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 . It ended with the team posting a 6 – 10 record and Brad Childress ( apparently ) convincing new owner Zygi Wilf that it was a rebuilding year . Offseason . On January 6 , 2006 , the Vikings were the first NFL organization to hire a new head coach during the 2006 offseason , Brad Childress . Childress previously held the QB coach position with the Philadelphia Eagles from 1999 to 2002 , then was the Offensive Coordinator from 2002 to 2005 , and also at the University of Wisconsin – Madison from 1993 to 1999 under Barry Alvarez . 2006 Vikings Player Movement . Re - signed - Status Additions - Status ( Old Team ) Subtractions - Status ( New Team ) Last Updated 3 / 16 / 07 ( DTR ) Regular season . Week 1 : at Washington Redskins . The Vikings start the regular season on the road against the Washington Redskins on September 11 , the first game of a " Monday Night Football " doubleheader on opening weekend . The Vikes would draw first blood as RB Chester Taylor helped Minnesota score on their opening drive with a 4 - yard TD run However , during the extra - point try , Chris Kluwe fumbled the snap and instead tried to go for a two - point conversion , which failed . The Vikings lead would be cut in half later in the quarter , as Redskins kicker John Hall made a 27 - yard field goal . In the second quarter , things were starting to look grim for the Vikings , as RB Clinton Portis and Kicker John Hall provided the Redskins a 5 - yard TD run and another 27 - yard field goal to make the score 13 - 6 . The Vikings would respod with a last - second field goal by Kicker Ryan Longwell ( from 46 yards out ) as time ran out on the first half . In the third quarter , the Vikings would greatly respond as QB Brad Johnson threw a 20 - yard TD pass to WR Marcus Robinson to give Minnesota a 16 - 13 lead . However , the Redskins would tie the game up on a 22 - yard field goal by John Hall . Late in the fourth quarter , Longwell gave the Vikings a 19 - 16 lead , as kicked a 31 - yard field goal . During the final minute of the game , the Vikes held their ground and hung on to give Brad Childress his first head coaching win , as opposing kicker John Hall missed a 48 - yard field goal . Week 2 : vs . Carolina Panthers . In their Week 2 home - opener , the Vikings faced the Carolina Panthers in a low - scoring fight . The Vikings would draw first blood with a 26 - yard field goal by kicker Ryan Longwell . In the second quarter , Carolina got a field goal with opposing kicker John Kasay . The Vikings would respond with another Longwell field goal ( a 22 - yard FG ) , but they fell before halftime with opposing RB DeAngelo Williams getting a 3 - yard run for the Panthers . The Vikings trailed a bit further in the third quarter , as Karney kicked a 26 - yard field goal . The Vikings started their own comeback . In the fourth quarter , Longwell faked a field goal try and threw a 16 - yard TD pass to FB Richard Owens to tie the game up going into overtime . In OT , Longwell booted the game - winning 19 - yard field goal to give Minnesota the win . it was the first time in Vikings history that a coach started 2 - 0 in his first year . Week 3 : vs . Chicago Bears . Staying at home , the Vikings played a fierce NFC North fight with the Chicago Bears . In the first quarter , Minnesota got on the board first with kicker Ryan Longwell completing a 31 - yard field goal . The Bears would tie the game , as kicker Robbie Gould completed a 41 - yard field goal . In the second quarter , Longwell would give the Vikings a small lead , as he nailed a 26 - yard field goal for the only score of the period . In the third quarter , Minnesota began to trail , as Gould kicked a 24 - yard and a 31 - yard field goal to give Chicago a small lead . In the fourth quarter , the Vikings retook the lead as CB Antoine Winfield returned an interception 7 yards for a touchdown . Gould would give the Bears a 49 - yard field goal , but Longwell answered with a 41 - yard field goal for the Vikings . The Vikings fell to their doom , as Chester Taylor fumbled and the Bears QB Rex Grossman completed a 24 - yard TD pass to WR Rashied Davis , which would give the Vikings their first loss of the year . Of the first five games played by the Bears in the 2006 season , this was the closest game . All others have been decided by at least 26 points . Week 4 : at Buffalo Bills . Hoping to rebound from last week ' s heart - breaking loss , the Vikings traveled to Ralph Wilson Stadium for a match - up with the Buffalo Bills . In the first quarter , the Vikings drew