2020 Minnesota Vikings season | |
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Owner | Zygi Wilf |
General manager | Rick Spielman |
Head coach | Mike Zimmer |
Home field | U.S. Bank Stadium |
Results | |
Record | 7–9 |
Division place | 3rd NFC North |
Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
Pro Bowlers | RB Dalvin Cook WR Justin Jefferson |
AP All-Pros | WR Justin Jefferson (2nd team) |
Uniform | |
The 2020 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 60th in the National Football League (NFL), their fifth playing home games at U.S. Bank Stadium and their seventh under head coach Mike Zimmer. This was the Vikings' first time since 2005 that long-time assistant Kevin Stefanski was not part of the Vikings coaching staff, as he left to become the new head coach of the Cleveland Browns on January 12, 2020. After going 1–5 in their first six games for the first time since 2013, the team failed to improve upon their 10–6 record from 2019 after a Week 11 loss to the Dallas Cowboys and failed to match their 10–6 record after a Week 14 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Vikings were eliminated from playoff contention following a week 16 loss to the New Orleans Saints, and ultimately finished 7–9, their first losing season since 2014. The Vikings conceded 475 points during the season, the third-highest total in franchise history, although they also managed to score 430 points, also the third-most in team history. [1]
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The Vikings had a total of 15 selections in the 2020 NFL draft, a record number since the draft moved to a seven-round format in 1994. [31] Although they had lost their original fifth-round pick to the Baltimore Ravens in the trade for kicker/punter Kaare Vedvik prior to the 2019 season and their seventh-round pick in the trade that sent wide receiver Stefon Diggs to the Buffalo Bills earlier in the 2020 offseason, the Diggs trade gave the Vikings extra picks in the first, fifth and sixth rounds. They also had an extra pick in the seventh round after trading guard Danny Isidora to the Miami Dolphins at the start of the 2019 season, as well as one compensatory pick in the third round and two in the seventh as a result of free agency losses in 2019.
After taking Louisiana State wide receiver Justin Jefferson 22nd overall with the first-round pick they acquired from the Bills, [32] the Vikings traded their original first-round pick (25th overall) to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for the 31st overall pick, as well as selections in the fourth and fifth rounds; [33] with the 31st overall pick, the Vikings took Texas Christian cornerback Jeff Gladney. [34] The Vikings used their second-round pick on Boise State offensive tackle Ezra Cleveland, [35] then took Mississippi State cornerback Cameron Dantzler in the third round, [36] before trading their third-round compensatory pick to the New Orleans Saints for the Saints' remaining picks in the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh rounds. [37]
In the fourth round, the Vikings used the picks they acquired from the 49ers and Saints to select South Carolina defensive end D. J. Wonnum and Baylor defensive tackle James Lynch, before taking Oregon linebacker Troy Dye with their original fourth-round pick. [38] The Vikings traded the fifth-round pick they acquired from the Bills to the Chicago Bears for a fourth-round pick in the 2021 draft, before using their remaining fifth-round selections on Temple Owls cornerback Harrison Hand and Miami wide receiver K. J. Osborn. [39] In the sixth round, the Vikings traded the other pick they acquired from the Bills – along with the seventh-round selection they got from the Dolphins – to the Ravens for another seventh-round pick and a fifth-round pick in 2021 before taking Oregon State offensive tackle Blake Brandel and Michigan safety Josh Metellus. [40] The Vikings then had four remaining picks in the seventh round, which they used on Michigan State Spartans defensive end Kenny Willekes, Iowa quarterback Nate Stanley, Mississippi State safety Brian Cole II and Washburn guard Kyle Hinton. [41]
Pro Bowler |
Notes
Draft trades
Name | Position | College | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
Brady Aiello | OL | Oregon | [50] |
Jake Bargas | TE | North Carolina | |
Dan Chisena | WR | Penn State | |
Nevelle Clarke | CB | UCF | |
Quartney Davis | WR | Texas A&M | |
Myles Dorn | CB | North Carolina | |
Jordan Fehr | LB | Appalachian State | |
Nakia Griffin-Stewart | TE | Pittsburgh | |
Tyler Higby | OL | Michigan State | |
Jake Lacina | OL | Augustana | |
Blake Lynch | LB | Baylor | |
David Moa | DT | Boise State |
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
| Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
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The Vikings' preseason schedule was announced on May 7, but was canceled in late July due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [51]
Week | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | August 14 | Houston Texans | U.S. Bank Stadium | Canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic |
2 | August 21 | at Cincinnati Bengals | Paul Brown Stadium | |
3 | August 30 | at Cleveland Browns | FirstEnergy Stadium | |
4 | September 3 | Seattle Seahawks | U.S. Bank Stadium |
The Vikings' 2020 schedule was announced on May 7. [51]
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Packers | 3 | 19 | 7 | 14 | 43 |
Vikings | 7 | 3 | 0 | 24 | 34 |
at U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Game information | ||
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This was the Vikings' first loss in their season opener since 2015. The 43 points scored by the Packers was the most the Vikings had conceded in a season opener in franchise history. [52] Wide receiver Adam Thielen scored two touchdowns for the first time since Week 5 of the 2019 season against the New York Giants. [53]
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 11 |
Colts | 0 | 15 | 3 | 10 | 28 |
at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana
Game information | ||
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This loss dropped the Vikings to 0–2 for the first time since 2013. Quarterback Kirk Cousins was intercepted three times on 26 pass attempts that included just 11 completions for 113 yards; he ended up with a passer rating of 15.9.
