2010 Minnesota Vikings season
Encyclopedia
The 2010
Minnesota Vikings
season was the franchise's 50th season in the National Football League
, and the fifth under head coach Brad Childress
until November 22, when he was fired and Leslie Frazier
was named interim head coach. After a loss to the New Orleans Saints
in the NFC Championship ended their 2009
season, the Vikings had hoped to defend their NFC North
division title for the third year in a row and contend again for a Super Bowl Championship. However, Brett Favre was unable to recover from the injuries he had sustained in the NFC Championship and turned in abysmal performances for most of the season, being forced to sit out the final three games due to injuries and breaking his consecutive start record at 297 games since September 1992. The team finished 6-10 and ended up in last place in the division for the first time since 1990.
Further woes befell the team when WR Percy Harvin
missed two games due to persistent migraine headaches. On December 12, the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
's inflatable roof collapsed for the first time since 1986 after a heavy snowfall. As a consequence, the Vikings had to play the next week's game against the Giants in Detroit's Ford Field. Since the Metrodome's roof could not be repaired in time, the team had to play the Bears in Week 15 at the University of Minnesota for their first outdoor home game since 1981.
s Ryan Cook
(offensive tackle), Fred Evans
(defensive tackle), Eric Frampton
(safety) and Naufahu Tahi
(fullback). A week later, on April 21, they signed cornerback Lito Sheppard
to a one-year contract after his release by the New York Jets
. They then added wide receiver Marquis Hamilton and offensive tackle Bill Noethlich to their roster in the first week of May.
During the 2010 preseason, the Vikings were struggling at the wide receiver position and signed free agent Javon Walker
– who had been released by the Oakland Raiders
in April – before trading cornerback Benny Sapp
to the Miami Dolphins
in exchange for Greg Camarillo
. A week later, the Vikings waived the contracts of Bill Noethlich and Marko Mitchell
, placed J Leman
on the injured reserve list and designated Sidney Rice
as Physically Unable to Perform
.
On September 3, the Vikings traded Sage Rosenfels
and Darius Reynaud
to the New York Giants
for a 5th-round pick in the 2011 draft and a conditional 7th-round pick in 2012. Rosenfels became expendable to the Vikings when Brett Favre
decided to return for the 2010 season.
and Darren Sharper
in the 2009 offseason. During the draft, the Vikings traded their 1st-round selection (30th overall) and a 4th-round selection (128th overall) to the Detroit Lions
in exchange for picks in the 2nd (34th overall), 4th (100th overall) and 7th rounds (214th overall; originally from the Cleveland Browns
). They also traded their original 2nd and 3rd-round picks (62nd and 93rd picks overall) to the Houston Texans
in return for a higher pick in the 2nd round (51st overall).
to take on the league's worst team from 2009, the St. Louis Rams
. The Rams roster featured rookie quarterback Sam Bradford
, signed as the #1 overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft
. Meanwhile, the Vikings were without six members of their regular starting offense, including QB Brett Favre
and RB Adrian Peterson. The Rams got the first touchdown of the game with 1:29 remaining in the first quarter, when Danny Amendola
returned a Chris Kluwe
punt for 93 yards. The Vikings responded with two TDs in the second quarter; first, backup QB Sage Rosenfels
passed for two yards to wide receiver Logan Payne
, before throwing a 65-yard TD pass to tight end Garrett Mills
. Rosenfels got his third passing TD in the third quarter, with a 71-yard pass to WR Marko Mitchell
. The victory was completed with 6:49 left in the game as fellow rookies – QB Joe Webb
and TE Mickey Shuler
– combined for a two-yard pass.
. The game marked the return of quarterback Brett Favre to the Vikings' starting lineup, but he lasted just four plays; the first was a 13-yard pass to RB Adrian Peterson for a first down, but he was sacked for a loss of 10 yards two plays later and was replaced by Tarvaris Jackson
for the Vikings' next drive.
By the time Favre took the field, the 49ers were already leading 7–0 via a 4-yard run from Anthony Dixon
. It was not until the 2nd quarter that the Vikings got their first points on the board, with Ryan Longwell
landing a 40-yard field goal. San Francisco responded with two Joe Nedney
field goals in the second half before the Vikings' rookie QB Joe Webb took advantage of a gap in the 49ers defense to rush 48 yards for a touchdown, bringing Minnesota within three points with two minutes left to play. Kicker Rhys Lloyd
attempted an onside kick, but it was recovered by San Francisco, and by the time the Vikings got the ball back they were on their own 8-yard line with 9 seconds left in the game. They attempted to go for the win, but Webb was sacked in the end zone for a safety as the clock ran out, giving the 49ers a 15–10 win.
. Quarterback Brett Favre lasted for eight series and threw for 187 yards on 16 completions, but the Vikings only came away with 10 points while he was on the field. The first points of the game came from an interception of a Favre pass, as Seattle safety Earl Thomas
got to the ball ahead of wide receiver Bernard Berrian
and returned it for an 86-yard touchdown. Nevertheless, Darius Reynaud
returned the ensuing kickoff for 73 yards, giving Adrian Peterson the opportunity to rush 23 yards in two plays to level the scores at 7–7. Olindo Mare
and Ryan Longwell then traded field goals to make the scores 10–10 at halftime. Another field goal from Mare put the Seahawks ahead on their first drive of the second half, but the Vikings responded with a 25-yard touchdown pass from Sage Rosenfels to new wide receiver Javon Walker
with just over seven minutes left in the game. Minnesota sealed the win with less than three minutes on the clock, when Joe Webb
tossed the ball seven yards for fullback Ryan D'Imperio
to return the Vikings to a winning preseason record.
. To accommodate the Vikings playing in the 2010 NFL Kickoff game
the following Thursday, this game was also played on a Thursday, and head coach Brad Childress
opted to rest the majority of his starting lineup. As in each of their three previous preseason games, the Vikings conceded the first points of the game, allowing LenDale White
to rush two yards into the endzone and convert on 2nd-and-goal. The Vikings were unable to earn a first down on each of their first three series, but after punting on the third, the Broncos' rookie quarterback Tim Tebow
fumbled the snap on their return drive; Erin Henderson
picked up the loose ball and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown. Ryan Longwell put Minnesota ahead with a 27-yard field goal on the first play of the second quarter, and from that point the Vikings never relinquished their lead. Albert Young
then converted a 1st-and-goal from the 1-yard line to give Minnesota a 10-point lead at halftime. The two teams traded touchdowns in the third quarter, as Tebow threw a 39-yard pass to Matthew Willis for Denver,
and Ian Johnson
rushed 4 yards for Minnesota. A 14-yard pass from Brady Quinn
to Alric Arnett brought the Broncos to within 3 points going into the last 12 minutes of the game, but on the very next series, Joe Webb threw a 63-yard pass to a wide open Javon Walker on the right side of the field, and the wide receiver walked into the end zone. Broncos kicker Matt Prater completed the scoring with a 49-yard field goal with just under 5 minutes left, giving the Vikings a 31–24 win and a 3–1 preseason record.
and AFC East
, the teams from the NFC South
and NFC West
that finished the same place in their division as the Vikings last year (which were the division winners), as well as their usual NFC North
division rivals. The schedule was announced on April 20, 2010: the season began with the Vikings taking on the New Orleans Saints
in the NFL Kickoff Game
on Thursday, September 9, while the bye week will come in Week 4. The season will culminate with road games against the Philadelphia Eagles
and the Detroit Lions
.
COLOR KEY & NOTES:
by taking part in the annual NFL Kickoff Game
against the defending Super Bowl
champions, the New Orleans Saints
, in a rematch of the previous season's NFC Championship Game
. Minnesota lost the coin toss and gave up a touchdown on the first drive of the game; New Orleans received the ball from the kickoff and then took 5 plays to go 77 yards, culminating with Drew Brees
passing 29 yards down the right sideline for WR Devery Henderson
, who dived into the endzone for the score. The 1st quarter ended with the Vikings defense forcing the Saints to go 3-and-out, with the subsequent punt beginning the 2nd quarter.
The Vikings began the next drive at their own 11-yard line, before taking 16 plays to go 66 yards and into field goal range. They failed to convert on 3rd down at the New Orleans 23-yard line, giving Ryan Longwell
the chance to score a 41-yard field goal. Minnesota forced another 3-and-out on the Saints' next possession, but Bernard Berrian
muffed the catch on the punt return, and the Vikings began their next drive at their own 18-yard line. To rub salt in the wound, on the 3rd play of the drive, Brett Favre
was hit hard by Roman Harper
and he threw a pass right into the hands of Saints MLB Jonathan Vilma. With less than 90 seconds left in the half, Garrett Hartley
stepped up for a 46-yard field goal attempt, but he hooked the kick wide left of the uprights. Beginning at the 36-yard line with 1:19 left in the half, Favre controlled the clock and picked up a 1st down before throwing consecutive 33-yard and 20-yard passes to TE Visanthe Shiancoe
for the Vikings' first touchdown of the season. Ryan Longwell's extra point attempt was blocked by DT Remi Ayodele
, but the Vikings went in at the half with a 2-point lead.
After receiving the ball to start the second half, the Vikings were unable to get past midfield and gave the ball back to the Saints on the New Orleans 26-yard line. In the space of 10 plays, the Saints were up to the Minnesota 1-yard line, from where Pierre Thomas
was able to jump over the line of scrimmage to restore New Orleans' lead. In the 4th quarter, the Saints had another shot at a field goal, this time from 32 yards, but again Hartley pulled the kick wide of the posts. New Orleans got the ball back with 5:32 left in the game, and ran out the clock to claim a 14–9 win.
, who they had not played since Week 11 of the 2006 season
. Yet again, Minnesota conceded the first points of the game – on Miami's first offensive play of the game, Chad Henne
threw a 46-yard pass to Brandon Marshall
to get the Dolphins to the Minnesota 27-yard line; eight plays later, they had the ball in the endzone via a 5-yard pass from Henne to WR Brian Hartline
. The 2nd quarter saw Brett Favre
throw his second interception of the season – his first of four turnovers during the game. The second came midway through the 3rd quarter, when the 21-year veteran fumbled on a sack into his own endzone; the ball was recovered by Dolphins LB Koa Misi
to give Miami a two-possession lead.
A Minnesota fightback began soon after, but not before Favre threw another interception, picked off by CB Jason Allen at the Miami 2-yard line. However, on Miami's first play after the turnover, RB Ricky Williams
fumbled during a tackle by LB E. J. Henderson
; Henderson's brother Erin
recovered the ball and made his way to the 1-yard line, giving the Vikings a 1st-and-goal opportunity. Favre failed to pick out TE Visanthe Shiancoe with the first play of the drive before allowing Adrian Peterson to barge through the line of scrimmage for the touchdown. A 13-play drive at the start of the 4th quarter got the Vikings into the Dolphins' redzone, but staunch defense forced them to settle for a 28-yard field goal.
With just under six minutes left in the game, Minnesota DT Pat Williams forced another Miami fumble, recovered by E. J. Henderson 24 yards from the Miami endzone. A succession of rushing attempts from Adrian Peterson followed, getting the Vikings to within a yard of a go-ahead touchdown, but LB Karlos Dansby
stopped him short of the line on 4th-and-goal. The Vikings had one more attempt to steal the win inside the final two minutes, but Favre's attempted pass to Shiancoe on 4th-and-6 from the Dolphins' 27 fell incomplete, allowing Henne to run the game out with a kneeldown, condemning the Vikings to two defeats in two.
. Both teams went into the game with 0–2 records, hoping to move away from the bottom of the division standings. Deep into the 1st quarter, Vikings QB Brett Favre continued his interception-throwing form, as he was picked off by Lions DT Corey Williams
while attempting to throw a short pass to RB Toby Gerhart
. Williams set off on a run, but Gerhart recovered to bring him down at the Minnesota 12-yard line. Three short plays later, Detroit had the ball in the end zone, QB Shaun Hill
finishing off the drive with a 5-yard pass to TE Tony Scheffler
. The Vikings were forced to punt the ball away on their first drive after the touchdown, but Detroit PR Stefan Logan
fumbled while attempting to catch the ball, which was recovered by Vikings LB Chad Greenway
24 yards from the Detroit goal line. With the first play of the drive, Favre threw a 24-yard pass to WR Percy Harvin
, who made a diving catch for the game-tying touchdown. Detroit's next drive resulted in a missed field goal, allowing the Vikings to go 66 yards back down the field for a touchdown, finished off by a 6-yard run from Adrian Peterson. With a minute left in the first half, Favre was picked off yet again, as his throwing arm was hit by Lions DE Cliff Avril
, giving Alphonso Smith
a simple interception. The Lions drove 36 yards into the Minnesota half, and Jason Hanson
ended the 2nd quarter with a field goal from 33 yards.
