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1982 Minnesota Vikings season
1982 Minnesota Vikings season
General manager	Mike Lynn
Head coach	Bud Grant
Home field	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
Results
Record	5–4
Division place	4th NFC (2nd NFC Central)
Playoff finish	Won Wild Card Playoffs; (vs. Falcons) 30–24; Lost Divisional Playoffs; (at Redskins) 7–21
Pro Bowlers	LB Matt Blair
Uniform
	← 1981; Vikings seasons; 1983 →;

The 1982 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 22nd season in the National Football League (NFL) and their first in the newly constructed Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. The team was looking to improve on its 7–9 record from 1981. However, a players strike meant seven of the team's 16 games were canceled, and each NFL team was only able to play nine games. The Vikings won their opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before losing the next week to the Buffalo Bills, a game in which they had a 19–0 lead before the Bills pulled off a comeback to win 23–22.

After the strike ended, the Vikings lost 26–7 to the Packers in Green Bay before beating the Bears 35–7 the following week to sit at 2–2. After a loss to the Dolphins, the Vikings won their next two games to sit at 4–3. In their final game of the season, they upset the Dallas Cowboys 31–27 to clinch the NFC's fourth place spot in the playoffs^[i] In the playoffs, the Vikings defeated the Atlanta Falcons 30–24 to reach the divisional round. However, in that game, they lost 21–7 to the eventual champion Redskins.

Offseason

1982 draft

	Pro Bowler

1982 Minnesota Vikings Draft
Draft order		Player name	Position	College	Notes
Round	Selection	Player name	Position	College	Notes
1	7	Darrin Nelson	Running back	Stanford
2	39	Terry Tausch	Guard	Texas
3	66	Traded to the New Orleans Saints^[A]
4	92	Jim Fahnhorst	Linebacker	Minnesota
5	120	Traded to the Miami Dolphins^[B]
6	147	Greg Storr	Linebacker	Boston College
7	179	Steve Jordan	Tight end	Brown
8	206	Kirk Harmon	Linebacker	Pacific
9	233	Bryan Howard	Defensive back	Tennessee State
10	260	Gerald Lucear	Wide receiver	Temple
11	286	Curtis Rouse	Guard	Chattanooga
12	318	Hobson Milner	Running back	Cincinnati

Notes

^ The Vikings traded their third-round selection (66th overall) to the Saints in exchange for RB Tony Galbreath.
^ The Vikings traded their fifth-round selection (120th overall) and a 1981 sixth-round selection (154th overall) to the Dolphins in exchange for C Jim Langer.

Roster

**1982 Minnesota Vikings roster**
Quarterbacks (QB) 12 Steve Dils 9 Tommy Kramer 11 Wade Wilson Running backs (RB) 23 Ted Brown FB 32 Tony Galbreath FB 20 Darrin Nelson 31 Eddie Payton 22 Jarvis Redwine 34 Rickey Young Wide receivers (WR) 80 Terry LeCount 87 Leo Lewis 84 Sam McCullum 28 Ahmad Rashad 85 Sammy White 89 Harold Jackson Tight ends (TE) 82 Bob Bruer 81 Joe Senser 83 Steve Jordan		Offensive linemen (OL) 61 Wes Hamilton G 51 Jim Hough G 56 Dave Huffman G 76 Tim Irwin T 78 Steve Riley T 68 Curtis Rouse T 67 Dennis Swilley C Defensive linemen (DL) 73 Neil Elshire DE 75 Randy Holloway DE 65 Charlie Johnson NT 79 Doug Martin DE 77 Mark Mullaney DE 72 James White DT 91 Ray Yakavonis DT		Linebackers (LB) 59 Matt Blair 52 Dennis Johnson 53 Henry Johnson 54 Fred McNeill 57 Robin Sendlein 55 Scott Studwell 50 Jeff Siemon Defensive backs (DB) 45 Tommy Hannon SS 25 Kurt Knoff FS 49 Keith Nord FS 29 John Swain CB 37 Willie Teal CB 27 John Turner CB 44 Walt Williams CB 21 Rufus Bess CB Special teams 8 Greg Coleman P 7 Rick Danmeier K		Reserve 62 Brent Boyd G (IR) 88 Mardye McDole WR (IR) Rookies in italics

