| Team: | Minnesota Vikings |
| Year: | 2015 |
| Record: | 11–5 |
| Division Place: | 1st NFC North |
| Coach: | Mike Zimmer |
| General Manager: | Rick Spielman |
| Owner: | Zygi Wilf |
| Stadium: | TCF Bank Stadium |
| Playoffs: | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (vs. Seahawks) 9–10 |
| Pro Bowlers: | RB Adrian Peterson DE Everson Griffen (replacement) S Harrison Smith (replacement) QB Teddy Bridgewater (replacement) LB Anthony Barr (replacement) |
| Ap All-Pros: | RB Adrian Peterson (1st team) KR Cordarrelle Patterson (2nd team) |
| Uniform: | File:Vikings 2013-16 Collar (cropped).png |
| Shortnavlink: | Vikings seasons |
The 2015 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 55th season in the National Football League (NFL) and their second under head coach Mike Zimmer. It marked the last season in which the Vikings played their home games at the University of Minnesota's on-campus TCF Bank Stadium, before moving into U.S. Bank Stadium, which opened in July 2016, located on the site of the now-demolished Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome.
The Vikings improved on their 7–9 record from 2014 and clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 2012. They also won their first NFC North title since 2009 with a Week 17 victory at the Packers. As a result, they hosted the Seattle Seahawks in the wild card round of the 2015–16 NFL playoffs, but lost 10–9 after kicker Blair Walsh missed a potential game-winning 27 yard field goal in the final seconds.[1]
See main article: 2015 NFL draft.
| Pro Bowler |
| 2015 Minnesota Vikings Draft | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Draft order | Player name | Position | College | Contract | Notes | ||
| Round | Selection | ||||||
| 1 | 11 | Trae Waynes | CB | Michigan State | 4 years / $12.944 million | ||
| 2 | 45 | bgcolor=lightsteelblue | Eric Kendricks | ILB | UCLA | 4 years / $5.156 million | |
| 3 | 76 | Traded to the Kansas City Chiefs | |||||
| 80 | Traded to the Detroit Lions | from Chiefs | |||||
| 88 | bgcolor=lightsteelblue | Danielle Hunter | DE | LSU | 4 years / $3.077 million | from Lions | |
| 4 | 110 | T. J. Clemmings | OT | Pittsburgh | 4 years / $2.804 million | ||
| 5 | 137 | Traded to the Atlanta Falcons | from Buccaneers via Bills | ||||
| 143 | MyCole Pruitt | TE | Southern Illinois | 4 years / $2.51 million | from Lions via Broncos and Bears | ||
| 146 | bgcolor=lightsteelblue | Stefon Diggs | WR | Maryland | 4 years / $2.5 million | from Falcons | |
| 149 | Traded to the Miami Dolphins | ||||||
| 6 | 185 | Tyrus Thompson | OT | Oklahoma | 4 years / $2.4 million | from Falcons | |
| 187 | Traded to the Buffalo Bills | ||||||
| 193 | B. J. Dubose | DE | Louisville | 4 years / $2.399 million | from Chiefs | ||
| 7 | 228 | Austin Shepherd | OT | Alabama | 4 years / $2.349 million | ||
| 232 | Edmond Robinson | OLB | Newberry | 4 years / $2.34 million | from 49ers via Dolphins | ||
| Date | Player name | Position | Contract terms | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 8, 2015 | DE | 3 years / $7 million[2] | ||
| March 10, 2015 | RB | 1 year / $800,000[3] | ||
| March 11, 2015 | C | 2 years / $2.155 million[4] | ||
| LS | 1 year / $1.05 million[5] | |||
| March 17, 2015 | OT | 1 year / $1.542 million[6] | ||
| July 4, 2015 | C | 3 years / $16.7 million[7] | ||
| July 26, 2015 | K | 4 year / $14 million[8] |
| Date | Player name | Position | Note | New team | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 27, 2015 | G | Released[9] | |||
| March 10, 2015 | QB | Traded | Buffalo Bills | ||
| FB | UFA | ||||
| March 13, 2015 | QB | Oakland Raiders | |||
| March 14, 2015 | ILB | Dallas Cowboys | |||
| WR | Released[10] | Miami Dolphins | |||
| March 16, 2015 | G | Chicago Bears | |||
| March 26, 2015 | LB | Released[11] | Dallas Cowboys | ||
| G | Released | ||||
| April 2, 2015 | QB | Released[12] | Chicago Bears | ||
| August 24, 2015 | LS | Released[13] | |||
| August 30, 2015 | RB | Released[14] | Jacksonville Jaguars | ||
| TE | Arizona Cardinals | ||||
| CB | |||||
| CB | New England Patriots | ||||
| WR | New England Patriots | ||||
| OT | Brooklyn Bolts (FXFL) | ||||
| LB | |||||
| WR | Jacksonville Jaguars | ||||
| DE | Los Angeles Kiss (AFL) | ||||
| DT | |||||
| CB | Atlanta Falcons | ||||
| September 5, 2015 | OT | Waived[15] | |||
| October 6, 2015 | MLB | Traded[16] | San Francisco 49ers | ||
| November 17, 2015 | TE | Signed off Practice Squad | Baltimore Ravens |
| Date | Player name | Position | Previous team | Contract terms | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 18, 2015 | TE | Claimed off waivers[17] | |||