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Titans | 6 | 3 | 16 | 6 | 31 |
Vikings | 7 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 30 |
at U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Game information | ||
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Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 7 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 31 |
Texans | 0 | 6 | 10 | 7 | 23 |
at NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas
Game information | ||
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Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 26 |
Seahawks | 0 | 0 | 21 | 6 | 27 |
at CenturyLink Field, Seattle, Washington
Game information | ||
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Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Falcons | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 40 |
Vikings | 0 | 0 | 7 | 16 | 23 |
at U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Game information | ||
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|
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 7 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 28 |
Packers | 7 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 22 |
at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
Game information | ||
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Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Lions | 0 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 20 |
Vikings | 13 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 34 |
at U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Game information | ||
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Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Vikings | 7 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 19 |
Bears | 3 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 13 |
at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
Game information | ||
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Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Cowboys | 6 | 10 | 0 | 15 | 31 |
Vikings | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 28 |
at U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Game information | ||
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Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Panthers | 0 | 7 | 14 | 6 | 27 |
Vikings | 7 | 3 | 0 | 18 | 28 |
at U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Game information | ||
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Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
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Jaguars | 9 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 24 |
Vikings | 0 | 6 | 13 | 5 | 3 | 27 |
at U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Game information | ||
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Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Vikings | 0 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 14 |
Buccaneers | 0 | 17 | 6 | 3 | 26 |
at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida
Game information | ||
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Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Bears | 10 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 33 |
Vikings | 7 | 3 | 10 | 7 | 27 |
at U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Game information | ||
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Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 7 | 7 | 13 | 6 | 33 |
Saints | 14 | 10 | 7 | 21 | 52 |
at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
Game information | ||
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With the loss, Minnesota was eliminated from the playoffs, clinching their first losing season since 2014 and only the second under head coach Mike Zimmer.
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 7 | 14 | 10 | 6 | 37 |
Lions | 6 | 10 | 13 | 6 | 35 |
at Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan
Game information | ||
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NFC North | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK | |
(1) Green Bay Packers | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | 5–1 | 10–2 | 509 | 369 | W6 |
(7) Chicago Bears | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 2–4 | 6–6 | 372 | 370 | L1 |
Minnesota Vikings | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 4–2 | 5–7 | 430 | 475 | W1 |
Detroit Lions | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 1–5 | 4–8 | 377 | 519 | L4 |
# | Team | Division | W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | SOS | SOV | STK |
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Division leaders | |||||||||||
1 | Green Bay Packers | North | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | 5–1 | 10–2 | .428 | .387 | W6 |
2 [lower-alpha 1] | New Orleans Saints | South | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 6–0 | 10–2 | .459 | .406 | W2 |
3 [lower-alpha 1] | Seattle Seahawks | West | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 4–2 | 9–3 | .447 | .404 | W4 |
4 | Washington Football Team | East | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 4–2 | 5–7 | .459 | .388 | W1 |
Wild cards | |||||||||||
5 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | South | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 4–2 | 8–4 | .488 | .392 | W4 |
6 | Los Angeles Rams | West | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 3–3 | 9–3 | .494 | .484 | W1 |