Preseason

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Venue	Attendance^[1]
1	August 7	Baltimore Colts^[ii]	W 30–14	1–0	Fawcett Stadium (Canton, Ohio)	23,379
2	August 14	at Atlanta Falcons	L 17–20	1–1	Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium	49,831
3	August 21	Seattle Seahawks	W 7–3	2–1	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome^[iii]	57,880
4	August 28	at Denver Broncos	L 17–27	2–2	Mile High Stadium	73,371
5	September 3	New Orleans Saints	W 24–21	3–2	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	59,810

Regular season

The Vikings opened their new stadium with a 17–10 win over Tampa Bay in the season opener. A close loss to Buffalo on the road followed.

The season was then interrupted by the players' 57-day strike that reduced the NFL regular season to nine games. Upon resumption of play in November, the Vikings went 4–3 to close out the abbreviated regular season and closed the campaign with a 5–4 record. Games against Chicago, Detroit, Green Bay, New Orleans, San Francisco, Tampa Bay and Washington were canceled.

As three of Minnesota's losses were to AFC opponents, their 4–1 conference record put them at the top of a logjam of teams with similar records in the playoff seedings. In 1982, the NFL took the top eight teams from each conference regardless of division record for playoff consideration. The Vikings earned the #4 seed based on this tiebreaker and home field advantage in round one.

In their opening round playoff game, the Vikings took on the Atlanta Falcons. The game was a back-and-forth affair that saw Minnesota take a 13–7 halftime lead, only to see the Falcons retake the lead late in the final period on a 41-yard field goal by Mick Luckhurst. With just under two minutes remaining, the Vikings began a game-winning drive that culminated in a Ted Brown 5-yard touchdown run to win the game and send the Vikings on to round two.

In the second round, the Vikings were defeated by the eventual Super Bowl champion Washington Redskins, 21–7, at RFK Stadium. The Vikings trailed 14–0 after one quarter. Ted Brown's touchdown run in the second period cut it to 14–7, but Joe Theismann hit Alvin Garrett late in the quarter with an 18-yard touchdown strike to make it 21–7. Neither team scored in the second half.

QB Tommy Kramer threw for 2,037 yards and 15 touchdowns in the short season. RB Ted Brown had 515 yards to lead all rushers, and WR Sammy White tallied 503 yards and five touchdowns to lead receivers.

LB Matt Blair anchored the Vikings defense and also made the 1982 Pro Bowl.

Schedule

Week	Original week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Venue	Attendance
1	1	September 12	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	W 17–10	1–0	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	58,440
2	2	September 16	at Buffalo Bills	L 22–23	1–1	Rich Stadium	77,753
—	3	September 26	Dallas Cowboys	Postponed	1–1	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	1982 NFL players strike
—	4	October 3	at Chicago Bears	Canceled	1–1	Soldier Field
—	5	October 10	at Tampa Bay Buccaneers			Tampa Stadium
—	6	October 17	New Orleans Saints			Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
—	7	October 24	Green Bay Packers			Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
—	8	November 1	Detroit Lions			Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
—	9	November 7	at San Francisco 49ers			Candlestick Park
—	10	November 14	at Washington Redskins			Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
3	11	November 21	at Green Bay Packers	L 7–26	1–2	Milwaukee County Stadium	44,681
4	12	November 28	Chicago Bears	W 35–7	2–2	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	54,724
5	13	December 5	at Miami Dolphins	L 14–22	2–3	Miami Orange Bowl	45,721
6	14	December 12	Baltimore Colts	W 13–10	3–3	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	53,981
7	15	December 19	at Detroit Lions	W 34–31	4–3	Pontiac Silverdome	73,058
8	16	December 26	New York Jets	L 14–42	4–4	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	58,672
9	17	January 3	Dallas Cowboys	W 31–27	5–4	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	60,007
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1: vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Week 1: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Buccaneers	3	0	0	7	10
Vikings	0	7	7	3	17

at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Date: September 12
Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
Game attendance: 58,440
Referee: Gene Barth
Recap, Game Book

Game information

First quarter

TB – Bill Capece 51-yard field goal, 2:00. Buccaneers 3–0. Drive: 8 plays, 47 yards, 4:55.