| March 11, 2015 | QB | 2 years / $6.5 million[18] | |||
| March 13, 2015 | WR | Acquired in trade | |||
| March 19, 2015 | RB | 1 year / $660,000[19] | |||
| March 24, 2015 | LB | 1 years / $825,000[20] | |||
| S | 1 year / $795,000 | ||||
| March 26, 2015 | OL | Dresden Monarchs (GFL) | 3 years / $1.575 million[21] | ||
| March 27, 2015 | CB | 1 year / $2.25 million | |||
| April 2, 2015 | QB | 1 year / $660,000[22] | |||
| DE | Montreal Alouettes (CFL) | 1 year / $660,000[23] | |||
| April 6, 2015 | LS | 2 years / $1.26 million[24] | |||
| May 11, 2015 | WR | Minnesota Golden Gophers (NCAA) | 3 years / $1.575 million[25] | ||
| June 9, 2015 | DT | East Carolina Pirates (NCAA) | [26] | ||
| July 24, 2015 | CB | [27] | |||
| August 1, 2015 | WR | [28] | |||
| August 14, 2015 | DT | [29] | |||
| October 6, 2015 | C | Acquired in trade |
On February 11, 2015, the National Football League announced that the Vikings would play the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game. The game was played at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, on Sunday, August 9.[30] The remainder of the Vikings' preliminary preseason schedule was announced on April 9. The Vikings first hosted the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Oakland Raiders before road games against the Dallas Cowboys and the Tennessee Titans,[31] making this the third consecutive year in which the Vikings face the Titans in the preseason.
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | NFL.com recap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOF | August 9 | Pittsburgh Steelers | W 14–3 | 1–0 | 22,364 | Recap | ||
| 1 | August 15 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | W 26–16 | 2–0 | TCF Bank Stadium | 50,610 | Recap | |
| 2 | August 22 | Oakland Raiders | W 20–12 | 3–0 | TCF Bank Stadium | 50,656 | Recap | |
| 3 | August 29 | at Dallas Cowboys | W 28–14 | 4–0 | AT&T Stadium | 86,082 | Recap | |
| 4 | September 3 | at Tennessee Titans | L 17–24 | 4–1 | Nissan Stadium | 61,294 | Recap |
The Vikings' 2015 schedule was announced on April 21.[32]
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | NFL.com recap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | at San Francisco 49ers | L 3–20 | 0–1 | Levi's Stadium | 70,499 | Recap | ||
| 2 | September 20 | Detroit Lions | W 26–16 | 1–1 | TCF Bank Stadium | 52,319 | Recap | |
| 3 | September 27 | San Diego Chargers | W 31–14 | 2–1 | TCF Bank Stadium | 52,400 | Recap | |
| 4 | October 4 | at Denver Broncos | L 20–23 | 2–2 | Sports Authority Field at Mile High | 77,029 | Recap | |
| 5 | Bye | |||||||
| 6 | October 18 | Kansas City Chiefs | W 16–10 | 3–2 | TCF Bank Stadium | 52,480 | Recap | |
| 7 | October 25 | at Detroit Lions | W 28–19 | 4–2 | Ford Field | 60,231 | Recap | |
| 8 | November 1 | at Chicago Bears | W 23–20 | 5–2 | Soldier Field | 62,311 | Recap | |
| 9 | November 8 | St. Louis Rams | W 21–18 | 6–2 | TCF Bank Stadium | 52,406 | Recap | |
| 10 | November 15 | at Oakland Raiders | W 30–14 | 7–2 | O.co Coliseum | 54,700 | Recap | |
| 11 | November 22 | Green Bay Packers | L 13–30 | 7–3 | TCF Bank Stadium | 52,529 | Recap | |
| 12 | November 29 | at Atlanta Falcons | W 20–10 | 8–3 | Georgia Dome | 70,610 | Recap | |
| 13 | December 6 | Seattle Seahawks | L 7–38 | 8–4 | TCF Bank Stadium | 52,430 | Recap | |
| 14 | at Arizona Cardinals | L 20–23 | 8–5 | University of Phoenix Stadium | 64,784 | Recap | ||
| 15 | December 20 | Chicago Bears | W 38–17 | 9–5 | TCF Bank Stadium | 52,421 | Recap | |
| 16 | December 27 | New York Giants | W 49–17 | 10–5 | TCF Bank Stadium | 52,455 | Recap | |
| 17 | January 3 | at Green Bay Packers | W 20–13 | 11–5 | Lambeau Field | 78,412 | Recap | |
The Vikings opened their 2015 season on the road against the San Francisco 49ers. Despite allowing San Francisco to start with the ball, the Vikings made a positive start, as Andrew Sendejo blocked a 28-yard field goal attempt from Phil Dawson, which Marcus Sherels returned 44 yards to the San Francisco 26-yard line. Minnesota QB Teddy Bridgewater was unable to complete a single pass on the next drive, forcing Blair Walsh to attempt a 44-yard field goal; however, he pushed it wide right. After forcing the 49ers to punt on the next series, the Vikings were themselves forced to punt immediately afterwards, only for the 49ers' rookie former rugby league star Jarryd Hayne to muff the catch, allowing the Vikings to recover the ball. The next drive saw the Vikings attempt to convert on 4th-and-3, but Bridgewater's completed pass to tight end Kyle Rudolph fell a yard short of a fresh set of downs.