first blood as kicker Ryan Longwell nailed a 37 - yard field goal for the only score of the period . In the second quarter , Minnesota got into a tiny hole , as Bills RB Willis McGahee got a 1 - yard TD run . Longwell would give the Vikings a 49 - yard field goal as time ran out of the first half , but in the third quarter , the Vikes found themselves in a bit of a hole , as Buffalo QB J . P . Losman connected with WR Peerless Price on an 8 - yard TD pass for the only score of the period . In the fourth quarter , Minnesota trailed even further , as Bills kicker Rian Lindell got a 28 - yard field goal . The Vikings would try and comeback , as QB Brad Johnson completed a 29 - yard TD pass to WR Marcus Robinson . The two - point conversion failed and during their next drive , they ran out of time . With their loss , the Vikings fell to 2 - 2 . Week 5 : vs . Detroit Lions . After dropping two straight games , the Vikings came home for an NFC North fight with the Detroit Lions . The Vikings struck first with a 26 yard field goal which would be the only points scored in the first quarter . The Vikings wouldn ' t score again until the 4th quarter . Detroit got close but Napoleon Harris got his first interception of his five year career at the end of the 1st . In the second quarter , Detroit quarterback Jon Kitna ran 8 yards to score a touchdown putting the Lions ahead 7 - 3 . Detroit ' s next drive would result in a field goal to put them ahead 10 - 3 . In the 3rd quarter , Detroit would recover a Viking funble and then go on to score another touchdown to bring their lead to 17 - 3 . In the first minute of the 4th quarter , Viking ' s Travis Taylor scored a touchdown after a three - yard pass to bring the score to 17 - 10 . The Lion ' s next drive would end in a forced fumble when Pat Williams burst through the line untouched , and Jon Kitna lost the ball which was picked up by Viking ' s Ben Leber and he would run it in for a touchdown , but the extra point was blocked leaving the score at 17 - 16 . Later , the Viking ' s scored a 20 yard field goal to take the lead 19 - 17 . Detroit would then throw an interception on fourth and ten to E . J . Henderson who would run 45 yards to score a touchdown bringing the score to 26 - 17 and the Vikings Darren Sharper got an interception in the last minute to seal the victory , bringing their record up to 3 - 2 . Week 7 : at Seattle Seahawks . Coming off their Bye Week , the Vikings flew to Qwest Field and took on the Seattle Seahawks . In the first quarter , the Vikes drew first blood with kicker Ryan Longwell nailing a 33 - yard field goal . Afterwards , the Seahawks responded with QB Matt Hasselbeck completing a 72 - yard TD pass to WR Darrell Jackson . In the second quarter , Seattle improved its lead with kicker Josh Brown kicking a 42 - yard field goal . Minnesota responded with QB Brad Johnson completing a 40 - yard TD pass to WR Marcus Robinson . In the third quarter , the Vikings managed to retake the lead with RB Mewelde Moore throwing a 15 - yard option pass to TE Jermaine Wiggins , while RB Chester Taylor ran 95 yards for a touchdown ( the longest rushing TD play in franchise history ) . In the fourth quarter , the Seahawks would have Brown kick a 26 - yard field goal . The Vikes pulled away and won with DT Kevin Williams recovering a Seattle fumble in their endzone . With the win , Minnesota improved to 4 - 2 . Week 8 : vs . New England Patriots . The Vikes fell to 4 - 3 with a loss at home on " Monday Night Football " to the New England Patriots . The Pats , who came out passing instead of bothering to even try challenging the Vikings rush defense , got out to an early lead on the opening drive as QB Tom Brady hit WR Reche Caldwell for a 6 yard touchdown pass . Kicker Stephen Gostkowski connected on a 23 yard field goal early in the second quarter . Brady threw his second of what would turn out to be four touchdown passes , this time to TE Benjamin Watson just before halftime to give the Pats a 17 - 0 lead . The Vikes finally got on the board as RB Mewelde Moore returned a punt 71 yards for a touchdown early in the third quarter . That would be all the Vikes could muster as Brady threw his final two touchdowns to WR ' s Troy Brown and Chad Jackson respectively to close out the scoring . Week 9 : at San Francisco 49ers . Hoping to rebound from their disappointing home loss to the Patriots , the Vikings flew to Monster Park for a Week 9 clash with the San Francisco 49ers . In the first quarter , the Vikings would draw blood , as kicker Ryan Longwell completed a 21 - yard field goal for the only score