Second quarter

MIN – Rickey Young 3-yard run (Rick Danmeier kick), 6:31. Vikings 7–3. Drive: 12 plays, 77 yards, 5:19.

Third quarter

MIN – Sammy White 22-yard pass from Tommy Kramer (Rick Danmeier kick), 6:48. Vikings 14–3. Drive: 14 plays, 81 yards, 8:12.

Fourth quarter

TB – Jimmie Giles 20-yard pass from Doug Williams (Bill Capece kick), 5:06. Vikings 14–10. Drive: 9 plays, 80 yards, 3:30.
MIN – Rick Danmeier 33-yard field goal, 2:06. Vikings 17–10. Drive: 4 plays, 7 yards, 1:13.

Top passers

TB – Doug Williams – 21/38, 290 yards, TD, 3 INT
MIN – Tommy Kramer – 16/28, 131 yards, TD

Top rushers

TB – James Owens – 12 rushes, 31 yards
MIN – Ted Brown – 12 rushes, 56 yards

Top receivers

TB – Jimmie Giles – 5 receptions, 100 yards, TD
MIN – Sammy White – 2 receptions, 35 yards, TD

Week 4: vs Chicago Bears

Week 4: Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bears	0	7	0	0	7
Vikings	0	14	7	14	35

at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Date: November 28
Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
Game attendance: 54,724
Referee: Red Cashion
Recap, Game Book

Game information

First quarter

No scoring plays.

Second quarter

CHI – Emery Moorehead 50-yard pass from Jim McMahon (John Roveto kick), 14:53. Bears 7–0. Drive: 2 plays, 55 yards, 0:47.
MIN – Sammy White 5-yard pass from Tommy Kramer (Rick Danmeier kick), 9:07. Tied 7–7. Drive: 4 plays, 49 yards, 2:16.
MIN – Joe Senser 1-yard pass from Tommy Kramer (Rick Danmeier kick), 2:43. Vikings 14–7. Drive: 8 plays, 42 yards, 3:45.

Third quarter

MIN – Sammy White 8-yard pass from Tommy Kramer (Rick Danmeier kick), 5:44. Vikings 21–7. Drive: 8 plays, 95 yards, 3:37.

Fourth quarter

MIN – Leo Lewis 31-yard pass from Tommy Kramer (Rick Danmeier kick), 12:48. Vikings 28–7. Drive: 2 plays, 43 yards, 0:52.
MIN – Sammy White 13-yard pass from Tommy Kramer (Rick Danmeier kick), 6:17. Vikings 35–7. Drive: 6 plays, 67 yards, 2:38.

Top passers

CHI – Jim McMahon – 12/20, 139 yards, TD, INT
MIN – Tommy Kramer – 26/35, 342 yards, 5 TD, 2 INT

Top rushers

CHI – Walter Payton – 12 rushes, 67 yards
MIN – Ted Brown – 5 rushes, 43 yards

Top receivers

CHI – Emery Moorehead – 4 receptions, 79 yards, TD
MIN – Sammy White – 10 receptions, 177 yards, 3 TD

Week 5: at Miami Dolphins

Week 5: Minnesota Vikings at Miami Dolphins – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Vikings	0	7	0	7	14
Dolphins	6	3	3	10	22

at Miami Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida

Date: December 5
Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
Game weather: Clear, 82 °F (27.8 °C)
Game attendance: 45,721
Referee: Fred Silva
Recap, Game Book

Game information

First quarter

MIA – David Woodley 1-yard run (kick blocked), 2:48. Dolphins 6–0. Drive: 9 plays, 64 yards, 5:08.

Second quarter

MIN – Tommy Kramer 18-yard run (Rick Danmeier kick), 12:10. Vikings 7–6. Drive: 11 plays, 82 yards, 5:38.
MIA – Uwe von Schamann 34-yard field goal, 0:00. Dolphins 9–7. Drive: 3 plays, 36 yards, 0:17.

