# 1988 Minnesota Vikings season

The 1988 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 28th in the National Football League. They finished with an 11–5 record, and finished second to the Chicago Bears in the NFC Central division.
The Vikings had one of the best defenses in the NFL in 1988. The team allowed 4,091 total yards, 4.3 yards per play, and 243 first downs, all best in the league. The Vikings also had a league-best 53 takeaways. Opposing quarterbacks had a league-worst 41.2 passer rating against the Vikings' defense, the lowest total of the 1980s and fifth all-time for the Super Bowl era.
The Vikings made the postseason for the second consecutive time under coach Jerry Burns. They defeated the Los Angeles Rams 28–17 in the wildcard round, but lost 34–9 in the divisional round to the San Francisco 49ers, who went on to win their third Super Bowl. This was the last time the Vikings won a playoff game until 1997.

## Offseason
### 1988 draft

* Hall of Famer
1988 Minnesota Vikings Draft :
| Draft order | Draft order | Player name | Position | College | Notes |
| Round | Selection | Player name | Position | College | Notes |
| 1 | 19 | Randall McDaniel | Guard | Arizona State | |
| 2 | 45 | Traded to the Denver Broncos | Traded to the Denver Broncos | Traded to the Denver Broncos | |
| 2 | 54 | Brad Edwards | Safety | South Carolina | From Broncos |
| 3 | 71 | Al Noga | Defensive end | Hawaii | |
| 4 | 97 | Traded to the New England Patriots | Traded to the New England Patriots | Traded to the New England Patriots | |
| 4 | 108 | Todd Kalis | Guard | Arizona State | From Broncos |
| 5 | 124 | Darrell Fullington | Safety | Miami (FL) | |
| 6 | 156 | Traded to the Miami Dolphins | Traded to the Miami Dolphins | Traded to the Miami Dolphins | |
| 6 | 164 | Derrick White | Defensive back | Oklahoma | From Broncos |
| 7 | 183 | Brad Beckman | Tight end | Nebraska–Omaha | |
| 8 | 210 | Joe Cain | Linebacker | Oregon Tech | |
| 9 | 237 | Paul McGowan | Linebacker | Florida State | |
| 10 | 264 | Brian Habib | Offensive tackle | Washington | |
| 11 | 296 | Norman Floyd | Safety | South Carolina | From Vikings, via Patriots |
| 12 | 323 | Traded to the New York Giants | Traded to the New York Giants | Traded to the New York Giants | |
Notes:
* 1 2 3 4 The Vikings traded their second-round selection (45th overall) to the Broncos in exchange for the second-, fourth- and sixth-round selections (54th, 108th and 164th overall).
* 1 2 3 The Vikings traded their fourth- and 11th-round selections (97th and 294th overall) to the Patriots in exchange for QB Rich Gannon.
* ↑ The Vikings traded their sixth-round selection (156th overall) and a 1989 10th-round selection (275th overall) to the Dolphins for OT Greg Koch.
* ↑ The Vikings traded their 1989 ninth-round selection to the Patriots in exchange for the 11th-round selection that New England received in the Gannon trade (296th overall).
* ↑ The Vikings traded their 12th-round selection (323rd overall) to the Giants in exchange for C Chris Foote.

#### Supplemental draft

| Round | Name | Position | College | Notes |
| 5 | Ryan Bethea | Defensive back | South Carolina | Resulted in forfeiture of 1989 fifth-round selection. |

### Undrafted free agents

1988 Undrafted Free Agents of note :
| Player | Position | College |
| Bob Furlong | Guard | Wisconsin–Stevens Point |
| Mike Greenfield | Quarterback | Northwestern |
| Darryl Harris | Running back | Arizona State |
| Van Sheppard | Wide receiver | Nebraska |
| Reggie Ward | Wide receiver | Notre Dame |

## Preseason

| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | Notes |
| 1 | August 7 | New Orleans Saints | L 20–23 | 0–1 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 47,624 | |
| 2 | August 14 | Chicago Bears | W 28–21 | 1–1 | Ullevi Stadium (Gothenburg, Sweden) | 33,115 | Volvo American Football Classic |
| 3 | August 21 | at Phoenix Cardinals | W 19–16 (OT) | 2–1 | Sun Devil Stadium | 45,429 | |
| 4 | August 26 | Miami Dolphins | W 24–17 | 3–1 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 51,463 | |