of the period . In the second quarter , the 49ers get two Joe Nedney field goals ( a 25 - yarder and a 30 - yarder ) and take the lead . After a scoreless third quarter , Nedney would put the game away for San Francisco as he nailed a 51 - yard field goal . With yet another disappointing loss , the Vikes fell 4 - 4 . Week 10 : vs . Green Bay Packers . Trying to end their two - game skid , the Vikings flew home for an NFC North fight with the Green Bay Packers . In the first quarter , the Vkings trailed early as Packers kicker Dave Rayner nailed a 20 - yard field goal , while QB Brett Favre completed a 5 - yard TD pass to RB Noah Herron . In the second quarter , the Vikes took the lead as QB Brad Johnson completed a 40 - yard TD pass to WR Billy McMullen . Afterwards , McMullen recovered a fumble within the Packers end zone for another touchdown . However , Green Bay retook the lead with Favre completing an 82 - yard TD pass to WR Donald Driver . In the third quarter , Rayner helped the Packers with a 24 - yard field goal for the only score of the period . In the fourth quarter , Rayner would boot one more field goal for Green Bay , as he kicked a 29 - yard field goal . Minnesota tried to fight back , but all they could get was kicker Ryan Longwell nailing a 34 - yard field goal . With their third - straight loss , the Vikings fell to 4 - 5 . Week 11 : at Miami Dolphins . Trying to stop a three - game skid , the Vikings flew to Dolphin Stadium for an interconference fight with the Miami Dolphins . In the first quarter , the Vikes struck first with RB Chester Taylor getting a 1 - yard TD run for the only score of the period . However , in the second quarter , the Dolphins took the lead with kicker Olindo Mare getting a 44 - yard field goal , while QB Joey Harrington completed a 11 - yard TD pass to TE Justin Peelle . In the third quarter , Minnesota tied the game with kicker Ryan Longwell nailing a 35 - yard field goal . Afterwards , in the fourth quarter , Longwell would kick a 19 - yard field goal to help the Vikings retake the lead . However , Miami ' s defense made some huge stops on the Vikes , with Free Safety Renaldo Hill returning a fumble 48 yards for a touchdown , while DE Jason Taylor returned an interception 51 yards for a touchdown . The only response that Minnesota could whip up was on the final offensive play of the game , as Taylor got another 1 - yard TD run . With their fourth - straight loss , the Vikings fell 4 - 6 . Week 12 : vs . Arizona Cardinals . Hoping to end their four - game skid , the Vikings returned home for a Week 12 fight against the Arizona Cardinals . This game was notable for the return of Head Coach Dennis Green , who formerly coached the Vikings and now works for the Cardinals . Right out of the gate , the Vikes trailed early as Cardinals RB J . J . Arrington returned the opening kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown . The Vikings would respond with RB Chester Taylor getting a 1 - yard TD run . In the second quarter , Cards kicker Neil Rackers helped increase Arizona ' s lead with a 21 - yard and a 50 - yard field goal . Afterwards , Minnesota struck back with QB Brad Johnson completing a 17 - yard TD pass to WR Marcus Robinson . In the third quarter , the Vikings took the lead with Johnson completing a 9 - yard TD pass to rookie WR Billy McMullen , while kicker Ryan Longwell nailed a 40 - yard field goal . In the fourth quarter , the Vikes managed to put the icing on the game with Johnson completing a 3 - yard TD pass to FB Jeff Dugan . The Cardinals tried to fight back , with Strong Safety Adrian Wilson returning a fumble 99 yards for a touchdown ( with a failed two - point conversion ) and QB Matt Leinart completing a 9 - yard TD pass to WR Anquan Boldin . Minnesota held on to snap its four - game losing streak . With the win , the Vikings improved to 5 - 6 . Week 13 : at Chicago Bears . Trying to build on their win over the Cardinals , the Vikings flew to Soldier Field for an NFC North rematch with the Chicago Bears . After a scoreless first quarter , the Bears drew first blood in the second quarter with DB Devin Hester returning a punt 45 yards for a touchdown . Afterwards , Minnesota had kicker Ryan Longwell nail a 23 - yard field goal . In the third quarter , Longwell would kick a 30 - yard field goal , but that would be as close as the Vikings got to Chicago in the game , because after Longwell ' s field goal , the Bears took over with DB Ricky Manning , Jr . returning an interception 54 yards for a touchdown , while RB Cedric Benson got a 24 - yard TD run . By the time the