Both sides exchanged punts at the start of the second quarter, with the 49ers eventually returning one 85 yards for a touchdown, only for it to be called back for an illegal block by a San Francisco player. However, the ensuing possession ended with a 49ers touchdown, as they drove 93 yards in just under 5 minutes, before Carlos Hyde finished the series with a 10-yard touchdown run; after finding nowhere to go on his initial run to the right, he beat a Minnesota defender with a spin move and ran back to the left side of the field, where quarterback Colin Kaepernick led him into the end zone. With the Vikings unable to score in the remaining 47 seconds, the first half ended 7–0 to San Francisco.
Minnesota started the third quarter with the ball, but they were unable to make it out of their half before being forced to punt. The 49ers then extended their lead on the ensuing possession, driving 73 yards to the Minnesota 11-yard line to set up a 30-yard field goal attempt for Dawson. The Vikings finally got on the scoreboard early in the fourth quarter, as Walsh finished off a 66-yard drive with a 37-yard field goal, but the 49ers pulled further ahead with a second touchdown for Hyde on a 17-yard run. Bridgewater attempted to spark the Vikings back into the game, but a deep pass intended for Rudolph was intercepted by Tramaine Brock, setting up a 25-yard field goal for Dawson. The next drive saw the Vikings go for it again on 4th-and-8, but Bridgewater was sacked for a loss of 14 yards, allowing the 49ers to kneel out the game.
Teddy Bridgewater's best game of his career, going 17/20, 231 yards, and 4 touchdowns, along with a rushing touchdown on the ground. Before this game, Bridgewater had only 9 passing touchdowns, and afterwards, he had 13. Jay Cutler and the Chicago Bears were stopped to 17 points, while Cutler also having a good game with 26/37 for 231 and 2 touchdowns.
See also: 2015–16 NFL playoffs.
The Vikings' only points in this game came from the foot of kicker Blair Walsh, whose three field goals put them 9–0 up by the end of the third quarter; however, Seattle outscored them 10–0 in the final period, with a touchdown catch from Doug Baldwin being followed by a 46-yard Steven Hauschka field goal in the first seven minutes of the quarter. The Vikings had a chance to win it with 20 seconds remaining, but Walsh missed a 27-yard field goal, reminding Vikings fans of Gary Anderson's missed field goal in the 1998 NFC Championship Game.
Running back Adrian Peterson was the only Minnesota Viking selected for the 2016 Pro Bowl. It was Peterson's seventh Pro Bowl selection, tying him for the fourth-most in Vikings franchise history with offensive tackle Ron Yary.[33] After Houston Texans DE J. J. Watt suffered an injury in the wildcard round game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen was called up to replace him, his first career Pro Bowl selection.[34] Griffen was followed by a fellow first-time Pro Bowler, safety Harrison Smith, on January 25, after Earl Thomas of the Seattle Seahawks was ruled out of the game due to injury.[35] The next day, quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and linebacker Anthony Barr were added to the Pro Bowl roster as replacements for injured Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer and New England Patriots linebacker Jamie Collins respectively.[36]
| width=150px style="" | Category | width=150px style="" | Player(s) | width=75px style="" | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passing yards | 3,231 | ||||
| Passing touchdowns | 14 | ||||
| Rushing yards | 1,485 | ||||
| Rushing touchdowns | 11 | ||||
| Receptions | 52 | ||||
| Receiving yards | 720 | ||||
| Receiving touchdowns | 5 | ||||
| Points | 135 | ||||
| Kickoff return yards | 1,019 | ||||
| Punt return yards | 311 | ||||
| Tackles | 92 | ||||
| Sacks | 10.5 | ||||
| Interceptions | 3 | ||||
| Forced fumbles | 3 |
| width=150px style="" | Category | width=100px style="" | Total yards | width=110px style="" | Yards per game | width=80px style="" | NFL rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passing offense | 2,928 | 183.0 | 31st | ||||
| Rushing offense | 2,211 | 138.2 | 4th | ||||
| Total offense | 5,139 | 321.2 | 29th | ||||
| Passing defense | 3,759 | 234.9 | 12th | ||||
| Rushing defense | 1,748 | 109.2 | 17th | ||||
| Total defense | 5,507 | 344.2 | 13th |