## Regular season
### Schedule

| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance |
| 1 | September 4 | at Buffalo Bills | L 10–13 | 0–1 | Rich Stadium | 76,783 |
| 2 | September 11 | New England Patriots | W 36–6 | 1–1 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 55,545 |
| 3 | September 18 | at Chicago Bears | W 31–7 | 2–1 | Soldier Field | 63,990 |
| 4 | September 25 | Philadelphia Eagles | W 23–21 | 3–1 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 56,012 |
| 5 | October 2 | at Miami Dolphins | L 7–24 | 3–2 | Joe Robbie Stadium | 59,867 |
| 6 | October 9 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | W 14–13 | 4–2 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 55,274 |
| 7 | October 16 | Green Bay Packers | L 14–34 | 4–3 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 59,053 |
| 8 | October 23 | at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | W 49–20 | 5–3 | Tampa Stadium | 48,020 |
| 9 | October 30 | at San Francisco 49ers | L 21–24 | 5–4 | Candlestick Park | 60,738 |
| 10 | November 6 | Detroit Lions | W 44–17 | 6–4 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 55,573 |
| 11 | November 13 | at Dallas Cowboys | W 43–3 | 7–4 | Texas Stadium | 57,830 |
| 12 | November 20 | Indianapolis Colts | W 12–3 | 8–4 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 58,342 |
| 13 | November 24 | at Detroit Lions | W 23–0 | 9–4 | Silverdome | 46,379 |
| 14 | December 4 | New Orleans Saints | W 45–3 | 10–4 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 61,215 |
| 15 | December 11 | at Green Bay Packers | L 6–18 | 10–5 | Lambeau Field | 48,892 |
| 16 | December 19 | Chicago Bears | W 28–27 | 11–5 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 62,067 |

### Game summaries
#### Week 5: at Miami Dolphins

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Vikings | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Dolphins | 0 | 17 | 7 | 0 | 24 |
at Joe Robbie Stadium, Miami, Florida
* Date: October 2
* Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST
* Game weather: 88 °F (31 °C)
* Game attendance: 59,867
* Referee: Jerry Markbreit (9)
* TV announcers (CBS): Dick Stockton and Dan Fouts
* Pro-Football-Reference
Game information :
First quarter
No scoring plays.
Second quarter
MIA – Fuad Reveiz 38-yard field goal. Dolphins 3–0.
MIA – Jim Jensen 3-yard pass from Dan Marino (Fuad Reveiz kick). Dolphins 10–0.
MIA – Lorenzo Hampton 1-yard pass from Dan Marino (Fuad Reveiz kick). Dolphins 17–0.
Third quarter
MIA – Lorenzo Hampton 5-yard pass from Dan Marino (Fuad Reveiz kick). Dolphins 24–0.
Fourth quarter
MIN – Carl Lee 48-yard interception return (Chuck Nelson kick). Dolphins 24–7.
Top passers
MIN – Tommy Kramer – 13/33, 220 yards, 4 INT
MIA – Dan Marino – 20/37, 264 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT
Top rushers
MIN – Allen Rice – 4 rushes, 20 yards
MIA – Troy Stradford – 7 rushes, 42 yards
Top receivers
MIN – Anthony Carter – 4 receptions, 92 yards
MIA – Mark Duper – 6 receptions, 81 yards :

#### Week 11: at Dallas Cowboys

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Vikings | 17 | 0 | 17 | 9 | 43 |
| Cowboys | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas
* Date: November 13
* Game time: 7:00 p.m.
* Game weather: 59 °F (15 °C)
* Game attendance: 57,830
* Pro-Football-Reference.com
Game information :
First quarter
MIN – Hassan Jones 26-yard pass from Wade Wilson (Chuck Nelson kick). Vikings 7–0.
MIN – Henry Thomas 2-yard fumble return (Chuck Nelson kick). Vikings 14–0.
MIN – Chuck Nelson 39-yard field goal. Vikings 17–0.
Second quarter
DAL – Roger Ruzek 50-yard field goal. Vikings 17–3.
Third quarter
MIN – Hassan Jones 64-yard pass from Wade Wilson (Chuck Nelson kick). Vikings 24–3.
MIN – Chuck Nelson 27-yard field goal. Vikings 27–3.
MIN – Steve Jordan 3-yard pass from Wade Wilson (Chuck Nelson kick). Vikings 34–3.
Fourth quarter
MIN – D. J. Dozier 19-yard run (Chuck Nelson kick). Vikings 41–3.
MIN – Kevin Sweeney tackled by Al Baker in the end zone for a safety. Vikings 43–3.
Top passers
MIN – Wade Wilson – 12/27, 240 yards, 3 TD, INT
DAL – Kevin Sweeney – 10/28, 93 yards, 4 INT
Top rushers
MIN – D. J. Dozier – 4 rushes, 36 yards, TD
DAL – Herschel Walker – 21 rushes, 86 yards
Top receivers
MIN – Hassan Jones – 3 receptions, 132 yards, 2 TD
DAL – Michael Irvin – 2 receptions, 42 yards :

### Standings

NFC Central :
| viewtalkedit | W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK |
| Chicago Bears$^{(1)}$ | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 6–2 | 9–3 | 312 | 215 | L1 |
| Minnesota Vikings$^{(4)}$ | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 6–2 | 9–3 | 406 | 233 | W1 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 4–4 | 4–8 | 261 | 350 | W1 |
| Detroit Lions | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | 2–6 | 3–11 | 220 | 315 | L2 |
| Green Bay Packers | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | 2–6 | 3–9 | 240 | 313 | W2 |