Minnesota began the second half with the ball and took 10 plays to get into the Detroit red zone; however, the Detroit defense stood firm and the Vikings were limited to a 31-yard field goal from Ryan Longwell. The Lions managed to get back into the Minnesota half on their next possession, but they went 3-and-out on the Minnesota 41-yard line before punting into the end zone for a touchback
. On the very next play, Vikings HB Adrian Peterson broke a career-long 80-yard run for a touchdown to put Minnesota 24–10 up. On Detroit's next possession, a sack on 3rd-and-20 by Vikings DE Brian Robison
on QB Shaun Hill sparked a mass brawl between the two teams. As the defense made their way off the field, Brett Favre was seen giving them vigorous verbal encouragement. Midway through the 4th quarter, Minnesota RB Toby Gerhart fumbled the ball in a tackle, and it was recovered by Detroit FS Louis Delmas
. The Lions then drove back down the field from their own 22-yard line to within 4 yards of the Minnesota end zone in just under 5 minutes. However, on 1st-and-goal, Vikings LB Ben Leber
intercepted Shaun Hill's attempted pass to RB Maurice Morris
inside the end zone before returning it to the Minnesota 18-yard line. The Vikings failed in their attempt to run the clock down to the two-minute warning and had to punt the ball away, giving the Lions one final chance to reduce their deficit. Beginning the drive at their own 38-yard line, they got to the Minnesota 10-yard line within seven plays, but CB Antoine Winfield
intercepted Hill's attempt at another touchdown pass to Tony Scheffler inside the endzone for a touchback with only a minute to go. Brett Favre knelt the ball down to run out the clock and the Vikings picked up their first win of the regular season.
Week 4: Bye
The Vikings took their 2010 bye week in Week 4 of the season – their earliest bye week since the 2004 season
. There were mixed results for their divisional rivals, with the Green Bay Packers
beating the Detroit Lions by 2 points, while the Chicago Bears
were beaten 17–3 by the New York Giants
.
In the days leading to their Week 5 game, the Vikings pulled off a dramatic trade, acquiring receiver Randy Moss
from the New England Patriots
. The move reunited Moss with the team that drafted him in 1998 and came after Moss caught 50 touchdowns with New England, including a one-handed touchdown catch against the Jets four weeks earlier.
for a Week 5 interconference duel with the New York Jets
on Monday night. Minnesota trailed early in the first quarter as Jets kicker Nick Folk
got a 25-yard field goal. The Vikings' deficit increased in the second quarter as Folk made a 53-yard and a 22-yard field goal.
Minnesota's frustrations continued in the third quarter as Folk got a 34-yard field goal. The Vikings would respond as quarterback Brett Favre
threw his 500th career touchdown pass by finding wide receiver Randy Moss
on a 37-yard touchdown pass, but New York answered with Folk's 31-yard field goal. After the delay at the end of the third quarter due to adverse weather conditions the Vikings would strike back in the fourth quarter as Favre found wide receiver Percy Harvin
on a 34-yard touchdown pass (with a failed 2-point conversion), but the Jets replied with a 23-yard touchdown run from running back Shonn Greene
. Minnesota tried to rally as Favre found Harvin again on an 11-yard touchdown pass, but New York would put the game away as cornerback Dwight Lowery
returned an interception 26 yards for a touchdown.
, in a rematch of last year's Divisional Playoff game, won 34–3 by the Vikings. Minnesota trailed in the first quarter as Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo
completed a 15-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Roy Williams
. The Vikings answered with quarterback Brett Favre
finding wide receiver Greg Camarillo
on a 10-yard touchdown pass. Dallas struck back in the second quarter as Romo found Williams again on a 2-yard touchdown pass.
Minnesota took the lead in the third quarter as wide receiver Percy Harvin
returned the half's opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown, followed by a 1-yard touchdown run from running back Adrian Peterson. The Cowboys tied the game in the fourth quarter as Romo threw a 31-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Dez Bryant
. Afterwards, the Vikings closed out the game as kicker Ryan Longwell
booted a 38-yard field goal.
for a Week 7 NFC North Sunday night duel with the Green Bay Packers
, as quarterback Brett Favre
made his return to take on his former team, in their first meeting on NBC's Sunday Night Football. Minnesota trailed early in the first quarter as Packers running back Brandon Jackson got a 1-yard touchdown run. Afterwards, the Vikings responded as wide receiver Percy Harvin
got a 17-yard touchdown run. Green Bay struck back in the second quarter as quarterback Aaron Rodgers
completed a 9-yard touchdown pass to tight end Andrew Quarless
, yet Minnesota took the lead with running back Adrian Peterson getting a 1-yard touchdown run, followed by kicker Ryan Longwell
booting a 28-yard field goal.
The Packers began the third quarter with Rodgers completing a 14-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Greg Jennings
, followed by linebacker Desmond Bishop
returning a Favre interception 32 yards for a touchdown. The Vikings would answer with Favre finding wide receiver Randy Moss
on a 4-yard touchdown pass. Minnesota tried to rally in the fourth quarter with an apparent 30-yard touchdown pass from Favre to Harvin with 48 seconds left which would have been the game winner, but Harvin had apparently only one foot in bounds, nullifying the touchdown. Favre tried two more times to get into the end zone, but Green Bay's defense held for the win.
since 2002 and the game marks the return of Randy Moss
to Foxboro following an early-October trade from the New England Patriots
.
In the second quarter, the Vikings took the lead after RB Adrian Peterson got a 1-yard TD run. The Patriots replied with RB Danny Woodhead
getting a 3-yard TD run. The Vikings got the lead back in the third quarter with kicker Ryan Longwell
nailing a 24-yard field goal. They fell behind with QB Tom Brady
completing a 65-yard TD pass to WR Brandon Tate
, and when RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis
made a 13-yard TD run. They tried to come back in the 4th quarter after QB Tarvaris Jackson
completed a 1-yard TD pass to FB Naufahu Tahi
(with a successful 2-point conversion as Jackson passed to WR Percy Harvin
) but couldn't do anything after Green-Ellis got a 2-yard TD run.
nailing a 21-yard field goal. They fell behind with QB Derek Anderson
completing a 30-yard TD pass to WR Andre Roberts to close out the first half. This was followed by DB Michael Adams
returning a Percy Harvin kickoff fumble 30 yards for a touchdown, and with kicker Jay Feely
making a 22-yard field goal. The lead was closed down by Peterson as he got a 4-yard TD run, and by QB Brett Favre
's 25-yard TD pass to TE Visanthe Shiancoe
. In overtime the decision was made when Longwell successfully made a 35-yard field goal to give the Vikings the win, bringing their record up to 3–5 and temporarily saving their quarterback's and head coach's jobs.
for an NFC North rivalry match against the Bears. In the first quarter the Vikings took the lead after kicker Ryan Longwell
hit a 36-yard field goal. They fell behind in the second quarter when QB Jay Cutler
threw a 17-yard TD pass to TE Greg Olsen
. They got the lead back after QB Brett Favre
completed a 53-yard TD pass to WR Percy Harvin
. They trailed again when Cutler got a 19-yard TD pass to WR Devin Hester
. The Bears extended their lead in the third quarter after kicker Robbie Gould
nailed a 34-yard field goal. The Vikings replied with Longwell making a 33-yard field goal, but fell further behind with Gould hitting a 37-yard field goal, and in the 4th quarter with Cutler making a 19-yard TD pass to TE Kellen Davis
.
hit a 24-yard field goal. They fell behind from the second quarter onwards as the Packers rallied with kicker Mason Crosby
making a 42-yard field goal, followed by QB Aaron Rodgers
completing an 11-yard TD pass to WR Greg Jennings
, followed by his 3-yard TD pass to WR James Jones
. In the second half Rodgers connected with Jennings again on a 46 and then a 22-yard TD pass in the fourth quarter to finish off the Vikings.
The following day Brad Childress
was fired as Head Coach and Leslie Frazier
was named Interim Head Coach.
. In the 1st quarter the Vikings trailed early as QB Donovan McNabb
completed a 10-yard TD pass to TE Fred Davis
. They replied as RB Adrian Peterson got a 5-yard TD run. The Vikings pulled ahead with RB Toby Gerhart
getting a 5-yard TD run, followed by kicker Ryan Longwell
nailing a 31-yard field goal. The Redskins tried to come back, but only came away with 40-yard and a 42-yard field goals from kicker Graham Gano
, giving the Vikings the win.
and returned 40 yards for a touchdown. They overcame this deficit with Jackson getting a 31-yard TD pass to WR Sidney Rice
. It was originally ruled an interception, but Frazier challenged the play and the officials sided with the Vikings, saying that Rice had two hands on the ball, resulting in a touchdown. It was followed in the second quarter by RB Adrian Peterson getting a 2-yard and a 3-yard TD run. Then Jackson found Rice again on a 6-yard TD pass, followed by kicker Ryan Longwell
nailing a 38-yard field goal. They continued to dominate in the fourth quarter when Peterson ran 43 yards to the end zone for a touchdown. The Bills responded with QB Ryan Fitzpatrick
getting a 12-yard TD pass to TE David Martin
. However, the Bills were unable to overcome such a large deficit and couldn't come up with another come-from-behind victory.
after their flight was diverted, while the operators of the Metrodome asked for more time to clear all the snow from the stadium's bubbled roof. The roof later collapsed, forcing the NFL to use Ford Field
in Detroit as an alternate site. Despite the one day delay, Brett Favre was listed as inactive for the game due to his shoulder injury. With the loss, the Vikings dropped to 5–8, and were mathematically eliminated from postseason contention.
which was played on Monday Night. In the first quarter the Vikings took the lead with QB Brett Favre
throwing a 23-yard TD pass to WR Percy Harvin
. However, they failed to maintain this lead after kickier Robbie Gould
made a 29-yard field goal, followed by QB Jay Cutler
completing a 67 and a 15-yard TD pass to wide receivers Johnny Knox
and Devin Hester
respectively, then with Gould nailing a 23-yard field goal. The Vikings caused more problems after a three-and-out converted into a 64-yard punt return for a touchdown by Hester. They tried to break the lead with QB Joe Webb
scrambling 13 yards for a touchdown, but they continued to struggle after Cutler got a 9-yard TD pass to WR Rashied Davis
, followed by Gould hitting a 34 and a 20-yard field goal.
postponed the game until Tuesday, December 28, 2010 at 8:00 p.m. The NFL postponed the game shortly after noon, even before there was any snow accmuluation in Philadelphia, after Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter declared a snow emergency for the city. This was the 20th NFL game and the first to be played on a Tuesday since . This was also the first Tuesday game in Vikings franchise history.
Trying to snap a two-game losing streak, the Vikings flew to Lincoln Financial Field
for a Week 16 intraconference duel with the Philadelphia Eagles
on Tuesday night. Minnesota trailed in the first quarter as Eagles quarterback Michael Vick
completed a 3-yard touchdown pass to tight end Clay Harbor
. The Vikings answered in the second quarter with cornerback Antoine Winfield
returning a fumble 45 yards for a touchdown.
Minnesota took the lead in the third quarter with a 30-yard field goal from kicker Ryan Longwell
, followed by a 9-yard touchdown run from rookie quarterback Joe Webb
. Philadelphia struck back with Vick getting a 10-yard touchdown run which cut the lead to a field goal, but the Vikings came right back with a 1-yard touchdown run from running back Adrian Peterson.
nailed a 55-yard field goal, followed by QB Shaun Hill
completing a 7-yard TD pass to WR Nate Burleson
, followed by Rayner making a 37-yard field goal. The Vikings got on the board too as an interception was returned 36 yards for a touchdown by DE Jared Allen
. This was followed by kicker Ryan Longwell
hitting a 27-yard field goal. Detroit extended their lead with RB Maurice Morris
getting a 5-yard TD run. The Vikings tried to come back, but only came away with a 48-yard field goal from Longwell, giving the Vikings a loss and thus closing out the season on a 6–10 record.
: RB Adrian Peterson. He missed out on the NFC's starting lineup to the Atlanta Falcons
' Michael Turner, and was joined on the bench by the St. Louis Rams
' Steven Jackson
. Peterson received the most fan votes out of all running backs in the NFL (948,410), and the sixth most out of all players, behind five quarterbacks.
After the Detroit Lions
' rookie defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh
went for surgery on an injured shoulder, Kevin Williams was called up as an alternate. However, due to the imminent arrival of a new baby to him and his wife, Williams himself withdrew from the roster on January 22; he was replaced by the Arizona Cardinals
' DT Darnell Dockett
. Two days later, CB Antoine Winfield
was added to the NFC Pro Bowl roster to replace the Green Bay Packers
' Charles Woodson
and Tramon Williams
, both of whom withdrew due to their participation in Super Bowl XLV
. The final Viking to be added to the NFC roster was LB E. J. Henderson
, who received his first career Pro Bowl selection. Coming in as injury cover for San Francisco
's Patrick Willis
and Chicago
's Brian Urlacher
, Henderson travelled to Hawaii
, but did not take the field.
2010 NFL season
The 2010 NFL season was the 91st regular season of the National Football League.The regular season began with the NFL Kickoff game on NBC on Thursday, September 9, at the Louisiana Superdome as the New Orleans Saints, Super Bowl XLIV champions, defeated the Minnesota Vikings 14–9.Tom Brady,...
Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
season was the franchise's 50th season in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
, and the fifth under head coach Brad Childress
Brad Childress
Brad "Chilly" Childress is the former head coach of the Minnesota Vikings. He attended high school at the Marmion Academy in Aurora, Illinois...
until November 22, when he was fired and Leslie Frazier
Leslie Frazier
Leslie Antonio Frazier is a former cornerback/safety in the National Football League for the Chicago Bears and is currently the head coach for the Minnesota Vikings.-College career:...
was named interim head coach. After a loss to the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
in the NFC Championship ended their 2009
2009 Minnesota Vikings season
The 2009 Minnesota Vikings season was the franchise's 49th season in the NFL. The Vikings improved upon their 10–6 record and defended their NFC North title from 2008; it was the first time that they had retained a divisional title since they won six NFC Central titles in a row between 1973 and 1978...
season, the Vikings had hoped to defend their NFC North
NFC North
The NFC North is a division of the National Football League's National Football Conference, based in the Upper Midwest region of the United States...
division title for the third year in a row and contend again for a Super Bowl Championship. However, Brett Favre was unable to recover from the injuries he had sustained in the NFC Championship and turned in abysmal performances for most of the season, being forced to sit out the final three games due to injuries and breaking his consecutive start record at 297 games since September 1992. The team finished 6-10 and ended up in last place in the division for the first time since 1990.
Further woes befell the team when WR Percy Harvin
Percy Harvin
William Percival "Percy" Harvin, III is an American football wide receiver, return specialist, and running back for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League...
missed two games due to persistent migraine headaches. On December 12, the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, commonly called the Metrodome, is a domed sports stadium in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Opened in 1982, it replaced Metropolitan Stadium, which was on the current site of the Mall of America in Bloomington and Memorial Stadium on the University...
's inflatable roof collapsed for the first time since 1986 after a heavy snowfall. As a consequence, the Vikings had to play the next week's game against the Giants in Detroit's Ford Field. Since the Metrodome's roof could not be repaired in time, the team had to play the Bears in Week 15 at the University of Minnesota for their first outdoor home game since 1981.
Transactions
In April 2010, the Vikings re-signed restricted free agentRestricted free agent
A restricted free agent is a professional athlete who plays in the KHL, NFL, NHL, or NBA. Such players have special restrictions on the terms under which they can retain or change employment status with their athletic club teams.- NFL :...
s Ryan Cook
Ryan Cook (American football)
Ryan Cook is an American football offensive guard for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
(offensive tackle), Fred Evans
Fred Evans (American football)
Frederick H. Evans is an American football defensive tackle for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Dolphins in the seventh round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
(defensive tackle), Eric Frampton
Eric Frampton
Eric Ulyssee Frampton is a safety for the Minnesota Vikings in the National Football League.-College career:Known as a big hitter with a motor that never stops, Frampton received the Washington State Ironman Award in 2004. Frampton was a two-year starter and was awarded All-Pac 10 honors as a senior...
(safety) and Naufahu Tahi
Naufahu Tahi
Naufahu Anitoni Tahi is an American football fullback who is currently a free agent of the National Football League. He was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 2006. He played college football at BYU...
(fullback). A week later, on April 21, they signed cornerback Lito Sheppard
Lito Sheppard
Lito Decorian Sheppard is an American football cornerback for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League . He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the first round of the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football for the University of Florida.Sheppard has also played for the New York...
to a one-year contract after his release by the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. They then added wide receiver Marquis Hamilton and offensive tackle Bill Noethlich to their roster in the first week of May.
During the 2010 preseason, the Vikings were struggling at the wide receiver position and signed free agent Javon Walker
Javon Walker
Javon Lataff Walker is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers 20th overall of the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football at Florida State....
– who had been released by the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in April – before trading cornerback Benny Sapp
Benny Sapp
Benjamin Lee Sapp, II is an American football cornerback who is currently a member of the Minnesota Vikings. He was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2004...
to the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in exchange for Greg Camarillo
Greg Camarillo
Greg Camarillo is an American football wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League.He played college football at Stanford. He was signed by the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2005....
. A week later, the Vikings waived the contracts of Bill Noethlich and Marko Mitchell
Marko Mitchell
Marko Terrell Mitchell is an American football wide receiver who is currently a Free Agent. He was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft...
, placed J Leman
J Leman
Jeremy Jacob "J" Leman is an American football linebacker for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. He was signed by the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2008...
on the injured reserve list and designated Sidney Rice
Sidney Rice
-Minnesota Vikings :Rice was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings. He signed a four year contract with the Vikings in 2007....
as Physically Unable to Perform
Physically Unable to Perform
Players can be labeled Physically Unable to Perform in the National Football League if they suffer from football-related injuries during the preseason...
.
On September 3, the Vikings traded Sage Rosenfels
Sage Rosenfels
Sage Rosenfels is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He played college football at Iowa State before he was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played with the Miami Dolphins from 2002–2005, the Houston Texans from...
and Darius Reynaud
Darius Reynaud
Darius Reynaud is an American football running back / wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football at West Virginia....
to the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
for a 5th-round pick in the 2011 draft and a conditional 7th-round pick in 2012. Rosenfels became expendable to the Vikings when Brett Favre
Brett Favre
Brett Lorenzo Favre is a former American football quarterback who spent the majority of his career with the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League . He was a 20-year veteran of the NFL, having played quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons , Green Bay Packers , New York Jets and Minnesota...
decided to return for the 2010 season.
2010 NFL Draft
After exiting the playoffs in the NFC Championship, the Vikings placed 30th in the pick order for the 2010 draft. The Vikings were awarded a compensatory pick in the 5th round for the loss of Matt BirkMatt Birk
Matthew Robert Birk is an American football center for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the sixth round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He played college football at Harvard....
and Darren Sharper
Darren Sharper
Darren Mallory Sharper is an American football safety who currently is a free agent. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the second round of the 1997 NFL Draft. He played college football at William & Mary....
in the 2009 offseason. During the draft, the Vikings traded their 1st-round selection (30th overall) and a 4th-round selection (128th overall) to the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
in exchange for picks in the 2nd (34th overall), 4th (100th overall) and 7th rounds (214th overall; originally from the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
). They also traded their original 2nd and 3rd-round picks (62nd and 93rd picks overall) to the Houston Texans
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in return for a higher pick in the 2nd round (51st overall).
| Draft order | Player name | Position | Height | Weight | College | Contract | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round | Choice | Overall | |||||||
| 2 | 2 | 34 | Chris Cook Chris Cook (American football) Christopher O'Shea Cook is an American football cornerback for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. He was drafted in the second round, 34th overall in the 2010 NFL Draft. He played college football at Virginia.... |
CB Cornerback A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position... |
6-2 | 212 | Virginia Virginia Cavaliers football Virginia Cavaliers football is a college football program that competes in the NCAA Division I-FBS and the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference... |
4 years | From Lions Detroit Lions The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and... |
| 19 | 51 | Toby Gerhart Toby Gerhart Toby Gerhart is a professional football player, a running back for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. He was a consensus All-American running back at Stanford and was selected in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft, the 51st overall pick. In 2009 Gerhart won the Doak Walker... |
RB Running back A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running... |
6-0 | 231 | Stanford Stanford Cardinal football The Stanford Cardinal football program represents Stanford University in college football at the NCAA Division I FBS level and is a member of the Pac-12 Conference's North Division. Stanford, the top-ranked academic institution with an FBS program, has a highly successful football tradition. The... |
4 years | From Texans Houston Texans The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
|
| 4 | 2 | 100 | Everson Griffen Everson Griffen -Minnesota Vikings:Griffen was selected by the Minnesota Vikings with the 100th overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.On January 28, 2011, Griffen was arrested in Los Angeles for public intoxication. Three days later, he was arrested again after he was found driving with an invalid drivers license... |
DE Defensive end Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years... |
6-3 | 273 | USC | 4 years | From Lions |
| 5 | 30 | 161 | Chris DeGeare Chris DeGeare Chris DeGeare is an offensive guard for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. He was drafted 161st overall pick by the Vikings in the fifth round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He played collegiate football for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. He played high school football for Robert B... |
OT | 6-4 | 325 | Wake Forest Wake Forest Demon Deacons football The Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team represents Wake Forest University in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Wake Forest plays its home football games at BB&T Field.... |
4 years | |
| 36 | 167 | Nathan Triplett Nathan Triplett Nathan "Nate" Triplett is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the fifth round of the 2010 NFL Draft... |
LB Linebacker A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen... |
6-3 | 250 | Minnesota Minnesota Golden Gophers football The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers are one of the oldest programs in college football history. They compete in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. The Golden Gophers have claimed six national championships and have an all time record of 646–481–44 as... |
4 years | Compensatory pick | |
| 6 | 30 | 199 | Joe Webb Joe Webb Joseph "Joe" Webb, Jr. is an American football quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. In college he played for the UAB Blazers. He was selected by the Vikings in the sixth round, number 199 overall, of the 2010 NFL Draft.-Early years:Born to Joseph and Wanda Webb,... |
QB Quarterback Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line... /WR Wide receiver A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible... |
6-3 | 223 | UAB UAB Blazers football The University of Alabama at Birmingham Blazers college football team competes as part of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , as a member of the East Division of Conference USA . UAB plays its home games at Legion Field, which is located off-campus in Birmingham, Alabama... |
4 years | |
| 7 | 7 | 214 | Mickey Shuler, Jr. Mickey Shuler, Jr. Mickey Charles Shuler, Jr. is an American football tight end who is currently a free agent. He is the son of former New York Jets All-Pro tight end, Mickey Shuler.-Early years:... |
TE Tight end The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be... |
6-4 | 251 | Penn State Penn State Nittany Lions football The Penn State Nittany Lions football team represents the Pennsylvania State University in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big Ten Conference. It is one of the most tradition-rich and storied college football programs in the... |
4 years | From Browns Cleveland Browns The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... via Lions |
| 30 | 237 | Ryan D'Imperio Ryan D'Imperio Ryan D'Imperio is an American football fullback for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. . D'Imperio was selected by the Vikings with the 237th overall pick in the seventh round of the 2010 NFL Draft... |
LB Linebacker A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen... |
6-2 | 230 | Rutgers Rutgers Scarlet Knights football The Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team represents Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision play... |
4 years | ||
Coaching staff
| Minnesota Vikings 2010 staff | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Front Office
Head Coaches
Offensive Coaches
|
Defensive Coaches
Special Teams Coaches
Strength and Conditioning
Coaching Assistants
|
|||||
Final roster
Schedule
The Vikings preseason schedule was announced on March 31, 2010.| Week | | Date | | Kickoff (CDT) | | Opponent | | Results | | Game site | | TV | | NFL.com recap |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Final score | Team record | |||||||
| 1 | August 14 | 7:00 p.m. | at St. Louis Rams 2010 St. Louis Rams season -Schedule:-Week 1: vs. Arizona Cardinals:The St. Louis Rams began their season at home for an NFC West match against the Arizona Cardinals. The Rams trailed in the 2nd quarter with Cardinals kicker Jay Feely nailing a 22-yard field goal, which was replied when Rams kicker Josh Brown made a 46-yard... |
W 28–7 | 1–0 | Edward Jones Dome Edward Jones Dome The Edward Jones Dome The Edward Jones Dome The Edward Jones Dome (more formally known as the Edward Jones Dome at America's Center, and previously known as The Trans World Dome (from 1995–2001) is a multi-purpose stadium in St. Louis, Missouri, and home of the St. Louis Rams of the NFL. It was... |
KARE-TV KARE KARE, digital channel 11, is an NBC-affiliated television station licensed to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and serving the Minneapolis-St. Paul area of Minnesota and portions of western Wisconsin. It also operates KARE WX NOW, formerly known as NBC Weather Plus on its second digital subchannel... |
Recap |
| 2 | August 22 | 7:00 p.m. | at San Francisco 49ers 2010 San Francisco 49ers season The 2010 San Francisco 49ers season was the franchise's 65th season, and the second full year with Mike Singletary as the head coach. The 49ers were looking to build upon their 8–8 season in 2009 that ended their streak of seven consecutive losing seasons and to get into the postseason for the... |
L 10–15 | 1–1 | Candlestick Park | NBC NBC The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago... |
Recap |
| 3 | August 28 | 7:00 p.m. | Seattle Seahawks 2010 Seattle Seahawks season The 2010 Seattle Seahawks season was the 35th season for the team in the National Football League. Jim Mora was fired on January 8, 2010, leading the Seahawks to come to an agreement with Pete Carroll, instating him as head coach the following day. This marks the 9th season that the Seahawks will... |
W 24–13 | 2–1 | Mall of America Field Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, commonly called the Metrodome, is a domed sports stadium in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Opened in 1982, it replaced Metropolitan Stadium, which was on the current site of the Mall of America in Bloomington and Memorial Stadium on the University... |
KARE-TV | Recap |
| 4 | September 2 | 7:00 p.m. | Denver Broncos 2010 Denver Broncos season The Denver Broncos season was the franchise's 41st season in the National Football League, the 51st overall and the 10th playing their home games at INVESCO Field at Mile High... |
W 31–24 | 3–1 | Mall of America Field | KARE-TV | Recap |
Week 1: at St. Louis Rams
The Vikings began their 2010 pre-season with a trip to Edward Jones DomeEdward Jones Dome
The Edward Jones Dome The Edward Jones Dome The Edward Jones Dome (more formally known as the Edward Jones Dome at America's Center, and previously known as The Trans World Dome (from 1995–2001) is a multi-purpose stadium in St. Louis, Missouri, and home of the St. Louis Rams of the NFL. It was...
to take on the league's worst team from 2009, the St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
. The Rams roster featured rookie quarterback Sam Bradford
Sam Bradford
Samuel Jacob "Sam" Bradford is an American football quarterback for the St. Louis Rams of the National Football League. He was the first overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, and played college football at Oklahoma. In 2008, as a redshirt sophomore, Bradford became the second sophomore to win a...
