16 | 0 | 216 | 6-1 | South Carolina | 12/22/1978 | 1 | Minnesota Vikings / 3rd / 70th pick / 2002 |
| Fred Robbins | 26 | DT | 16 | 12 | 325 | 6-4 | Wake Forest | 3/25/1977 | 3 | Minnesota Vikings / 2nd / 55th pick / 2000 |
| Nick Rogers | 24 | LB | 16 | 5 | 250 | 6-2 | Georgia Tech | 5/31/1979 | 1 | Minnesota Vikings / 6th / 177th pick / 2002 |
| Mike Rosenthal | 26 | T-G | 16 | 16 | 318 | 6-7 | Notre Dame | 6/10/1977 | 4 | New York Giants / 5th / 149th pick / 1999 |
| Brian Russell | 25 | DB | 16 | 16 | 204 | 6-2 | San Diego State | 2/5/1978 | 1 | |
| Talance Sawyer | 27 | DE | 3 | 0 | 270 | 6-2 | UNLV | 6/14/1976 | 4 | Minnesota Vikings / 6th / 185th pick / 1999 |
| Onterrio Smith | 23 | RB | 15 | 3 | 214 | 5-10 | Oregon,Tennessee | 12/8/1980 | Rook | Minnesota Vikings / 4th / 105th pick / 2003 |
| Raonall Smith | 25 | LB | 7 | 0 | 241 | 6-2 | Washington State | 10/22/1978 | Rook | Minnesota Vikings / 2nd / 38th pick / 2002 |
| Charles Stackhouse | 23 | FB | 14 | 2 | 250 | 6-2 | Mississippi | 4/11/1980 | 1 | |
| Denard Walker | 30 | DB | 16 | 8 | 190 | 6-1 | LSU | 8/9/1973 | 6 | Tennessee Oilers / 3rd / 75th pick / 1997 |
| Chuck Wiley | 28 | DE | 7 | 4 | 275 | 6-5 | LSU | 3/6/1975 | 4 | Carolina Panthers / 3rd / 62nd pick / 1998 |
| Brian Williams | 24 | DB | 16 | 16 | 198 | 5-11 | North Carolina State | 7/2/1979 | 1 | Minnesota Vikings / 4th / 105th pick / 2002 |
| Kevin Williams | 23 | DT-DE | 16 | 16 | 311 | 6-5 | Oklahoma State | 8/16/1980 | Rook | Minnesota Vikings / 1st / 9th pick / 2003 |
| Moe Williams | 29 | RB | 16 | 7 | 205 | 6-1 | Kentucky | 7/26/1974 | 7 | Minnesota Vikings / 3rd / 75th pick / 1996 |
| Cory Withrow | 28 | C | 8 | 0 | 287 | 6-2 | Washington State | 4/5/1975 | 3 | |
| Team Total | 26.4 | 16 | 240.7 | 6-1.8 | 3.1 |