2020 Minnesota Vikings season

Last updated

2020 Minnesota Vikings season
Owner Zygi Wilf
General manager Rick Spielman
Head coach Mike Zimmer
Home field U.S. Bank Stadium
Results
Record7–9
Division place3rd NFC North
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro Bowlers RB Dalvin Cook
WR Justin Jefferson
AP All-Pros WR Justin Jefferson (2nd team)
Uniform
Vikings 2017-2022 (cropped).png

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]

Contents

Offseason

Transactions

Draft

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
2020 Minnesota Vikings draft
Draft orderPlayer namePositionCollegeContractNotes
RoundSelection
1 22 Justin Jefferson WR LSU 4 years, $13.123 million [42] From Bills [upper-alpha 1]
25Traded to the San Francisco 49ers [upper-alpha 2]
31 Jeff Gladney CB TCU 4 years, $10.991 million [45] From 49ers [upper-alpha 2]
258 Ezra Cleveland OT Boise State 4 years, $5.537 million [42]
389 Cameron Dantzler CB Mississippi State 4 years, $4.586 million [45]
105Traded to the New Orleans Saints [upper-alpha 3] Compensatory pick
4117 D. J. Wonnum DE South Carolina 4 years, $4.046 million [42] From 49ers [upper-alpha 2]
130 James Lynch DT Baylor 4 years, $3.985 million [42] From Saints [upper-alpha 3]
132 Troy Dye LB Oregon 4 years, $3.974 million [42]
5155Traded to the Chicago Bears [upper-alpha 4] From Bills [upper-alpha 1]
169 Harrison Hand CB Temple 4 years, $3.594 million [45] From Saints [upper-alpha 3]
170Traded to the Baltimore Ravens [upper-alpha 5]
176 K. J. Osborn WR Miami (FL) 4 years, $3.563 million [42] From 49ers [upper-alpha 2]
6201Traded to the Baltimore Ravens [upper-alpha 6] From Bills [upper-alpha 1]
203 Blake Brandel OT Oregon State 4 years, $3.46 million [42] From Saints [upper-alpha 3]
205 Josh Metellus S Michigan 4 years, $3.455 million [45]
7219Traded to the Baltimore Ravens [upper-alpha 6] From Dolphins [upper-alpha 7]
225 Kenny Willekes DE Michigan State 4 years, $3.395 million [45] From Ravens [upper-alpha 6]
239Traded to the Buffalo Bills [upper-alpha 1]
244 Nate Stanley QB Iowa 4 years, $3.373 million [48] From Saints [upper-alpha 3]
249 Brian Cole II S Mississippi State 4 years, $3.37 million [45] Compensatory pick
253 Kyle Hinton G Washburn 4 years, $3.37 million [42] Compensatory pick

Notes

Draft trades

  1. 1 2 3 4 The Vikings traded a seventh-round selection (239th overall) and WR Stefon Diggs to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for Buffalo's first-, fifth- and sixth-round selections (22nd, 155th and 201st overall) and 2021 fourth-round selection. [43]
  2. 1 2 3 4 The Vikings traded a first-round selection (25th overall) to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for San Francisco's first-, fourth- and fifth-round selections (31st, 117th and 176th overall). [44]
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 The Vikings traded a third-round selection (105th overall) to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for New Orleans' fourth-, fifth-, sixth-, and seventh-round selection (130th, 169th, 203rd, and 244th overall). [44]
  4. The Vikings traded a fifth-round selection (155th overall) to the Chicago Bears in exchange for Chicago's fourth-round selection in 2021. [44]
  5. The Vikings traded a fifth-round selection (170th overall) to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for K Kaare Vedvik. [46]
  6. 1 2 3 The Vikings traded a sixth- and seventh-round selection (201st and 219th overall) to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for Baltimore's seventh-round selection (225th overall) as well as their fifth-round selection in 2021. [44]
  7. The Vikings traded G Danny Isidora to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for Miami's seventh-round selection (219th overall). [47]
2020 Minnesota Vikings undrafted free agents
NamePositionCollegeRef.
Brady AielloOL 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 FehrLB Appalachian State
Nakia Griffin-Stewart TE Pittsburgh
Tyler HigbyOL Michigan State
Jake LacinaOL Augustana
Blake Lynch LB Baylor
David Moa DT Boise State

Staff

2020 Minnesota Vikings staff

Front office

  • Owner/chairman – Zygi Wilf
  • Owner/president – Mark Wilf
  • Owner/vice chairman – Leonard Wilf
  • Owner/executive vice president – Jonathan Wilf
  • Chief operating officer – Andrew Miller
  • General manager – Rick Spielman
  • Vice president of player personnel/assistant general manager – George Paton
  • Executive vice president of football operations – Rob Brzezinski
  • Director of college scouting – Jamaal Stephenson
  • Director of pro scouting – Ryan Monnens
  • Director of analytics – Scott Kuhn
  • Consultant – Bud Grant