, signed as the #1 overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft
2010 NFL Draft
The 2010 NFL Draft was the 75th annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. Unlike previous years, the 2010 draft took place over three days, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, with the first round on Thursday, April 22, 2010, at 7:30 pm...
. Meanwhile, the Vikings were without six members of their regular starting offense, including QB Brett Favre
Brett Favre
Brett Lorenzo Favre is a former American football quarterback who spent the majority of his career with the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League . He was a 20-year veteran of the NFL, having played quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons , Green Bay Packers , New York Jets and Minnesota...
and RB Adrian Peterson. The Rams got the first touchdown of the game with 1:29 remaining in the first quarter, when Danny Amendola
Danny Amendola
Daniel Amendola is an American football wide receiver for the St. Louis Rams of the National Football League. He was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2008...
returned a Chris Kluwe
Chris Kluwe
Christopher James "Chris" Kluwe is a punter for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the Seattle Seahawks, as an undrafted free agent in 2005...
punt for 93 yards. The Vikings responded with two TDs in the second quarter; first, backup QB Sage Rosenfels
Sage Rosenfels
Sage Rosenfels is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He played college football at Iowa State before he was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played with the Miami Dolphins from 2002–2005, the Houston Texans from...
passed for two yards to wide receiver Logan Payne
Logan Payne
Logan Payne is an American football wide receiver for the New York Jets of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 2007...
, before throwing a 65-yard TD pass to tight end Garrett Mills
Garrett Mills
Michael Garrett Mills is an American football tight end with the New England Patriots of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
. Rosenfels got his third passing TD in the third quarter, with a 71-yard pass to WR Marko Mitchell
Marko Mitchell
Marko Terrell Mitchell is an American football wide receiver who is currently a Free Agent. He was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft...
. The victory was completed with 6:49 left in the game as fellow rookies – QB Joe Webb
Joe Webb
Joseph "Joe" Webb, Jr. is an American football quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. In college he played for the UAB Blazers. He was selected by the Vikings in the sixth round, number 199 overall, of the 2010 NFL Draft.-Early years:Born to Joseph and Wanda Webb,...
and TE Mickey Shuler
Mickey Shuler, Jr.
Mickey Charles Shuler, Jr. is an American football tight end who is currently a free agent. He is the son of former New York Jets All-Pro tight end, Mickey Shuler.-Early years:...
– combined for a two-yard pass.
Week 2: at San Francisco 49ers
The Vikings' second preseason game took them to San Francisco to take on the 49ersSan Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
. The game marked the return of quarterback Brett Favre to the Vikings' starting lineup, but he lasted just four plays; the first was a 13-yard pass to RB Adrian Peterson for a first down, but he was sacked for a loss of 10 yards two plays later and was replaced by Tarvaris Jackson
Tarvaris Jackson
Tarvaris DeAndre Jackson is an American football quarterback who is currently a member of the Seattle Seahawks. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
for the Vikings' next drive.
By the time Favre took the field, the 49ers were already leading 7–0 via a 4-yard run from Anthony Dixon
Anthony Dixon
-2010 season:With the announcement of the sudden retirement of second year player Glen Coffee on August 13, former head coach Mike Singletary stated that Dixon and veteran Michael Robinson would compete for the number 2 running back spot behind Pro Bowler Frank Gore...
. It was not until the 2nd quarter that the Vikings got their first points on the board, with Ryan Longwell
Ryan Longwell
Ryan Walker Longwell is an American football placekicker for the Minnesota Vikings in the National Football League. After playing college football for the California Golden Bears, he started his professional football career with the San Francisco 49ers, but never played a game for the franchise...
landing a 40-yard field goal. San Francisco responded with two Joe Nedney
Joe Nedney
Joseph Thomas Nedney is an American football placekicker who is currently a free agent. Born and raised in San Jose, California, Nedney played college football at San Jose State and signed as an undrafted player with the Miami Dolphins in 1996...
field goals in the second half before the Vikings' rookie QB Joe Webb took advantage of a gap in the 49ers defense to rush 48 yards for a touchdown, bringing Minnesota within three points with two minutes left to play. Kicker Rhys Lloyd
Rhys Lloyd
Rhys John Lloyd is an American football placekicker for the New York Giants of the National Football League. He was signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2005...
attempted an onside kick, but it was recovered by San Francisco, and by the time the Vikings got the ball back they were on their own 8-yard line with 9 seconds left in the game. They attempted to go for the win, but Webb was sacked in the end zone for a safety as the clock ran out, giving the 49ers a 15–10 win.
Week 3: vs. Seattle Seahawks
The Vikings returned to the Metrodome in Week 3 for the first time since their 2010 Divisional Play-off to take on the Seattle SeahawksSeattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
. Quarterback Brett Favre lasted for eight series and threw for 187 yards on 16 completions, but the Vikings only came away with 10 points while he was on the field. The first points of the game came from an interception of a Favre pass, as Seattle safety Earl Thomas
Earl Thomas (defensive back)
Earl Thomas is an American football safety for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Seahawks with the 14th overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. He played college football at Texas....
got to the ball ahead of wide receiver Bernard Berrian
Bernard Berrian
Bernard Berrian is a free agent American football wide receiver who last played for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Chicago Bears in the third round of the 2004 NFL Draft...
and returned it for an 86-yard touchdown. Nevertheless, Darius Reynaud
Darius Reynaud
Darius Reynaud is an American football running back / wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football at West Virginia....
returned the ensuing kickoff for 73 yards, giving Adrian Peterson the opportunity to rush 23 yards in two plays to level the scores at 7–7. Olindo Mare
Olindo Mare
Olindo Franco Mare is an American football placekicker for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 1996...
and Ryan Longwell then traded field goals to make the scores 10–10 at halftime. Another field goal from Mare put the Seahawks ahead on their first drive of the second half, but the Vikings responded with a 25-yard touchdown pass from Sage Rosenfels to new wide receiver Javon Walker
Javon Walker
Javon Lataff Walker is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers 20th overall of the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football at Florida State....
with just over seven minutes left in the game. Minnesota sealed the win with less than three minutes on the clock, when Joe Webb
Joe Webb
Joseph "Joe" Webb, Jr. is an American football quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. In college he played for the UAB Blazers. He was selected by the Vikings in the sixth round, number 199 overall, of the 2010 NFL Draft.-Early years:Born to Joseph and Wanda Webb,...
tossed the ball seven yards for fullback Ryan D'Imperio
Ryan D'Imperio
Ryan D'Imperio is an American football fullback for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. . D'Imperio was selected by the Vikings with the 237th overall pick in the seventh round of the 2010 NFL Draft...
to return the Vikings to a winning preseason record.
Week 4: vs. Denver Broncos
The Vikings completed their preseason schedule with a home game against the Denver BroncosDenver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. To accommodate the Vikings playing in the 2010 NFL Kickoff game
National Football League Kickoff game
The NFL Kickoff game, and related festivities, mark the start of the National Football League season. The first game of the season is currently scheduled for the Thursday following Labor Day. A single game is held, preceded by a concert and other ceremonies. Since the 2004 season, the defending...
the following Thursday, this game was also played on a Thursday, and head coach Brad Childress
Brad Childress
Brad "Chilly" Childress is the former head coach of the Minnesota Vikings. He attended high school at the Marmion Academy in Aurora, Illinois...
opted to rest the majority of his starting lineup. As in each of their three previous preseason games, the Vikings conceded the first points of the game, allowing LenDale White
LenDale White
LenDale Anthony White is an American football running back. He was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football at Southern California....
to rush two yards into the endzone and convert on 2nd-and-goal. The Vikings were unable to earn a first down on each of their first three series, but after punting on the third, the Broncos' rookie quarterback Tim Tebow
Tim Tebow
Timothy Richard "Tim" Tebow is an American football player who is currently the starting quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League . He was drafted by the Broncos as the 25th overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft...
fumbled the snap on their return drive; Erin Henderson
Erin Henderson
Erin Henderson is an American football linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. He was signed by the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football at Maryland.-Early years:...
picked up the loose ball and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown. Ryan Longwell put Minnesota ahead with a 27-yard field goal on the first play of the second quarter, and from that point the Vikings never relinquished their lead. Albert Young
Albert Young (American football)
Albert Young is an American football running back for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League. He was signed by the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2008...
then converted a 1st-and-goal from the 1-yard line to give Minnesota a 10-point lead at halftime. The two teams traded touchdowns in the third quarter, as Tebow threw a 39-yard pass to Matthew Willis for Denver,
and Ian Johnson
Ian Johnson (American football)
-Minnesota Vikings:He ran the fastest 40 yard dash time for a running back at the 2009 NFL Combine with a 4.46. He was signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Vikings. In Week 4 of the Preseason Johnson ran for 2 touchdowns in 17 carries against the Dallas Cowboys...
rushed 4 yards for Minnesota. A 14-yard pass from Brady Quinn
Brady Quinn
Brayden Tyler "Brady" Quinn is an American football quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. Quinn was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Notre Dame.-Early Years:Brayden Tyler "Brady" Quinn was born on...
to Alric Arnett brought the Broncos to within 3 points going into the last 12 minutes of the game, but on the very next series, Joe Webb threw a 63-yard pass to a wide open Javon Walker on the right side of the field, and the wide receiver walked into the end zone. Broncos kicker Matt Prater completed the scoring with a 49-yard field goal with just under 5 minutes left, giving the Vikings a 31–24 win and a 3–1 preseason record.
Schedule
Based on the NFL's predetermined scheduling formula, the Vikings will play every team in the NFC EastNFC East
The NFC East is a division of the National Football League's National Football Conference. It currently has four members: the Philadelphia Eagles, the New York Giants, the Dallas Cowboys, and Washington Redskins....
and AFC East
AFC East
The American Football Conference – Eastern Division or AFC East is a division of the National Football League's American Football Conference. There are four members: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots , and New York Jets...
, the teams from the NFC South
NFC South
The NFC South is a division in the National Football Conference of the National Football League. It was created prior to the 2002 NFL season, when the league realigned divisions after expanding to 32 teams. The NFC South currently has four members: the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New...
and NFC West
NFC West
The NFC West is a division of the National Football League's National Football Conference. It currently has four members: Arizona Cardinals, St...
that finished the same place in their division as the Vikings last year (which were the division winners), as well as their usual NFC North
NFC North
The NFC North is a division of the National Football League's National Football Conference, based in the Upper Midwest region of the United States...
division rivals. The schedule was announced on April 20, 2010: the season began with the Vikings taking on the New Orleans Saints
2010 New Orleans Saints season
The 2010 New Orleans Saints season was the 44th season for the franchise in the National Football League and city of New Orleans, Louisiana, and was the 35th to host home games in the Louisiana Superdome. The Saints entered their season for the first time as defending Super Bowl and National...
in the NFL Kickoff Game
National Football League Kickoff game
The NFL Kickoff game, and related festivities, mark the start of the National Football League season. The first game of the season is currently scheduled for the Thursday following Labor Day. A single game is held, preceded by a concert and other ceremonies. Since the 2004 season, the defending...
on Thursday, September 9, while the bye week will come in Week 4. The season will culminate with road games against the Philadelphia Eagles
2010 Philadelphia Eagles season
The 2010 Philadelphia Eagles season was the 78th season for the team in the National Football League , who looked to improve on their 11–5 record from 2009. They finished with a 10–6 record, but lost to the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card playoffs. For head coach Andy Reid, this was his 12th...
and the Detroit Lions
2010 Detroit Lions season
The 2010 Detroit Lions season was the franchise's 81st season in the NFL. It was Jim Schwartz's second season as head coach. The Lions spent most of the season at the bottom of their division, but with more division wins than the Vikings , the Lions ended up at 3rd place on the final day of the...