7 [lower-alpha 2] | Chicago Bears | North | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 2–4 | 6–6 | .488 | .336 | L1 |
Did not qualify for the postseason | |||||||||||
8 [lower-alpha 2] | Arizona Cardinals | West | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 2–4 | 6–6 | .475 | .441 | L2 |
9 | Minnesota Vikings | North | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 4–2 | 5–7 | .504 | .366 | W1 |
10 [lower-alpha 3] | San Francisco 49ers | West | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 3–3 | 4–8 | .549 | .448 | L1 |
11 [lower-alpha 3] [lower-alpha 4] | New York Giants | East | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 4–2 | 5–7 | .502 | .427 | W1 |
12 [lower-alpha 4] | Dallas Cowboys | East | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 2–4 | 5–7 | .471 | .333 | L1 |
13 [lower-alpha 5] | Carolina Panthers | South | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 1–5 | 4–8 | .531 | .388 | L1 |
14 [lower-alpha 5] | Detroit Lions | North | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 1–5 | 4–8 | .508 | .350 | L4 |
15 | Philadelphia Eagles | East | 4 | 11 | 1 | .281 | 2–4 | 4–8 | .537 | .469 | L3 |
16 | Atlanta Falcons | South | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | 1–5 | 2–10 | .551 | .391 | L5 |
Tiebreakers [lower-alpha 6] | |||||||||||
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Category | Player(s) | Total |
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Passing yards | Kirk Cousins | 4,265 |
Passing touchdowns | Kirk Cousins | 35 |
Rushing yards | Dalvin Cook | 1,557 |
Rushing touchdowns | Dalvin Cook | 16 (tie) |
Receptions | Justin Jefferson | 88 * |
Receiving yards | Justin Jefferson | 1,400 ** |
Receiving touchdowns | Adam Thielen | 14 |
Points | Dalvin Cook | 108 |
Kickoff return yards | Ameer Abdullah | 352 |
Punt return yards | Chad Beebe | 42 |
Tackles | Eric Wilson | 122 |
Sacks | Yannick Ngakoue | 5.0 |
Interceptions | Harrison Smith | 5 |
Forced fumbles | Yannick Ngakoue | 2 |
Bold = League leader | ||
* = Franchise Rookie Record | ||
** = NFL Rookie Record |
Source: Minnesota Vikings' official website [54]
Category | Total yards | Yards per game | NFL rank (out of 32) |
---|---|---|---|
Passing offense | 2,059 | 228.8 | 22nd |
Rushing offense | 1,382 | 153.6 | 5th |
Total offense | 3,441 | 382.4 | 9th |
Passing defense | 2,411 | 267.9 | 27th |
Rushing defense | 1,041 | 115.7 | 15th |
Total defense | 3,452 | 383.6 | 24th |
Source: NFL.com [55]
Two Vikings players—running back Dalvin Cook and rookie wide receiver Justin Jefferson—were selected for the 2021 Pro Bowl, [56] the team's lowest contribution to the event since 2014, when they had no Pro Bowlers. Cook received the most votes among NFC running backs to go to his second Pro Bowl (after his rookie season in 2017), [57] and only Russell Wilson received more votes out of any position in the NFC team, while Jefferson was the Vikings' first rookie wide receiver to be selected since Percy Harvin in 2009. [58]
The 2000 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 40th in the National Football League (NFL). They won the NFC Central division title with an 11–5 record. After not retaining either Randall Cunningham or Jeff George, the team was led by first-year starting quarterback Daunte Culpepper and running back Robert Smith, who ran for a then team record 1,521 yards and seven touchdowns. The Vikings started out 7–0 and were 11–2 after 14 weeks, but slumped briefly, losing their last three to the St. Louis Rams, Green Bay Packers and Indianapolis Colts while Culpepper was hampered by injury.
The 2011 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 51st in the National Football League (NFL), and the first full season under head coach Leslie Frazier, who served as the team's interim head coach for the final six games of the 2010 season. The team failed to improve on their 6–10 record from 2010, going 2–6 before their bye week, before being eliminated from playoff contention in week 12 with a 2–9 record. The team also suffered its first six-game losing streak since the 1984 season.
The 2012 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 52nd in the National Football League (NFL), as well as their second full season under head coach Leslie Frazier. They looked to improve upon their 3–13 season the year before, and did so after defeating the Tennessee Titans in Week 5; their win over the Houston Texans in Week 16 made this their first winning season since 2009. The Vikings also made the playoffs for the first time since 2009 with a Week 17 win over the Green Bay Packers to give them a 10–6 regular season record, but were defeated by the same opponents in the Wild Card playoff round the following week. Adrian Peterson was named the league's Most Valuable Player after rushing for 2,097 yards, just nine yards short of breaking the single-season record held by Eric Dickerson since 1984.
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 2016 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 56th in the National Football League (NFL) and their third under head coach Mike Zimmer. After starting the season with five consecutive wins prior to their bye week, the Vikings managed just three victories after the bye and were eliminated from playoff contention in Week 16 with a 38–25 road loss to the Packers. They joined the 1978 Redskins, 1993 Saints, 2003 Vikings, 2009 Broncos, 2009 Giants and 2015 Falcons in missing the playoffs after starting 5–0 or better. The Vikings are the only NFL team to have more than once started 5–0 or better and missed the playoffs.