fourth quarter came around , QB Brad Johnson was benched for the game , due to throwing four interceptions . Back - Up QB Brooks Bollinger took over , but he fare any better , as he got sacked in his own end zone by NT Tank Johnson for a safety . Afterwards , the Vikings would have their only successful drive of the game with RB Ciatrick Fason getting a 4 - yard TD run . Afterwards , Bollinger would get his left arm sprained during a sack , so rookie QB Tarvaris Jackson came in to finish the game . With the loss , Minnesota fell to 5 - 7 . Week 14 : at Detroit Lions . After getting swept by the Bears , the Vikings flew to Ford Field for an NFC North rematch with the Detroit Lions . In the first quarter , RB Artose Pinner ( a former Lion ) helped Minnesota gain an early lead with a 3 - yard and a 4 - yard TD run . In the second quarter , QB Brad Johnson got a 3 - yard TD run , yet it was followed up with a failed 2 - point conversion . Detroit would retaliate with DB Jamar Fletcher returning an interception 88 yards for a touchdown , while kicker Jason Hanson kicked a 53 - yard field goal . In the third quarter , the Vikes got a 30 - yard field goal from kicker Ryan Longwell , yet Detroit ' s Hanson nailed a 45 - yard field goal . In the fourth quarter , Pinner helped wrap the game up with a 1 - yard TD run . Even though Lions QB Jon Kitna would complete a 23 - yard TD pass to RB Kevin Jones , Minnesota held on to sweep Detroit . With the win , the Vikings improved to 6 - 7 . Week 15 : vs . New York Jets . Following their win over the Lions , the Vikings went home for a Week 15 interconference fight with the New York Jets . In the first quarter , the Vikes took an early lead with QB Brad Johnson completing a 30 - yard TD pass to WR Travis Taylor . However , the Jets struck back with RB Cedric Houston with a 6 - yard TD run . In the second quarter , things got bad for Minnesota . First , New York got a 25 - yard field goal from kicker Mike Nugent . Then , QB Chad Pennington completed a 21 - yard TD pass to WR Laveranues Coles . Afterwards , Nugent would kick a 52 - yard and a 45 - yard field goal . In the third quarter , the Jets ' lead increased with Nugent ' s 20 - yard field goal for the only score of the period . In the fourth quarter , rookie QB Tarvaris Jackson came in a completed a 35 - yard TD pass to RB Mewelde Moore . That would be the only response from the Purple People Eaters . With the loss , the Vikings fell to 6 - 8 . Week 16 : at Green Bay Packers . Trying to keep their slim playoff hopes alive , the Vikings flew to Lambeau Field for an NFC North rematch with the Green Bay Packers in a Thursday night fight . For this game , Minnesota gave rookie QB Tarvaris Jackson the start . In the first half , the Packers took an early lead as kicker Dave Rayner nailed a 38 - yard field goal in the first quarter and a 44 - yard field goal in the second quarter . In the third quarter , the Vikes took the lead with CB Fred Smoot returning an interception 47 yards for a touchdown . In the fourth quarter , Rayner gave Green Bay the win with a 44 - yard field goal . With the loss , not only did the Vikings fall to 6 - 9 , but they also got eliminated from the NFC playoff race . A huge cause for Minnesota ' s loss was that the offense was only able to get three first downs the entire game . Also , keeping with the fact that the Vikings are the most penalized team in the league this season , they committed 10 penalties for a loss of 68 yards . Week 17 : vs . St . Louis Rams . Trying to end their season on a high note , the Vikings went home for a Week 17 intraconference fight with the St . Louis Rams . In the first quarter , Minnesota trailed early as Rams DB Ronald Bartell returned an interception 38 yards for a touchdown . Also , kicker Jeff Wilkins helped St . Louis with a 42 - yard field goal . Afterwards , the Vikings managed to score with QB Tarvaris Jackson getting a 1 - yard TD run . However , in the second quarter , things got worse for the Vikes as Rams RB Steven Jackson got a 4 - yard TD run and even a 10 - yard TD pass from QB Marc Bulger . In the third quarter , things continued to get worse for Minnesota as Wilkins kicked a 53 - yard field goal , while Jackson got a 2 - yard TD run . In the fourth quarter , St . Louis wrapped up its domination with Jackson with a 59 - yard TD run . Afterwards , the Vikes got its remaining points with RB Chester Taylor getting a 1 - yard TD run , while Tarvaris Jackson completed a 3 - yard TD pass to WR Travis Taylor . With three - straight losses to close out the season , the Vikings finished at 6 - 10 .