.
| Week | | Date | | Kickoff (CT) | | Opponent | | Results | | Game site | | TV | | NFL.com recap |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Final score | Team record | |||||||
| 1 | September 9 | 7:30 p.m. | at New Orleans Saints 2010 New Orleans Saints season The 2010 New Orleans Saints season was the 44th season for the franchise in the National Football League and city of New Orleans, Louisiana, and was the 35th to host home games in the Louisiana Superdome. The Saints entered their season for the first time as defending Super Bowl and National... |
L 9–14 | 0–1 | Louisiana Superdome Louisiana Superdome The Mercedes-Benz Superdome, previously known as the Louisiana Superdome and colloquially known as the Superdome, is a sports and exhibition arena located in the Central Business District of New Orleans, Louisiana, USA... |
NBC NBC Sunday Night Football NBC Sunday Night Football is a weekly television broadcast of Sunday evening National Football League games on NBC that began airing on Sunday, August 6, 2006 with the pre-season opening Hall of Fame Game. Al Michaels serves as the play-by-play announcer, with Cris Collinsworth as the color... |
Recap |
| 2 | September 19 | 12:00 p.m. | Miami Dolphins 2010 Miami Dolphins season The 2010 Miami Dolphins season was the organization's 41st season in the National Football League and 45th overall. The Dolphins are entering the 2010 season coming off a third place finish in the AFC East 7–9-Staff Changes:... |
L 10–14 | 0–2 | Mall of America Field Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, commonly called the Metrodome, is a domed sports stadium in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Opened in 1982, it replaced Metropolitan Stadium, which was on the current site of the Mall of America in Bloomington and Memorial Stadium on the University... |
CBS NFL on CBS The NFL on CBS is the brand name of the CBS television network's coverage of the National Football League's American Football Conference games, produced by CBS Sports.-Market coverage and television policies:... |
Recap |
| 3 | September 26 | 12:00 p.m. | Detroit Lions 2010 Detroit Lions season The 2010 Detroit Lions season was the franchise's 81st season in the NFL. It was Jim Schwartz's second season as head coach. The Lions spent most of the season at the bottom of their division, but with more division wins than the Vikings , the Lions ended up at 3rd place on the final day of the... |
W 24–10 | 1–2 | Mall of America Field | Fox NFL on FOX NFL on Fox is the brand name of the Fox Broadcasting Company's coverage of the National Football League's National Football Conference games, produced by Fox Sports... |
Recap |
| 4 | Bye Bye (sports) A bye, in sports and other competitive activities, most commonly refers to the practice of allowing a player or team to advance to the next round of a playoff tournament without playing... |
|||||||
| 5 | October 11 | 7:30 p.m. | at New York Jets 2010 New York Jets season The 2010 New York Jets season was the franchise's 41st season in the National Football League, the 51st season overall and the team's first season at New Meadowlands Stadium. The team improved on their 9–7 record from 2009 and reached the playoffs again. The Jets played their first pre-season game... |
L 20–29 | 1–3 | New Meadowlands Stadium New Meadowlands Stadium MetLife Stadium is a stadium in the New York City Metropolitan Area, part of the MetLife Sports Complex, in East Rutherford, New Jersey. It is the home of the New York Giants and New York Jets of the National Football League and is adjacent to the site of the former Giants Stadium, which was home... |
ESPN Monday Night Football Monday Night Football is a live broadcast of the National Football League on ESPN. From to it aired on ABC. Monday Night Football was, along with Hallmark Hall of Fame, and the Walt Disney anthology television series, one of the longest running prime time commercial network television series... |
Recap |
| 6 | October 17 | 3:15 p.m. | Dallas Cowboys 2010 Dallas Cowboys season The 2010 Dallas Cowboys season is the 51st season for the team in the National Football League, and the second season playing their home games at Cowboys Stadium... |
W 24–21 | 2–3 | Mall of America Field | Fox | Recap |
| 7 | October 24 | 7:20 p.m. | at Green Bay Packers 2010 Green Bay Packers season The 2010 Green Bay Packers season was the 90th season in the National Football League for the Packers and the 92nd season for the team overall. With a record of 10–6, the Packers entered the playoffs as the NFC's sixth seed... |
L 24–28 | 2–4 | Lambeau Field Lambeau Field Lambeau Field is an outdoor football stadium in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the home of the NFL's Green Bay Packers. Opened in 1957 as City Stadium, it replaced the original City Stadium as the Packers' home field... |
NBC | Recap |
| 8 | October 31 | 3:15 p.m. | at New England Patriots 2010 New England Patriots season The 2010 New England Patriots season was the 41st season for the team in the National Football League and 51st season overall. The Patriots improved on their 10–6 record from 2009 by finishing with a league-best 14–2 record and clinching the top seed in the AFC, before losing to the New York Jets... |
L 18–28 | 2–5 | Gillette Stadium Gillette Stadium Gillette Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium located in Foxborough, Massachusetts, 21 miles southwest of downtown Boston and from downtown Providence, Rhode Island. It serves as the home stadium and administrative offices for the New England Patriots football team and the New England Revolution... |
Fox | Recap |
| 9 | November 7 | 12:00 p.m. | Arizona Cardinals 2010 Arizona Cardinals season The 2010 Arizona Cardinals season is the 91st season for the team in the National Football League, and their 23rd season in Arizona. The Cardinals failed to improve on their 10–6 record from 2009, and were eliminated from postseason contention in Week 15.... |
W 27–24 (OT) | 3–5 | Mall of America Field | Fox | Recap |
| 10 | November 14 | 12:00 p.m. | at Chicago Bears 2010 Chicago Bears season The 2010 Chicago Bears season was the franchise's 91st season overall in the National Football League. Coming off a disappointing 7–9 record in the 2009 season and failing to qualify for the NFL playoffs for a third consecutive season, the Bears sought to develop their roster and improve on... |
L 13–27 | 3–6 | Soldier Field Soldier Field Soldier Field is located on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, Illinois, United States, in the Near South Side. It is home to the NFL's Chicago Bears... |
Fox | Recap |
| 11 | November 21 | 12:00 p.m. | Green Bay Packers | L 3–31 | 3–7 | Mall of America Field | Fox | Recap |
| 12 | November 28 | 12:00 p.m. | at Washington Redskins 2010 Washington Redskins season The 2010 Washington Redskins season was the 78th season for the team in the National Football League , and their first under new head coach Mike Shanahan, who also began his term as the team's Vice President of Football Operations... |
W 17–13 | 4–7 | FedEx Field | Fox | Recap |
| 13 | December 5 | 12:00 p.m. | Buffalo Bills 2010 Buffalo Bills season The 2010 Buffalo Bills season was the team's 41st season in the National Football League, and their 51st overall. It was Buffalo's first season with Buddy Nix in the role of general manager and head coach Chan Gailey.... |
W 38–14 | 5–7 | Mall of America Field | CBS | Recap |
| 14 | December 13 | 6:20 p.m. | New York Giants 2010 New York Giants season The 2010 New York Giants season was the 86th season for the team in the National Football League and the team's inaugural season in New Meadowlands Stadium. The Giants improved on their 8–8 2009 record by finishing 10–6 and second place in the NFC East... |
L 3–21 | 5–8 | Ford Field Ford Field Ford Field is an indoor American football stadium located in Detroit, Michigan, USA, that is the current home field of the NFL's Detroit Lions. It is owned by the Detroit/Wayne County Stadium Authority. It regularly seats 65,000, though it is expandable up to 70,000 for football and 80,000 for... ** |
Fox | Recap |
| 15 | December 20 | 7:30 p.m. | Chicago Bears | L 14–40 | 5–9 | TCF Bank Stadium TCF Bank Stadium TCF Bank Stadium, sometimes referred to as either "The Bank" or "The Gopher Hole," is the football stadium for the Minnesota Golden Gophers college football team at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota... ** |
ESPN | Recap |
| 16 | December 28 | 7:00 p.m. | at Philadelphia Eagles 2010 Philadelphia Eagles season The 2010 Philadelphia Eagles season was the 78th season for the team in the National Football League , who looked to improve on their 11–5 record from 2009. They finished with a 10–6 record, but lost to the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card playoffs. For head coach Andy Reid, this was his 12th... |
W 24–14 | 6–9 | Lincoln Financial Field Lincoln Financial Field Lincoln Financial Field is the home stadium of the National Football League's Philadelphia Eagles. It has a seating capacity of 68,532 . It is located in South Philadelphia on Pattison Avenue between 11th and 10th streets, also aside I-95 as part of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex... |
NBC | Recap |
| 17 | January 2 | 12:00 p.m. | at Detroit Lions | L 13–20 | 6–10 | Ford Field | Fox | Recap |
COLOR KEY & NOTES:
- Team names in bold indicate Vikings' home games. Orange indicates that the game was originally scheduled for Mall of America Field but was moved to the indicated location due to the collapse of the Metrodome roof.
- The Vikings' road game against the Philadelphia Eagles was postponed from December 26 to December 28 due to inclement weather.
Week 1: at New Orleans Saints
The Vikings began the 2010 NFL season2010 NFL season
The 2010 NFL season was the 91st regular season of the National Football League.The regular season began with the NFL Kickoff game on NBC on Thursday, September 9, at the Louisiana Superdome as the New Orleans Saints, Super Bowl XLIV champions, defeated the Minnesota Vikings 14–9.Tom Brady,...
by taking part in the annual NFL Kickoff Game
National Football League Kickoff game
The NFL Kickoff game, and related festivities, mark the start of the National Football League season. The first game of the season is currently scheduled for the Thursday following Labor Day. A single game is held, preceded by a concert and other ceremonies. Since the 2004 season, the defending...
against the defending Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
champions, the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
, in a rematch of the previous season's NFC Championship Game
2009–10 NFL playoffs
The National Football League playoffs for the 2009 season began on January 9, 2010 and led up to Super Bowl XLIV on February 7, 2010 at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida...
. Minnesota lost the coin toss and gave up a touchdown on the first drive of the game; New Orleans received the ball from the kickoff and then took 5 plays to go 77 yards, culminating with Drew Brees
Drew Brees
Drew Christopher Brees is a quarterback for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played college football at Purdue....
passing 29 yards down the right sideline for WR Devery Henderson
Devery Henderson
-New Orleans Saints:On November 5, 2006, Devery had his best day as a professional in a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he caught 3 passes for 111 yards and 2 touchdowns. Henderson had 158 receiving yards on 5 catches, including a 76 yard touchdown, against the Atlanta Falcons on November...
, who dived into the endzone for the score. The 1st quarter ended with the Vikings defense forcing the Saints to go 3-and-out, with the subsequent punt beginning the 2nd quarter.
The Vikings began the next drive at their own 11-yard line, before taking 16 plays to go 66 yards and into field goal range. They failed to convert on 3rd down at the New Orleans 23-yard line, giving Ryan Longwell
Ryan Longwell
Ryan Walker Longwell is an American football placekicker for the Minnesota Vikings in the National Football League. After playing college football for the California Golden Bears, he started his professional football career with the San Francisco 49ers, but never played a game for the franchise...
the chance to score a 41-yard field goal. Minnesota forced another 3-and-out on the Saints' next possession, but Bernard Berrian
Bernard Berrian
Bernard Berrian is a free agent American football wide receiver who last played for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Chicago Bears in the third round of the 2004 NFL Draft...
muffed the catch on the punt return, and the Vikings began their next drive at their own 18-yard line. To rub salt in the wound, on the 3rd play of the drive, Brett Favre
Brett Favre
Brett Lorenzo Favre is a former American football quarterback who spent the majority of his career with the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League . He was a 20-year veteran of the NFL, having played quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons , Green Bay Packers , New York Jets and Minnesota...
was hit hard by Roman Harper
Roman Harper
Roman Harper is an American football safety with the New Orleans Saints of the NFL. He was drafted in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Alabama...
and he threw a pass right into the hands of Saints MLB Jonathan Vilma. With less than 90 seconds left in the half, Garrett Hartley
Garrett Hartley
Garrett Hartley is an American football placekicker for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. He was signed by the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2008...
stepped up for a 46-yard field goal attempt, but he hooked the kick wide left of the uprights. Beginning at the 36-yard line with 1:19 left in the half, Favre controlled the clock and picked up a 1st down before throwing consecutive 33-yard and 20-yard passes to TE Visanthe Shiancoe
Visanthe Shiancoe
Visanthe Shiancoe is an American football tight end who currently plays for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League.-High school:...
for the Vikings' first touchdown of the season. Ryan Longwell's extra point attempt was blocked by DT Remi Ayodele
Remi Ayodele
Remilekun "Remi" Ayodele is an American football defensive tackle for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. He was signed by the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2006. He played college football at Oklahoma.Ayodele has also been a member of the Baltimore Ravens,...
, but the Vikings went in at the half with a 2-point lead.
After receiving the ball to start the second half, the Vikings were unable to get past midfield and gave the ball back to the Saints on the New Orleans 26-yard line. In the space of 10 plays, the Saints were up to the Minnesota 1-yard line, from where Pierre Thomas
Pierre Thomas (American football)
Charles Pierre Thomas Jr. is an American football running back for the New Orleans Saints in the National Football League.- Early years :...
was able to jump over the line of scrimmage to restore New Orleans' lead. In the 4th quarter, the Saints had another shot at a field goal, this time from 32 yards, but again Hartley pulled the kick wide of the posts. New Orleans got the ball back with 5:32 left in the game, and ran out the clock to claim a 14–9 win.
Week 2: vs. Miami Dolphins
Week 2 saw the Vikings make their regular season return to Mall of America Field with an interconference matchup against the Miami DolphinsMiami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, who they had not played since Week 11 of the 2006 season
2006 Minnesota Vikings season
2006 was the 46th year of season play for the Minnesota Vikings and the 46th regular season of the National Football League.The 2006 Minnesota Vikings season began with the team trying to improve on their 9–7 record in 2005 which was the last under embattled head coach Mike Tice...
. Yet again, Minnesota conceded the first points of the game – on Miami's first offensive play of the game, Chad Henne
Chad Henne
Chad Steven Henne is an American football quarterback for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League.He graduated from Wilson Senior High School and attended the University of Michigan...
threw a 46-yard pass to Brandon Marshall
Brandon Marshall
-2006:Before the regular season even began, Marshall suffered a slight tear to his PCL in a pre-season game against the Detroit Lions. Although the injury sidelined him for a couple of weeks, he was able to return and play 15 games during the regular season. Marshall had a total of 20 catches, 309...
to get the Dolphins to the Minnesota 27-yard line; eight plays later, they had the ball in the endzone via a 5-yard pass from Henne to WR Brian Hartline
Brian Hartline
Brian Hartline is an American Football wide receiver for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He is the brother of Mike Hartline, a 4th string quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts....