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning

  • Head strength and conditioning – Mark Uyeyama
  • Assistant strength and conditioning – Derik Keyes
  • Assistant strength and conditioning – Chaz Mahle

Final roster

2020 Minnesota Vikings final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists


Practice squad


Rookies in italics
52 active, 11 inactive, 15 practice squad (+1 exempt)

Preseason

The Vikings' preseason schedule was announced on May 7, but was canceled in late July due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [51]

WeekDateOpponentVenueResult
1August 14 Houston Texans U.S. Bank Stadium Canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2August 21at Cincinnati Bengals Paul Brown Stadium
3August 30at Cleveland Browns FirstEnergy Stadium
4September 3 Seattle Seahawks U.S. Bank Stadium

Regular season

Schedule

The Vikings' 2020 schedule was announced on May 7. [51]

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueAttendanceRecap
1 September 13 Green Bay Packers L 34–430–1 U.S. Bank Stadium 0 Recap
2 September 20at Indianapolis Colts L 11–280–2 Lucas Oil Stadium 2,500 Recap
3 September 27 Tennessee Titans L 30–310–3 U.S. Bank Stadium 250 Recap
4 October 4at Houston Texans W 31–231–3 NRG Stadium 12,102 Recap
5 October 11at Seattle Seahawks L 26–271–4 CenturyLink Field 0 Recap
6 October 18 Atlanta Falcons L 23–401–5 U.S. Bank Stadium 0 Recap
7 Bye
8 November 1at Green Bay Packers W 28–222–5 Lambeau Field 0 Recap
9 November 8 Detroit Lions W 34–203–5 U.S. Bank Stadium 0 Recap
10 November 16at Chicago Bears W 19–134–5 Soldier Field 0 Recap
11 November 22 Dallas Cowboys L 28–314–6 U.S. Bank Stadium 0 Recap
12 November 29 Carolina Panthers W 28–275–6 U.S. Bank Stadium 0 Recap
13 December 6 Jacksonville Jaguars W 27–24 (OT)6–6 U.S. Bank Stadium 0 Recap
14 December 13at Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 14–266–7 Raymond James Stadium 16,031 Recap
15 December 20 Chicago Bears L 27–336–8 U.S. Bank Stadium 0 Recap
16 December 25 at New Orleans Saints L 33–526–9 Mercedes-Benz Superdome 3,000 Recap
17 January 3at Detroit Lions W 37–357–9 Ford Field 0 Recap

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1: vs. Green Bay Packers

Week 1: Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Period1234Total
Packers31971443
Vikings7302434

at U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Game information

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]

Week 2: at Indianapolis Colts

Week 2: Minnesota Vikings at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
Period1234Total
Vikings300811
Colts01531028

at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana

Game information

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.

Week 3: vs. Tennessee Titans

Week 3: Tennessee Titans at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Period1234Total
Titans6316631
Vikings7107630

at U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Game information

Week 4: at Houston Texans

Week 4: Minnesota Vikings at Houston Texans – Game summary
Period1234Total
Vikings7107731
Texans0610723

at NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas

Game information

Week 5: at Seattle Seahawks

Week 5: Minnesota Vikings at Seattle Seahawks – Game summary
Period1234Total
Vikings766726
Seahawks0021627

at CenturyLink Field, Seattle, Washington

Game information

Week 6: vs. Atlanta Falcons

Week 6: Atlanta Falcons at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Period1234Total
Falcons1010101040
Vikings0071623

at U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Game information

Week 8: at Green Bay Packers

Week 8: Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers – Game summary
Period1234Total
Vikings7714028
Packers770822

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

Game information

Week 9: vs. Detroit Lions

Week 9: Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Period1234Total
Lions01001020
Vikings1377734

at U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Game information

Week 10: at Chicago Bears

Week 10: Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Period1234Total
Vikings706619
Bears337013

at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

  • Date: November 16
  • Game time: 7:15 pm. CST
  • Game weather: Clear, 44 °F (7 °C)
  • Game attendance: 0
  • Referee: Scott Novak (1)
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Steve Levy, Brian Griese, Louis Riddick, Lisa Salters and John Parry
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 11: vs. Dallas Cowboys