## Playoffs
### Schedule

| Week | Date | Opponent (seed) | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance |
| Wild Card | December 26 | Los Angeles Rams (5) | W 28–17 | 1–0 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 57,666 |
| Divisional | January 1 | at San Francisco 49ers (2) | L 9–34 | 1–1 | Candlestick Park | 61,848 |

### Game summaries
#### NFC Wild Card: vs. (#5) Los Angeles Rams

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Rams | 0 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 17 |
| Vikings | 14 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
* Date: December 26, 1988
* Game time: 2:30 p.m. EST/1:30 p.m. CST
* Game attendance: 57,666
* Referee: Dick Hantak
* TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall (play-by-play) and John Madden (color commentator)
* Pro-Football-Reference.com
Game information :
First quarter
MIN – Alfred Anderson 7-yard run (Chuck Nelson kick). Vikings 7–0.
MIN – Allen Rice 17-yard run (Chuck Nelson kick). Vikings 14–0.
Second quarter
LAR – Damone Johnson 3-yard pass from Jim Everett (Mike Lansford kick). Vikings 14–7.
Third quarter
MIN – Alfred Anderson 1-yard run (Chuck Nelson kick). Vikings 21–7.
LAR – Mike Lansford 33-yard field goal. Vikings 21–10.
Fourth quarter
MIN – Carl Hilton 5-yard pass from Wade Wilson (Chuck Nelson kick). Vikings 28–10.
LAR – Pete Holohan 11-yard pass from Jim Everett (Mike Lansford kick). Vikings 28–17.
Top passers
LAR – Jim Everett – 19/45, 247 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT
MIN – Wade Wilson – 17/28, 253 yards, TD
Top rushers
LAR – Greg Bell – 17 rushes, 91 yards
MIN – Allen Rice – 17 rushes, 79 yards, TD
Top receivers
LAR – Henry Ellard – 4 receptions, 54 yards
MIN – Anthony Carter – 4 receptions, 102 yards :

#### NFC Divisional Playoffs: at (#2) San Francisco 49ers

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Vikings | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 9 |
| 49ers | 7 | 14 | 0 | 13 | 34 |
at Candlestick Park, San Francisco
* Date: January 1, 1989
* Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST/1:00 p.m. PST
* Game attendance: 61,848
* Referee: Jerry Markbreit
* TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall and John Madden
* Pro-Football-Reference.com
Game information :
First quarter
MIN – Chuck Nelson 47-yard field goal. Vikings 3–0.
SF – Jerry Rice 2-yard pass from Joe Montana (Mike Cofer kick) 49ers 7–3.
Second quarter
SF – Jerry Rice 4-yard pass from Joe Montana (Mike Cofer kick). 49ers 14–3.
SF – Jerry Rice 11-yard pass from Joe Montana (Mike Cofer kick). 49ers 21–3.
Third quarter
MIN – Hassan Jones 5-yard pass from Wade Wilson (kick failed). 49ers 21–9.
Fourth quarter
SF – Roger Craig 4-yard run (Mike Cofer kick). 49ers 28–9.
SF – Roger Craig 80-yard run (kick failed). 49ers 34–9.
Top passers
MIN – Wade Wilson – 23/47, 255 yards, TD, 2 INT
SF – Joe Montana – 16/27, 178 yards, 3 TD, INT
Top rushers
MIN – Allen Rice – 5 rushes, 20 yards
SF – Roger Craig – 21 rushes, 135 yards, 2 TD
Top receivers
MIN – Hassan Jones – 7 receptions, 71 yards, TD
SF – Jerry Rice – 5 receptions, 61 yards, 3 TD :

## Statistics
### Team leaders

| Category | Player(s) | Value |
| Passing yards | Wade Wilson | 2,746 |
| Passing touchdowns | Wade Wilson | 15 |
| Rushing yards | Darrin Nelson | 380 |
| Rushing touchdowns | Alfred Anderson | 7 |
| Receiving yards | Anthony Carter | 1,225 |
| Receiving touchdowns | Anthony Carter | 6 |
| Points | Chuck Nelson | 108 |
| Kickoff return yards | Darryl Harris | 833 |
| Punt return yards | Leo Lewis | 550 * |
| Tackles | Jesse Solomon | 124 |
| Sacks | Chris Doleman Keith Millard | 8.0 |
| Interceptions | Carl Lee | 8 |
| Forced fumbles | Henry Thomas | 4 |
* Vikings single season record

### League rankings

| Category | Total yards | Yards per game | NFL rank (out of 28) |
| Passing offense | 3,789 | 236.8 | 4th |
| Rushing offense | 1,806 | 112.9 | 20th |
| Total offense | 5,595 | 349.7 | 7th |
| Passing defense | 2,489 | 155.6 | 2nd |
| Rushing defense | 1,602 | 100.1 | 5th |
| Total defense | 4,091 | 255.7 | 1st |