. The 2nd quarter saw Brett Favre
Brett Favre
Brett Lorenzo Favre is a former American football quarterback who spent the majority of his career with the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League . He was a 20-year veteran of the NFL, having played quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons , Green Bay Packers , New York Jets and Minnesota...
throw his second interception of the season – his first of four turnovers during the game. The second came midway through the 3rd quarter, when the 21-year veteran fumbled on a sack into his own endzone; the ball was recovered by Dolphins LB Koa Misi
Koa Misi
-Miami Dolphins:On September 19, 2010—Misi's second career game in the NFL—he recovered a Brett Favre fumble in the endzone for a touchdown giving the Dolphins a 14-0 lead. Misi also had two tackles, helping the Dolphins to go 2-0 on the season.-External links:**...
to give Miami a two-possession lead.
A Minnesota fightback began soon after, but not before Favre threw another interception, picked off by CB Jason Allen at the Miami 2-yard line. However, on Miami's first play after the turnover, RB Ricky Williams
Ricky Williams
Errick Lynne "Ricky" Williams, Jr. is an American football running back for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints fifth overall in the 1999 NFL Draft...
fumbled during a tackle by LB E. J. Henderson
E. J. Henderson
Eric N. "E.J." Henderson is an American football linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Vikings in the second round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He played college football at Maryland....
; Henderson's brother Erin
Erin Henderson
Erin Henderson is an American football linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. He was signed by the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football at Maryland.-Early years:...
recovered the ball and made his way to the 1-yard line, giving the Vikings a 1st-and-goal opportunity. Favre failed to pick out TE Visanthe Shiancoe with the first play of the drive before allowing Adrian Peterson to barge through the line of scrimmage for the touchdown. A 13-play drive at the start of the 4th quarter got the Vikings into the Dolphins' redzone, but staunch defense forced them to settle for a 28-yard field goal.
With just under six minutes left in the game, Minnesota DT Pat Williams forced another Miami fumble, recovered by E. J. Henderson 24 yards from the Miami endzone. A succession of rushing attempts from Adrian Peterson followed, getting the Vikings to within a yard of a go-ahead touchdown, but LB Karlos Dansby
Karlos Dansby
Karlos Montez Dansby is an American football linebacker for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the second round of the 2004 NFL Draft...
stopped him short of the line on 4th-and-goal. The Vikings had one more attempt to steal the win inside the final two minutes, but Favre's attempted pass to Shiancoe on 4th-and-6 from the Dolphins' 27 fell incomplete, allowing Henne to run the game out with a kneeldown, condemning the Vikings to two defeats in two.
Week 3: vs. Detroit Lions
The Vikings stayed at home for their Week 3 encounter with their divisional rivals, the Detroit LionsDetroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
. Both teams went into the game with 0–2 records, hoping to move away from the bottom of the division standings. Deep into the 1st quarter, Vikings QB Brett Favre continued his interception-throwing form, as he was picked off by Lions DT Corey Williams
Corey Williams (American football)
Corey Williams is an American football defensive tackle for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the sixth round of the 2004 NFL draft...
while attempting to throw a short pass to RB Toby Gerhart
Toby Gerhart
Toby Gerhart is a professional football player, a running back for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. He was a consensus All-American running back at Stanford and was selected in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft, the 51st overall pick. In 2009 Gerhart won the Doak Walker...
. Williams set off on a run, but Gerhart recovered to bring him down at the Minnesota 12-yard line. Three short plays later, Detroit had the ball in the end zone, QB Shaun Hill
Shaun Hill
Shaun Hill is an American football quarterback for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He was signed by the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2002...
finishing off the drive with a 5-yard pass to TE Tony Scheffler
Tony Scheffler
-Denver Broncos:Scheffler was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft. After seeing limited playing time early in the season, Scheffler saw increased playing time and production after Jay Cutler was inserted as the Broncos starting quarterback on December 3, 2006,...
. The Vikings were forced to punt the ball away on their first drive after the touchdown, but Detroit PR Stefan Logan
Stefan Logan
Stefan Logan is a wide receiver, running back and return specialist for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He was signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2007...
fumbled while attempting to catch the ball, which was recovered by Vikings LB Chad Greenway
Chad Greenway
Chad Greenway is an American football player who plays linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. He played college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes from 2002 to 2005....
24 yards from the Detroit goal line. With the first play of the drive, Favre threw a 24-yard pass to WR Percy Harvin
Percy Harvin
William Percival "Percy" Harvin, III is an American football wide receiver, return specialist, and running back for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League...
, who made a diving catch for the game-tying touchdown. Detroit's next drive resulted in a missed field goal, allowing the Vikings to go 66 yards back down the field for a touchdown, finished off by a 6-yard run from Adrian Peterson. With a minute left in the first half, Favre was picked off yet again, as his throwing arm was hit by Lions DE Cliff Avril
Cliff Avril
Clifford Samuel Avril is a defensive end for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Lions in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Purdue.-Early years:...
, giving Alphonso Smith
Alphonso Smith
Alphonso Smith, Jr. is a professional football cornerback for the Detroit Lions. Smith played college football at Wake Forest...
a simple interception. The Lions drove 36 yards into the Minnesota half, and Jason Hanson
Jason Hanson
Jason Douglas Hanson is an American football placekicker for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League, where he has spent his entire 20 year career. He was drafted by the Lions in the second round of the 1992 NFL Draft...
ended the 2nd quarter with a field goal from 33 yards.
Minnesota began the second half with the ball and took 10 plays to get into the Detroit red zone; however, the Detroit defense stood firm and the Vikings were limited to a 31-yard field goal from Ryan Longwell. The Lions managed to get back into the Minnesota half on their next possession, but they went 3-and-out on the Minnesota 41-yard line before punting into the end zone for a touchback
Touchback
In American football, a touchback is a ruling which is made and signaled by an official when the ball becomes dead behind or above a goal line and the team who is attacking that goal line is responsible for the ball being there. Responsibility is determined by which team gave the ball the impetus...
. On the very next play, Vikings HB Adrian Peterson broke a career-long 80-yard run for a touchdown to put Minnesota 24–10 up. On Detroit's next possession, a sack on 3rd-and-20 by Vikings DE Brian Robison
Brian Robison
Brian Gale Robison is an American football defensive end for the Minnesota Vikings. He played college football for the Texas Longhorns...
on QB Shaun Hill sparked a mass brawl between the two teams. As the defense made their way off the field, Brett Favre was seen giving them vigorous verbal encouragement. Midway through the 4th quarter, Minnesota RB Toby Gerhart fumbled the ball in a tackle, and it was recovered by Detroit FS Louis Delmas
Louis Delmas
Louis Delmas is an American Football safety that plays for the Detroit Lions.-Early life and high school career:Delmas played high school football at North Miami Beach High School in North Miami Beach, Florida....
. The Lions then drove back down the field from their own 22-yard line to within 4 yards of the Minnesota end zone in just under 5 minutes. However, on 1st-and-goal, Vikings LB Ben Leber
Ben Leber
Ben Leber is an American football linebacker for the St. Louis Rams of the National Football League. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft...
intercepted Shaun Hill's attempted pass to RB Maurice Morris
Maurice Morris
Maurice Autora Morris is an American football running back for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the second round of the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football at Oregon.-Early life:Morris attended Chester High School in Chester, South...
inside the end zone before returning it to the Minnesota 18-yard line. The Vikings failed in their attempt to run the clock down to the two-minute warning and had to punt the ball away, giving the Lions one final chance to reduce their deficit. Beginning the drive at their own 38-yard line, they got to the Minnesota 10-yard line within seven plays, but CB Antoine Winfield
Antoine Winfield
Antoine Winfield is an American football cornerback in the NFL. He played college football at The Ohio State University, winning the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation's top defensive back in 1998. Winfield was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the first round of the 1999 NFL Draft. Since 2004, he...
intercepted Hill's attempt at another touchdown pass to Tony Scheffler inside the endzone for a touchback with only a minute to go. Brett Favre knelt the ball down to run out the clock and the Vikings picked up their first win of the regular season.
Week 4: ByeBye (sports)A bye, in sports and other competitive activities, most commonly refers to the practice of allowing a player or team to advance to the next round of a playoff tournament without playing...
week
The Vikings took their 2010 bye week in Week 4 of the season – their earliest bye week since the 2004 season2004 Minnesota Vikings season
2004 was the 44th year of season play for the Minnesota Vikings and the 85th regular season of the National Football League.The Vikings finished the 2004 season going 3-7 over the final 10 weeks just like they did in 2003. However, they made the playoffs with an 8-8 record...
. There were mixed results for their divisional rivals, with the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
beating the Detroit Lions by 2 points, while the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
were beaten 17–3 by the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
In the days leading to their Week 5 game, the Vikings pulled off a dramatic trade, acquiring receiver Randy Moss
Randy Moss
Randy Gene Moss is a former American football wide receiver. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 1998 NFL Draft...
from the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
. The move reunited Moss with the team that drafted him in 1998 and came after Moss caught 50 touchdowns with New England, including a one-handed touchdown catch against the Jets four weeks earlier.
Week 5: at New York Jets
Coming off their bye week, the Vikings flew to New Meadowlands StadiumNew Meadowlands Stadium
MetLife Stadium is a stadium in the New York City Metropolitan Area, part of the MetLife Sports Complex, in East Rutherford, New Jersey. It is the home of the New York Giants and New York Jets of the National Football League and is adjacent to the site of the former Giants Stadium, which was home...
for a Week 5 interconference duel with the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
on Monday night. Minnesota trailed early in the first quarter as Jets kicker Nick Folk
Nick Folk
Nicholas "Nick" Alexander Folk is an American football kicker who currently plays for the New York Jets of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the sixth round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
got a 25-yard field goal. The Vikings' deficit increased in the second quarter as Folk made a 53-yard and a 22-yard field goal.
Minnesota's frustrations continued in the third quarter as Folk got a 34-yard field goal. The Vikings would respond as quarterback Brett Favre
Brett Favre
Brett Lorenzo Favre is a former American football quarterback who spent the majority of his career with the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League . He was a 20-year veteran of the NFL, having played quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons , Green Bay Packers , New York Jets and Minnesota...
threw his 500th career touchdown pass by finding wide receiver Randy Moss
Randy Moss
Randy Gene Moss is a former American football wide receiver. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 1998 NFL Draft...
on a 37-yard touchdown pass, but New York answered with Folk's 31-yard field goal. After the delay at the end of the third quarter due to adverse weather conditions the Vikings would strike back in the fourth quarter as Favre found wide receiver Percy Harvin
Percy Harvin
William Percival "Percy" Harvin, III is an American football wide receiver, return specialist, and running back for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League...
on a 34-yard touchdown pass (with a failed 2-point conversion), but the Jets replied with a 23-yard touchdown run from running back Shonn Greene
Shonn Greene
-New York Jets:On April 26, 2009 the New York Jets traded up 12 spots to select Greene in the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft. On August 30 Greene made an appearance in the Jets preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens. He rushed twice for six yards as well as catching an 85-yard pass...
. Minnesota tried to rally as Favre found Harvin again on an 11-yard touchdown pass, but New York would put the game away as cornerback Dwight Lowery
Dwight Lowery
-2008:Impressed with Lowery's versatility and ball skills, the New York Jets would draft him in the fourth round of the 2008 NFL Draft as a cornerback/safety. An injury to cornerback Justin Miller would see Lowery debut in his first NFL game against the Miami Dolphins; Lowery performed modestly...
returned an interception 26 yards for a touchdown.
Week 6: vs. Dallas Cowboys
Hoping to rebound from their road loss to the Jets and save their season, the Vikings went home for a Week 6 duel with the Dallas CowboysDallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
, in a rematch of last year's Divisional Playoff game, won 34–3 by the Vikings. Minnesota trailed in the first quarter as Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo
Tony Romo
Antonio Ramiro "Tony" Romo is a professional American football quarterback in the NFL for the Dallas Cowboys. Romo's career passer rating - at 95.8 - ranks third-best all time. Tony Romo didn't play in the regular season in 2003, 2004, or 2005...
completed a 15-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Roy Williams
Roy Williams (wide receiver)
Roy Eugene Williams, Jr. is an American football wide receiver who is currently a member of the Chicago Bears. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions seventh overall in the 2004 NFL Draft...
. The Vikings answered with quarterback Brett Favre
Brett Favre
Brett Lorenzo Favre is a former American football quarterback who spent the majority of his career with the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League . He was a 20-year veteran of the NFL, having played quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons , Green Bay Packers , New York Jets and Minnesota...
finding wide receiver Greg Camarillo
Greg Camarillo
Greg Camarillo is an American football wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League.He played college football at Stanford. He was signed by the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2005....
on a 10-yard touchdown pass. Dallas struck back in the second quarter as Romo found Williams again on a 2-yard touchdown pass.
Minnesota took the lead in the third quarter as wide receiver Percy Harvin
Percy Harvin
William Percival "Percy" Harvin, III is an American football wide receiver, return specialist, and running back for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League...
returned the half's opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown, followed by a 1-yard touchdown run from running back Adrian Peterson. The Cowboys tied the game in the fourth quarter as Romo threw a 31-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Dez Bryant
Dez Bryant
- 2010 - Rookie Season :Bryant was signed by the Cowboys to a contract very similar to that of Vikings wide receiver Percy Harvin on July 22, 2010. On July 23, 2010, it was announced that Bryant will wear number 88, the same as Hall of Famer Michael Irvin, and Cowboys legend Drew Pearson...