Week 11: Dallas Cowboys at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Period1234Total
Cowboys61001531
Vikings7071428

at U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Game information

Week 12: vs. Carolina Panthers

Week 12: Carolina Panthers at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Period1234Total
Panthers0714627
Vikings7301828

at U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota

  • Date: November 29
  • Game time: 12:00 pm. CST
  • Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
  • Game attendance: 0
  • Referee: Brad Rogers (126)
  • TV announcers (Fox): Kenny Albert, Jonathan Vilma and Shannon Spake
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 13: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

Week 13: Jacksonville Jaguars at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Period1234OTTotal
Jaguars9078024
Vikings06135327

at U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Game information

Week 14: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Week 14: Minnesota Vikings at Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Game summary
Period1234Total
Vikings068014
Buccaneers0176326

at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida

Game information

Week 15: vs. Chicago Bears

Week 15: Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Period1234Total
Bears10107633
Vikings7310727

at U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota

  • Date: December 20
  • Game time: 12:00 pm. CST
  • Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
  • Game attendance: 0
  • Referee: Shawn Smith (14)
  • TV announcers (Fox): Chris Myers, Greg Jennings and Jen Hale
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 16: at New Orleans Saints

Week 16: Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
Period1234Total
Vikings7713633
Saints141072152

at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

  • Date: December 25
  • Game time: 3:30 pm. CST
  • Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
  • Game attendance: 3,000
  • Referee: Adrian Hill (29)
  • TV announcers (Fox/NFLN/Amazon Prime Video): Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Erin Andrews and Kristina Pink
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

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.

Week 17: at Detroit Lions

Week 17: Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions – Game summary
Period1234Total
Vikings71410637
Lions61013635

at Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan

Game information

Standings

Division

NFC North
WLTPCTDIVCONFPFPASTK
(1) Green Bay Packers 1330.8135–110–2509369W6
(7) Chicago Bears 880.5002–46–6372370L1
Minnesota Vikings 790.4384–25–7430475W1
Detroit Lions 5110.3131–54–8377519L4

Conference

#TeamDivisionWLTPCTDIVCONFSOSSOVSTK
Division leaders
1 Green Bay Packers North1330.8135–110–2.428.387W6
2 [lower-alpha 1] New Orleans Saints South1240.7506–010–2.459.406W2
3 [lower-alpha 1] Seattle Seahawks West1240.7504–29–3.447.404W4
4 Washington Football Team East790.4384–25–7.459.388W1
Wild cards
5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers South1150.6884–28–4.488.392W4
6 Los Angeles Rams West1060.6253–39–3.494.484W1
7 [lower-alpha 2] Chicago Bears North880.5002–46–6.488.336L1
Did not qualify for the postseason
8 [lower-alpha 2] Arizona Cardinals West880.5002–46–6.475.441L2
9 Minnesota Vikings North790.4384–25–7.504.366W1
10 [lower-alpha 3] San Francisco 49ers West6100.3753–34–8.549.448L1
11 [lower-alpha 3] [lower-alpha 4] New York Giants East6100.3754–25–7.502.427W1
12 [lower-alpha 4] Dallas Cowboys East6100.3752–45–7.471.333L1
13 [lower-alpha 5] Carolina Panthers South5110.3131–54–8.531.388L1
14 [lower-alpha 5] Detroit Lions North5110.3131–54–8.508.350L4
15 Philadelphia Eagles East4111.2812–44–8.537.469L3
16 Atlanta Falcons South4120.2501–52–10.551.391L5
Tiebreakers [lower-alpha 6]
  1. 1 2 New Orleans finished ahead of Seattle based on conference record.
  2. 1 2 Chicago finished and clinched the 7th and final playoff spot ahead of Arizona based on better win percentage in common games (against Detroit, the NY Giants, Carolina, and the LA Rams, Chicago finished 3–2, while Arizona finished 1–4).
  3. 1 2 San Francisco finished ahead of the NY Giants based on head-to-head victory. Division tie break was initially used to eliminate Dallas (see below).
  4. 1 2 NY Giants won tiebreaker over Dallas based on division record.
  5. 1 2 Carolina finished ahead of Detroit based on head-to-head victory.
  6. When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest-ranked remaining team from each division.

Statistics

Team leaders

CategoryPlayer(s)Total
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]

League rankings

CategoryTotal yardsYards per gameNFL rank
(out of 32)
Passing offense2,059228.822nd
Rushing offense1,382153.65th
Total offense3,441382.49th
Passing defense2,411267.927th
Rushing defense1,041115.715th
Total defense3,452383.624th

Source: NFL.com [55]

Pro Bowl

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]

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References

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  3. Bergman, Jeremy (March 16, 2020). "Bills acquire WR Stefon Diggs from Vikings in trade". NFL.com. NFL Enterprises. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
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