Third quarter

MIA – Uwe von Schamann 28-yard field goal, 5:48. Dolphins 12–7. Drive: 16 plays, 62 yards, 9:12.

Fourth quarter

MIA – Andra Franklin 9-yard run (Uwe von Schamann kick), 14:17. Dolphins 19–7. Drive: 8 plays, 52 yards, 4:12.
MIN – Tony Galbreath 1-yard run (Rick Danmeier kick), 9:25. Dolphins 19–14. Drive: 5 plays, 22 yards, 2:22.
MIA – Uwe von Schamann 24-yard field goal, 1:46. Dolphins 22–14. Drive: 6 plays, 23 yards, 2:44.

Top passers

MIN – Tommy Kramer – 16/28, 127 yards, 3 INT
MIA – David Woodley – 13/20, 132 yards

Top rushers

MIN – Darrin Nelson – 6 rushes, 36 yards
MIA – Andra Franklin – 28 rushes, 129 yards, TD

Top receivers

MIN – Sammy White – 2 receptions, 32 yards
MIA – Jimmy Cefalo – 2 receptions, 71 yards

Week 6: vs Baltimore Colts

Week 6: Baltimore Colts at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Colts	0	3	7	0	10
Vikings	7	0	3	3	13

at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Date: December 12
Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
Game attendance: 53,981
Referee: Jerry Markbreit
Recap, Game Book

Game information

First quarter

MIN – Sammy White 24-yard pass from Tommy Kramer (Rick Danmeier kick), 4:49. Vikings 7–0. Drive: 10 plays, 65 yards, 4:43.

Second quarter

BAL – Mike Wood 39-yard field goal, 10:57. Vikings 7–3. Drive: 13 plays, 56 yards, 6:50.

Third quarter

BAL – Jim Burroughs 94-yard interception return (Mike Wood kick), 6:42. Colts 10–7.
MIN – Rick Danmeier 23-yard field goal, 3:21. Tied 10–10. Drive: 9 plays, 56 yards, 3:11.

Fourth quarter

MIN – Rick Danmeier 40-yard field goal, 9:09. Vikings 13–10. Drive: 9 plays, 48 yards, 4:41.

Top passers

BAL – Mike Pagel – 14/32, 116 yards, 2 INT
MIN – Tommy Kramer – 19/35, 258 yards, TD, INT

Top rushers

BAL – Curtis Dickey – 13 rushes, 42 yards
MIN – Ted Brown – 20 rushes, 75 yards

Top receivers

BAL – Randy McMillan – 5 receptions, 32 yards
MIN – Sammy White – 3 receptions, 78 yards, TD

Week 8: vs New York Jets

Week 8: New York Jets at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Jets	7	14	7	14	42
Vikings	0	7	0	7	14

at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Date: December 26
Game time: 3:00 p.m. CST
Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
Game attendance: 58,672
Referee: Gene Barth
Recap, Game Book

Game information

First quarter

NYJ – Freeman McNeil 2-yard run (Pat Leahy kick), 6:07. Jets 7–0. Drive: 8 plays, 80 yards, 4:54.

Second quarter

NYJ – Bobby Jackson 80-yard return of blocked field goal (Pat Leahy kick), 5:43. Jets 14–0.
NYJ – Freeman McNeil 1-yard run (Pat Leahy kick), 5:17. Jets 21–0. Drive: 3 plays, 9 yards, 0:22.
MIN – Tommy Kramer 1-yard run (Rick Danmeier kick), 0:32. Jets 21–7. Drive: 11 plays, 84 yards, 4:25.

Third quarter

NYJ – Mickey Shuler 20-yard pass from Pat Ryan (Pat Leahy kick), 1:12. Jets 28–7. Drive: 8 plays, 86 yards, 2:32.

Fourth quarter

MIN – Ted Brown 16-yard pass from Tommy Kramer (Rick Danmeier kick), 13:23. Jets 28–14. Drive: 7 plays, 76 yards, 2:36.
NYJ – Bruce Harper 39-yard pass from Richard Todd (Pat Leahy kick), 11:33. Jets 35–14. Drive: 5 plays, 65 yards, 1:38.
NYJ – Bobby Jackson 77-yard interception return (Pat Leahy kick), 7:18. Jets 42–14.