. Afterwards, the Vikings closed out the game as kicker Ryan Longwell
Ryan Longwell
Ryan Walker Longwell is an American football placekicker for the Minnesota Vikings in the National Football League. After playing college football for the California Golden Bears, he started his professional football career with the San Francisco 49ers, but never played a game for the franchise...
booted a 38-yard field goal.
Week 7: at Green Bay Packers
Coming off their home win over the Cowboys, the Vikings flew to Lambeau FieldLambeau Field
Lambeau Field is an outdoor football stadium in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the home of the NFL's Green Bay Packers. Opened in 1957 as City Stadium, it replaced the original City Stadium as the Packers' home field...
for a Week 7 NFC North Sunday night duel with the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
, as quarterback Brett Favre
Brett Favre
Brett Lorenzo Favre is a former American football quarterback who spent the majority of his career with the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League . He was a 20-year veteran of the NFL, having played quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons , Green Bay Packers , New York Jets and Minnesota...
made his return to take on his former team, in their first meeting on NBC's Sunday Night Football. Minnesota trailed early in the first quarter as Packers running back Brandon Jackson got a 1-yard touchdown run. Afterwards, the Vikings responded as wide receiver Percy Harvin
Percy Harvin
William Percival "Percy" Harvin, III is an American football wide receiver, return specialist, and running back for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League...
got a 17-yard touchdown run. Green Bay struck back in the second quarter as quarterback Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Charles Rodgers is an American football quarterback for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League . Rodgers was selected in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft by the Packers...
completed a 9-yard touchdown pass to tight end Andrew Quarless
Andrew Quarless
Andrew Christopher Quarless is an American football player for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League. He played college football at Penn State under Joe Paterno...
, yet Minnesota took the lead with running back Adrian Peterson getting a 1-yard touchdown run, followed by kicker Ryan Longwell
Ryan Longwell
Ryan Walker Longwell is an American football placekicker for the Minnesota Vikings in the National Football League. After playing college football for the California Golden Bears, he started his professional football career with the San Francisco 49ers, but never played a game for the franchise...
booting a 28-yard field goal.
The Packers began the third quarter with Rodgers completing a 14-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Greg Jennings
Greg Jennings
Gregory Jennings, Jr. is a professional American football wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League...
, followed by linebacker Desmond Bishop
Desmond Bishop
Desmond Lamont Bishop is an American football linebacker for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Packers in the sixth round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at California....
returning a Favre interception 32 yards for a touchdown. The Vikings would answer with Favre finding wide receiver Randy Moss
Randy Moss
Randy Gene Moss is a former American football wide receiver. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 1998 NFL Draft...
on a 4-yard touchdown pass. Minnesota tried to rally in the fourth quarter with an apparent 30-yard touchdown pass from Favre to Harvin with 48 seconds left which would have been the game winner, but Harvin had apparently only one foot in bounds, nullifying the touchdown. Favre tried two more times to get into the end zone, but Green Bay's defense held for the win.
Week 8: at New England Patriots
The Vikings made their first trip to Gillette StadiumGillette Stadium
Gillette Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium located in Foxborough, Massachusetts, 21 miles southwest of downtown Boston and from downtown Providence, Rhode Island. It serves as the home stadium and administrative offices for the New England Patriots football team and the New England Revolution...
since 2002 and the game marks the return of Randy Moss
Randy Moss
Randy Gene Moss is a former American football wide receiver. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 1998 NFL Draft...
to Foxboro following an early-October trade from the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
.
In the second quarter, the Vikings took the lead after RB Adrian Peterson got a 1-yard TD run. The Patriots replied with RB Danny Woodhead
Danny Woodhead
Danny Woodhead is an American football running back for the New England Patriots of the National Football League . He was signed by the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football at Chadron State....
getting a 3-yard TD run. The Vikings got the lead back in the third quarter with kicker Ryan Longwell
Ryan Longwell
Ryan Walker Longwell is an American football placekicker for the Minnesota Vikings in the National Football League. After playing college football for the California Golden Bears, he started his professional football career with the San Francisco 49ers, but never played a game for the franchise...
nailing a 24-yard field goal. They fell behind with QB Tom Brady
Tom Brady
Thomas Edward Patrick "Tom" Brady, Jr. is an American football quarterback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League . After playing college football at Michigan, Brady was drafted by the Patriots in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft.He has played in four Super Bowls,...
completing a 65-yard TD pass to WR Brandon Tate
Brandon Tate
-2009 season:Tate was drafted by the Patriots in the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft. On July 16, he was signed to a four-year contract with a $755,000 signing bonus. He began the 2009 season on the non-football injury list, still recovering from his knee injury from the prior season. He was...
, and when RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis
BenJarvus Green-Ellis
BenJarvus Jeremy Green-Ellis is an American football running back for the New England Patriots of the National Football League . He was signed by the Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2008. After playing college football his freshman and sophomore seasons at Indiana University, Green-Ellis...
made a 13-yard TD run. They tried to come back in the 4th quarter after QB Tarvaris Jackson
Tarvaris Jackson
Tarvaris DeAndre Jackson is an American football quarterback who is currently a member of the Seattle Seahawks. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
completed a 1-yard TD pass to FB Naufahu Tahi
Naufahu Tahi
Naufahu Anitoni Tahi is an American football fullback who is currently a free agent of the National Football League. He was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 2006. He played college football at BYU...
(with a successful 2-point conversion as Jackson passed to WR Percy Harvin
Percy Harvin
William Percival "Percy" Harvin, III is an American football wide receiver, return specialist, and running back for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League...
) but couldn't do anything after Green-Ellis got a 2-yard TD run.
Week 9: vs. Arizona Cardinals
The Vikings came into Week 9 in desperation mode as they went against the 3–4 Cardinals, whom they lost the previous December in the desert. The Vikings came into the game wearing their purple pants and played the Cardinals in what was arguably a desperation game not only for the season, but head coach Brad Childress' job. His job had become more scrutinized after he acted alone to cut WR Randy Moss, which drew a bunch of boos and jeers at Childress. However, the action did not start until the 2nd quarter, when the Vikings drove down the field and had a 2nd and goal. Favre threw to Peterson behind the line, but Peterson dodged a few players and got into the end zone, which made the game 7–0 in the 2nd quarter. The very next play, when the Vikings kicked off, Stephens-Howling returned a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown which tied the game. After that, the Vikings responded with kicker Ryan LongwellRyan Longwell
Ryan Walker Longwell is an American football placekicker for the Minnesota Vikings in the National Football League. After playing college football for the California Golden Bears, he started his professional football career with the San Francisco 49ers, but never played a game for the franchise...
nailing a 21-yard field goal. They fell behind with QB Derek Anderson
Derek Anderson (American football)
Derek Matthew Anderson is an American football quarterback for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
completing a 30-yard TD pass to WR Andre Roberts to close out the first half. This was followed by DB Michael Adams
Michael Adams (American football)
Michael Wayne Adams is an American football cornerback for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League. He was signed by the Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football at Louisiana-Lafayette.-External links:*...
returning a Percy Harvin kickoff fumble 30 yards for a touchdown, and with kicker Jay Feely
Jay Feely
Thomas James "Jay" Feely is an American football placekicker for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League. Jay played for the Temple Terrace Spirit Soccer team that won the National Championships when he was 16....
making a 22-yard field goal. The lead was closed down by Peterson as he got a 4-yard TD run, and by QB Brett Favre
Brett Favre
Brett Lorenzo Favre is a former American football quarterback who spent the majority of his career with the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League . He was a 20-year veteran of the NFL, having played quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons , Green Bay Packers , New York Jets and Minnesota...
's 25-yard TD pass to TE Visanthe Shiancoe
Visanthe Shiancoe
Visanthe Shiancoe is an American football tight end who currently plays for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League.-High school:...
. In overtime the decision was made when Longwell successfully made a 35-yard field goal to give the Vikings the win, bringing their record up to 3–5 and temporarily saving their quarterback's and head coach's jobs.
Week 10: at Chicago Bears
Coming off their win over the Cardinals the Vikings flew to Soldier FieldSoldier Field
Soldier Field is located on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, Illinois, United States, in the Near South Side. It is home to the NFL's Chicago Bears...
for an NFC North rivalry match against the Bears. In the first quarter the Vikings took the lead after kicker Ryan Longwell
Ryan Longwell
Ryan Walker Longwell is an American football placekicker for the Minnesota Vikings in the National Football League. After playing college football for the California Golden Bears, he started his professional football career with the San Francisco 49ers, but never played a game for the franchise...
hit a 36-yard field goal. They fell behind in the second quarter when QB Jay Cutler
Jay Cutler (American football)
Jay Christopher Cutler is a quarterback for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He played football at Vanderbilt University. Cutler began his professional football career with the Denver Broncos, who selected him as the 11th overall pick of the 2006 NFL Draft...
threw a 17-yard TD pass to TE Greg Olsen
Greg Olsen (American football)
Gregory Olsen is an American football tight end for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
. They got the lead back after QB Brett Favre
Brett Favre
Brett Lorenzo Favre is a former American football quarterback who spent the majority of his career with the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League . He was a 20-year veteran of the NFL, having played quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons , Green Bay Packers , New York Jets and Minnesota...
completed a 53-yard TD pass to WR Percy Harvin
Percy Harvin
William Percival "Percy" Harvin, III is an American football wide receiver, return specialist, and running back for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League...
. They trailed again when Cutler got a 19-yard TD pass to WR Devin Hester
Devin Hester
Devin Hester is an American football wide receiver and return specialist for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League . He played college football at the University of Miami, where he became the first person in the university’s recent history to play in all three phases of American football...
. The Bears extended their lead in the third quarter after kicker Robbie Gould
Robbie Gould
Robert Paul "Robbie" Gould III is an American football placekicker for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2005. He played college football at Penn State...
nailed a 34-yard field goal. The Vikings replied with Longwell making a 33-yard field goal, but fell further behind with Gould hitting a 37-yard field goal, and in the 4th quarter with Cutler making a 19-yard TD pass to TE Kellen Davis
Kellen Davis
Kellen Davis is an American football tight end for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Bears in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Michigan State...
.
Week 11: vs. Green Bay Packers
Hoping to rebound from their loss to the Bears the Vikings played on home ground for an NFC North rivalry match against the Packers. In the 1st quarter the Vikings took the lead as kicker Ryan LongwellRyan Longwell
Ryan Walker Longwell is an American football placekicker for the Minnesota Vikings in the National Football League. After playing college football for the California Golden Bears, he started his professional football career with the San Francisco 49ers, but never played a game for the franchise...
hit a 24-yard field goal. They fell behind from the second quarter onwards as the Packers rallied with kicker Mason Crosby
Mason Crosby
Mason Walker Crosby , is a professional American football placekicker for the Green Bay Packers in the National Football League. During his playing days at the University of Colorado, Crosby was widely considered the best kicker in college football, as evidenced by ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr.'s...
making a 42-yard field goal, followed by QB Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Charles Rodgers is an American football quarterback for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League . Rodgers was selected in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft by the Packers...
completing an 11-yard TD pass to WR Greg Jennings
Greg Jennings
Gregory Jennings, Jr. is a professional American football wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League...
, followed by his 3-yard TD pass to WR James Jones
James Jones (wide receiver)
James Deandre Jones is an American football wide receiver with the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Packers in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
. In the second half Rodgers connected with Jennings again on a 46 and then a 22-yard TD pass in the fourth quarter to finish off the Vikings.
The following day Brad Childress
Brad Childress
Brad "Chilly" Childress is the former head coach of the Minnesota Vikings. He attended high school at the Marmion Academy in Aurora, Illinois...
was fired as Head Coach and Leslie Frazier
Leslie Frazier
Leslie Antonio Frazier is a former cornerback/safety in the National Football League for the Chicago Bears and is currently the head coach for the Minnesota Vikings.-College career:...
was named Interim Head Coach.
Week 12: at Washington Redskins
The Vikings' eleventh game was an NFC duel with the Redskins at FedExFieldFedExField
FedExField is a football stadium located in an unincorporated area near the Capital Beltway in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States, near the site of the old Capital Centre . FedExField is the home of the Washington Redskins football team...
. In the 1st quarter the Vikings trailed early as QB Donovan McNabb
Donovan McNabb
Donovan Jamal McNabb is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was the Philadelphia Eagles' quarterback from 1999 to 2009 and spent the 2010 season with the Washington Redskins and a portion of the 2011 season with the Minnesota Vikings. In college, McNabb played...
completed a 10-yard TD pass to TE Fred Davis
Fred Davis (tight end)
Fred Davis is an American football tight end currently playing for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Redskins in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Southern California.-Early years:Davis prepped at Rogers High School...
. They replied as RB Adrian Peterson got a 5-yard TD run. The Vikings pulled ahead with RB Toby Gerhart
Toby Gerhart
Toby Gerhart is a professional football player, a running back for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. He was a consensus All-American running back at Stanford and was selected in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft, the 51st overall pick. In 2009 Gerhart won the Doak Walker...
getting a 5-yard TD run, followed by kicker Ryan Longwell
Ryan Longwell
Ryan Walker Longwell is an American football placekicker for the Minnesota Vikings in the National Football League. After playing college football for the California Golden Bears, he started his professional football career with the San Francisco 49ers, but never played a game for the franchise...
nailing a 31-yard field goal. The Redskins tried to come back, but only came away with 40-yard and a 42-yard field goals from kicker Graham Gano
Graham Gano
Graham Gano is an American football placekicker for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. He was signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He played college football at Florida State...