The 2017 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 57th in the National Football League (NFL), and their fourth under head coach Mike Zimmer. With the team's home stadium, U.S. Bank Stadium, scheduled to host Super Bowl LII at the end of the season, the Vikings attempted to make history as the first team to play the Super Bowl on their home field; in recording their best regular season record since 1998, they clinched a first-round bye for the first time since 2009 and became the eighth team in the Super Bowl era to qualify for the playoffs in a season in which their stadium hosted the Super Bowl. They defeated the New Orleans Saints in the divisional round 29–24 on a walk-off play referred to as the "Minneapolis Miracle", but lost 38–7 to the eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship Game.
The 2018 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 58th in the National Football League (NFL), their third playing their home games at U.S. Bank Stadium and their fifth under head coach Mike Zimmer.
The 2019 season was the Kansas City Chiefs' 50th in the National Football League (NFL), their 60th overall, their seventh under head coach Andy Reid and third under general manager Brett Veach.
The 2019 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 59th in the National Football League (NFL), their fourth playing home games at U.S. Bank Stadium and their sixth under head coach Mike Zimmer. They improved on their 8–7–1 campaign from 2018 with a Week 14 win over the Detroit Lions, and returned to the playoffs following a one-year absence after the Los Angeles Rams lost to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 16. That week, the Vikings were eliminated from contention for the NFC North division title, losing 23–10 to the Green Bay Packers. They defeated the New Orleans Saints 26–20 in overtime in the Wild Card round but lost 27–10 to the eventual NFC champion San Francisco 49ers in the Divisional Round.
The 2020 season was the Jacksonville Jaguars' 26th season in the National Football League (NFL), their eighth and final season under general manager David Caldwell and their fourth and final season under head coach Doug Marrone. With a Week 11 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Jaguars dropped to 1–9 resulting in their third consecutive losing season and their ninth in ten seasons. After a loss to the Cleveland Browns in Week 12, the Jaguars both failed to improve on their 6–10 record from the previous season and were eliminated from playoff contention for the third consecutive season. They surpassed their loss total from the previous season after an overtime loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
The 2020 season was the Green Bay Packers' 100th season in the National Football League (NFL), their 102nd overall and their second under head coach Matt LaFleur.
The 2021 season was the Chicago Bears' 102nd season in the National Football League (NFL), their 103rd overall, and their fourth and final under head coach Matt Nagy. This was the first season under the NFL's new 17-game schedule.
The 2021 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 61st in the National Football League (NFL), their sixth playing home games at U.S. Bank Stadium and their eighth and final under head coach Mike Zimmer. They were eliminated from playoff contention for the second straight season following a Week 17 loss to the Green Bay Packers. The day after the team's last game of the season, the Vikings fired Zimmer and general manager Rick Spielman.
The 2022 season was the Indianapolis Colts' 70th in the National Football League (NFL), their 39th in Indianapolis, their sixth under the leadership of general manager Chris Ballard and their fifth and final season under head coach Frank Reich.
The 2022 season was the Jacksonville Jaguars' 28th season in the National Football League (NFL) and their first under head coach Doug Pederson.
The 2022 season was the Chicago Bears' 103rd in the National Football League (NFL) and their first under general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus. They failed to improve upon their 6–11 record from the previous season.
The 2022 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 62nd in the National Football League (NFL), their seventh playing home games at U.S. Bank Stadium and their first under new general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and new head coach Kevin O'Connell, following the firings of Rick Spielman and Mike Zimmer at the end of the 2021 season.
The 2023 season was the Houston Texans' 22nd season in the National Football League (NFL) and the first under head coach DeMeco Ryans. While the team went into the season with low expectations as a rebuilding period and started 0–2, they not only improved on their 3–13–1 record from last year with a Week 9 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but the Texans qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2019 with a win over the Indianapolis Colts in Week 18, ending with a 10–7 record. After the Jacksonville Jaguars lost to the Tennessee Titans the day after, the Texans also clinched the AFC South for the first time since 2019. The Texans became the fifth team in NFL history to make the playoffs with both a rookie quarterback and a rookie head coach, as well as making history as the first team in NFL history to win a division entirely with a rookie head coach and rookie quarterback.
The 2023 season was the Chicago Bears' 104th season in the National Football League (NFL) and their second under the head coach/general manager tandem of Matt Eberflus and Ryan Poles.
The 2023 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 63rd in the National Football League (NFL), their eighth playing their home games at U.S. Bank Stadium and their second under the head coach/general manager tandem of Kevin O'Connell and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.