Top passers

NYJ – Richard Todd – 15/22, 236 yards, TD
MIN – Tommy Kramer – 32/56, 328 yards, TD, 3 INT

Top rushers

NYJ – Freeman McNeil – 18 rushes, 82 yards, 2 TD
MIN – Ted Brown – 15 rushes, 57 yards

Top receivers

NYJ – Mickey Shuler – 3 receptions, 80 yards, TD
MIN – Joe Senser – 10 receptions, 115 yards

Standings

NFC Central
view talk edit	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	STK
Green Bay Packers⁽³⁾	5	3	1	.611	1–2	4–2	226	169	L1
Minnesota Vikings⁽⁴⁾	5	4	0	.556	3–1	4–1	158	178	W3
Tampa Bay Buccaneers⁽⁷⁾	5	4	0	.556	2–1	3–3	158	178	W1
Detroit Lions⁽⁸⁾	4	5	0	.444	3–3	4–4	181	176	W1
Chicago Bears	3	6	0	.333	1–3	2–5	141	174	L1

NFC v t e
#	Team	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA	STK
Seeded postseason qualifiers
1	Washington Redskins	8	1	0	.889	190	128	W4
2	Dallas Cowboys	6	3	0	.667	226	145	L2
3	Green Bay Packers	5	3	1	.611	226	169	L1
4^[a]	Minnesota Vikings	5	4	0	.556	187	198	W1
5^[a]	Atlanta Falcons	5	4	0	.556	183	199	L2
6^[a]	St. Louis Cardinals	5	4	0	.556	135	170	L1
7^[a]	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	5	4	0	.556	158	178	W3
8^[b]	Detroit Lions	4	5	0	.444	181	176	W1
Did not qualify for the postseason
9^[b]	New Orleans Saints	4	5	0	.444	129	160	W1
10^[b]	New York Giants	4	5	0	.444	164	160	W1
11^[c]	San Francisco 49ers	3	6	0	.333	209	206	L1
12^[c]	Chicago Bears	3	6	0	.333	141	174	L1
13^[c]	Philadelphia Eagles	3	6	0	.333	191	195	L1
14	Los Angeles Rams	2	7	0	.222	200	250	W1
Tiebreakers
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Minnesota (4–1), Atlanta (4–3), St. Louis (5–4), Tampa Bay (3–3) seeds were determined by best won-lost record in conference games. ^ ^a ^b ^c Detroit finished ahead of New Orleans and the N.Y. Giants based on best conference record (4–4 to Saints’ 3–5 to Giants’ 3–5). ^ ^a ^b ^c San Francisco finished ahead of Chicago, and Chicago finished ahead of Philadelphia, based on conference record (49ers’ 2–3 to Bears’ 2–5 to Eagles’ 1–5).

Postseason

Schedule

Round	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Venue	Attendance
Wild Card	January 9	Atlanta Falcons (5)	W 30–24	1–0	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	60,560
Division	January 15	at Washington Redskins (1)	L 7–21	1–1	Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium	54,593

Statistics

Team leaders

Category	Player(s)	Value
Passing yards	Tommy Kramer	2,037
Passing touchdowns	Tommy Kramer	15
Rushing yards	Ted Brown	515
Rushing touchdowns	Tommy Kramer	3
Receiving yards	Sammy White	503
Receiving touchdowns	Sammy White	5
Points	Rick Danmeier	47
Kickoff return yards	Jarvis Redwine	286
Punt return yards	Eddie Payton	179
Sacks	Doug Martin	11.5
Interceptions	Willie Teal	4

League rankings

Category	Total yards	Yards per game	NFL rank (out of 28)
Passing offense	1,967	122.9	5th
Rushing offense	912	57.0	22nd
Total offense	2,879	179.9	14th
Passing defense	1,875	117.2	20th
Rushing defense	1,020	63.8	14th
Total defense	2,895	180.9	19th