, giving the Vikings the win.
Week 13: vs. Buffalo Bills
The Vikings' twelfth game was an interconference duel with the Bills inside their dome and the first home game for interim head coach Leslie Frazier. On their first series, QB Brett Favre attempted a pass, but he was hit from behind and was intercepted by Bills CB Drayton Florence. Favre was slow to get up afterwards and he was able to walk off the field on his own power, but did not return to the game, citing a shoulder injury (later revealed to be a sprain in his throwing shoulder). In his place, backup QB Tarvaris Jackson took over for the rest of the game. They got off to a bad start after Jackson's pass was intercepted by CB Drayton FlorenceDrayton Florence
Drayton Florence, Jr. is an American football cornerback for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the second round of the 2003 NFL Draft...
and returned 40 yards for a touchdown. They overcame this deficit with Jackson getting a 31-yard TD pass to WR Sidney Rice
Sidney Rice
-Minnesota Vikings :Rice was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings. He signed a four year contract with the Vikings in 2007....
. It was originally ruled an interception, but Frazier challenged the play and the officials sided with the Vikings, saying that Rice had two hands on the ball, resulting in a touchdown. It was followed in the second quarter by RB Adrian Peterson getting a 2-yard and a 3-yard TD run. Then Jackson found Rice again on a 6-yard TD pass, followed by kicker Ryan Longwell
Ryan Longwell
Ryan Walker Longwell is an American football placekicker for the Minnesota Vikings in the National Football League. After playing college football for the California Golden Bears, he started his professional football career with the San Francisco 49ers, but never played a game for the franchise...
nailing a 38-yard field goal. They continued to dominate in the fourth quarter when Peterson ran 43 yards to the end zone for a touchdown. The Bills responded with QB Ryan Fitzpatrick
Ryan Fitzpatrick
Ryan Joseph Fitzpatrick is an American football quarterback for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. He was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played college football at Harvard....
getting a 12-yard TD pass to TE David Martin
David Martin (American football)
David Earl Martin is an American football tight end who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the sixth round of the 2001 NFL Draft...
. However, the Bills were unable to overcome such a large deficit and couldn't come up with another come-from-behind victory.
Week 14: vs. New York Giants
Originally scheduled for 12:00 p.m. CST on Sunday, December 12, this game was moved to Monday night after severe blizzard conditions in the Minneapolis – Saint Paul area that forced the Giants to spend the night in Kansas CityKansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
after their flight was diverted, while the operators of the Metrodome asked for more time to clear all the snow from the stadium's bubbled roof. The roof later collapsed, forcing the NFL to use Ford Field
Ford Field
Ford Field is an indoor American football stadium located in Detroit, Michigan, USA, that is the current home field of the NFL's Detroit Lions. It is owned by the Detroit/Wayne County Stadium Authority. It regularly seats 65,000, though it is expandable up to 70,000 for football and 80,000 for...
in Detroit as an alternate site. Despite the one day delay, Brett Favre was listed as inactive for the game due to his shoulder injury. With the loss, the Vikings dropped to 5–8, and were mathematically eliminated from postseason contention.
Week 15: vs. Chicago Bears
The Vikings' 14th game was a division rivalry rematch against the Bears at TCF Bank StadiumTCF Bank Stadium
TCF Bank Stadium, sometimes referred to as either "The Bank" or "The Gopher Hole," is the football stadium for the Minnesota Golden Gophers college football team at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota...
which was played on Monday Night. In the first quarter the Vikings took the lead with QB Brett Favre
Brett Favre
Brett Lorenzo Favre is a former American football quarterback who spent the majority of his career with the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League . He was a 20-year veteran of the NFL, having played quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons , Green Bay Packers , New York Jets and Minnesota...
throwing a 23-yard TD pass to WR Percy Harvin
Percy Harvin
William Percival "Percy" Harvin, III is an American football wide receiver, return specialist, and running back for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League...
. However, they failed to maintain this lead after kickier Robbie Gould
Robbie Gould
Robert Paul "Robbie" Gould III is an American football placekicker for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2005. He played college football at Penn State...
made a 29-yard field goal, followed by QB Jay Cutler
Jay Cutler (American football)
Jay Christopher Cutler is a quarterback for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He played football at Vanderbilt University. Cutler began his professional football career with the Denver Broncos, who selected him as the 11th overall pick of the 2006 NFL Draft...
completing a 67 and a 15-yard TD pass to wide receivers Johnny Knox
Johnny Knox
Johnny Knox is an American football wide receiver for the Chicago Bears. He was selected by the Bears as the 140th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, through a they acquired in the Kyle Orton-Jay Cutler trade....
and Devin Hester
Devin Hester
Devin Hester is an American football wide receiver and return specialist for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League . He played college football at the University of Miami, where he became the first person in the university’s recent history to play in all three phases of American football...
respectively, then with Gould nailing a 23-yard field goal. The Vikings caused more problems after a three-and-out converted into a 64-yard punt return for a touchdown by Hester. They tried to break the lead with QB Joe Webb
Joe Webb
Joseph "Joe" Webb, Jr. is an American football quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. In college he played for the UAB Blazers. He was selected by the Vikings in the sixth round, number 199 overall, of the 2010 NFL Draft.-Early years:Born to Joseph and Wanda Webb,...
scrambling 13 yards for a touchdown, but they continued to struggle after Cutler got a 9-yard TD pass to WR Rashied Davis
Rashied Davis
Rashied Khalid Davis is an American football wide receiver for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the San Jose SaberCats of the Arena Football League as an undrafted free agent in 2002. He played college football at San José State...
, followed by Gould hitting a 34 and a 20-yard field goal.
Week 16: at Philadelphia Eagles
The December 2010 North American blizzardDecember 2010 North American blizzard
The December 2010 North American blizzard was a major nor'easter and historic blizzard affecting the United States from portions of northern Florida to Maine and portions of Canada on December 26–27, 2010. It was the first significant winter storm of the 2010-11 winter season and the fourth North...
postponed the game until Tuesday, December 28, 2010 at 8:00 p.m. The NFL postponed the game shortly after noon, even before there was any snow accmuluation in Philadelphia, after Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter declared a snow emergency for the city. This was the 20th NFL game and the first to be played on a Tuesday since . This was also the first Tuesday game in Vikings franchise history.
Trying to snap a two-game losing streak, the Vikings flew to Lincoln Financial Field
Lincoln Financial Field
Lincoln Financial Field is the home stadium of the National Football League's Philadelphia Eagles. It has a seating capacity of 68,532 . It is located in South Philadelphia on Pattison Avenue between 11th and 10th streets, also aside I-95 as part of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex...
for a Week 16 intraconference duel with the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
on Tuesday night. Minnesota trailed in the first quarter as Eagles quarterback Michael Vick
Michael Vick
Michael Dwayne Vick is an American football quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League...
completed a 3-yard touchdown pass to tight end Clay Harbor
Clay Harbor
Clay Harbor is an American football tight end for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League . He was drafted by the Eagles in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He played college football at Missouri State....
. The Vikings answered in the second quarter with cornerback Antoine Winfield
Antoine Winfield
Antoine Winfield is an American football cornerback in the NFL. He played college football at The Ohio State University, winning the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation's top defensive back in 1998. Winfield was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the first round of the 1999 NFL Draft. Since 2004, he...
returning a fumble 45 yards for a touchdown.
Minnesota took the lead in the third quarter with a 30-yard field goal from kicker Ryan Longwell
Ryan Longwell
Ryan Walker Longwell is an American football placekicker for the Minnesota Vikings in the National Football League. After playing college football for the California Golden Bears, he started his professional football career with the San Francisco 49ers, but never played a game for the franchise...
, followed by a 9-yard touchdown run from rookie quarterback Joe Webb
Joe Webb
Joseph "Joe" Webb, Jr. is an American football quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. In college he played for the UAB Blazers. He was selected by the Vikings in the sixth round, number 199 overall, of the 2010 NFL Draft.-Early years:Born to Joseph and Wanda Webb,...
. Philadelphia struck back with Vick getting a 10-yard touchdown run which cut the lead to a field goal, but the Vikings came right back with a 1-yard touchdown run from running back Adrian Peterson.
Week 17: at Detroit Lions
The Vikings' final game was a division rivalry rematch against the Lions. In the second quarter the Vikings trailed early as kicker Dave RaynerDave Rayner
David Michael "Dave" Rayner is an American football placekicker who currently plays for the Buffalo Bills. He was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
nailed a 55-yard field goal, followed by QB Shaun Hill
Shaun Hill
Shaun Hill is an American football quarterback for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He was signed by the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2002...
completing a 7-yard TD pass to WR Nate Burleson
Nate Burleson
Nathaniel Burleson is an American football player, who currently plays wide receiver for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League . Burleson played college football for the University of Nevada Wolf Pack, and was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the third round of the 2003 NFL...
, followed by Rayner making a 37-yard field goal. The Vikings got on the board too as an interception was returned 36 yards for a touchdown by DE Jared Allen
Jared Allen
-Kansas City Chiefs:Allen was drafted by the Chiefs in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft, and signed for a one-year, $100,000 contract. On May 21, 2007, Allen, as a restricted free agent, signed the Chiefs' one-year tender offer of $2.35 million for the 2007 season. Allen credited his early...
. This was followed by kicker Ryan Longwell
Ryan Longwell
Ryan Walker Longwell is an American football placekicker for the Minnesota Vikings in the National Football League. After playing college football for the California Golden Bears, he started his professional football career with the San Francisco 49ers, but never played a game for the franchise...
hitting a 27-yard field goal. Detroit extended their lead with RB Maurice Morris
Maurice Morris
Maurice Autora Morris is an American football running back for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the second round of the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football at Oregon.-Early life:Morris attended Chester High School in Chester, South...
getting a 5-yard TD run. The Vikings tried to come back, but only came away with a 48-yard field goal from Longwell, giving the Vikings a loss and thus closing out the season on a 6–10 record.
Pro Bowl
After Minnesota's disappointing season, only one Vikings player was selected to play in the 2011 Pro Bowl2011 Pro Bowl
The 2011 AFC–NFC Pro Bowl was the NFL's all-star game for the 2010 season. It took place at 7:00 p.m. EST on Sunday, January 30, 2011 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii...
: RB Adrian Peterson. He missed out on the NFC's starting lineup to the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
' Michael Turner, and was joined on the bench by the St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
' Steven Jackson
Steven Jackson
Steven Rashad Jackson is an American football running back for the St. Louis Rams of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Rams 24th overall in the 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football at Oregon State University....
. Peterson received the most fan votes out of all running backs in the NFL (948,410), and the sixth most out of all players, behind five quarterbacks.
After the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
' rookie defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh
Ndamukong Suh
Ndamukong Suh is an American football defensive tackle for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Lions 2nd overall in the 2010 NFL Draft. He played college football at Nebraska....
went for surgery on an injured shoulder, Kevin Williams was called up as an alternate. However, due to the imminent arrival of a new baby to him and his wife, Williams himself withdrew from the roster on January 22; he was replaced by the Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
' DT Darnell Dockett
Darnell Dockett
Darnell Maurice Dockett is an American football defensive end who currently plays for the Arizona Cardinals of the NFL. Arizona picked him in the 3rd round of the 2004 NFL Draft...
. Two days later, CB Antoine Winfield
Antoine Winfield
Antoine Winfield is an American football cornerback in the NFL. He played college football at The Ohio State University, winning the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation's top defensive back in 1998. Winfield was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the first round of the 1999 NFL Draft. Since 2004, he...
was added to the NFC Pro Bowl roster to replace the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
' Charles Woodson
Charles Woodson
Charles C. Woodson is an American football cornerback for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League . He played college football at the University of Michigan for the Michigan Wolverines. In 1997, Woodson led the Wolverines to a national championship...
and Tramon Williams
Tramon Williams
Tramon Vernell Williams is an American football cornerback for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League...
, both of whom withdrew due to their participation in Super Bowl XLV
Super Bowl XLV
Super Bowl XLV was an American football game between the American Football Conference champion Pittsburgh Steelers and the National Football Conference champion Green Bay Packers to decide the National Football League champion for the 2010 season. The game was held at Cowboys Stadium in...
. The final Viking to be added to the NFC roster was LB E. J. Henderson
E. J. Henderson
Eric N. "E.J." Henderson is an American football linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Vikings in the second round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He played college football at Maryland....
, who received his first career Pro Bowl selection. Coming in as injury cover for San Francisco
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
's Patrick Willis
Patrick Willis
Patrick L. Willis is an American football player who plays inside linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League. He was selected by the San Francisco 49ers 11th overall in the 2007 NFL Draft...
and Chicago
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
's Brian Urlacher
Brian Urlacher
Brian Keith Urlacher is an American football player for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League . He attended the University of New Mexico, where he was one of the school's most decorated athletes. In addition to setting multiple university records, Urlacher earned consideration for the...
, Henderson travelled to Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
, but did not take the field.