The 2007 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 47th in the National Football League (NFL). The Vikings' 8–8 record under second-year head coach Brad Childress was an improvement on their 6–10 record in 2006; nonetheless, for the third straight year, the Vikings failed to make the playoffs.
Although they had the worst pass defense in the NFL in 2007, surrendering 4,225 passing yards, the Vikings finished the season with the league's best defense against the run, allowing only 74.1 rushing yards per game, as well as the best rushing offense with running backs Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor. Peterson was named the Offensive Rookie of the Year for 2007.
Offseason The Vikings began the 2007 offseason by losing their defensive coordinator, Mike Tomlin, who was hired to be the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers on January 21, 2007. Coach Brad Childress waited until after the Super Bowl to hire Leslie Frazier, who served as special assistant to the head coach/defensive backs coach under Tony Dungy at the Indianapolis Colts. Frazier became the Vikings' new defensive coordinator on February 8. Frazier played cornerback for the 1985 Chicago Bears, and had just won Super Bowl XLI over his former Bears team when he was hired by the Vikings.
2007 draft
Pro BowlerMVP
2007 Minnesota Vikings DraftDraft orderPlayer namePositionCollegeContractNotesRoundSelection17Adrian PetersonRunning backOklahoma5 years241Traded to the Atlanta Falcons44Sidney RiceWide receiverSouth Carolina4 yearsFrom Falcons372Marcus McCauleyCornerbackFresno State4 years4102Brian RobisonDefensive endTexas4 yearsFrom Buccaneers106Traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers121Traded to the Denver BroncosFrom Falcons5146Aundrae AllisonWide receiverEast Carolina4 years6176Rufus AlexanderLinebackerOklahoma4 yearsFrom Lions, via Broncos182Traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers7217Tyler ThigpenQuarterbackCoastal Carolina4 years233Chandler WilliamsWide receiverFIU4 yearsFrom Broncos Notes:
Transactions + Re-signedPlayerPositionStatusContractChris KluwePFree agent1 year ($435,000)Heath FarwellLBFree agent1 year ($435,000)Anthony HerreraGFree agent1 year ($850,000)Spencer JohnsonDTFree agent1 year ($850,000)Richard OwensTEFree agent1 year ($850,000)Artose PinnerRBFree agent1 year ($850,000)Darrion ScottDEFree agent1 year ($850,000)Tank WilliamsSSFree agent1 year ($595,000)Drew HensonQBFree agent1 year ($765,000)
+AdditionsPlayerPositionStatus (previous team)ContractVisanthe ShiancoeTEFree agent (NYG)5 years ($18.2 million)Vinny CiurciuLBFree agent (CAR)3 years ($3 million)Bobby WadeWRFree agent (TEN)5 years ($15 million)Mike DossSFree agent (IND)1 year ($1 million)
+DeparturesPlayerPositionStatus (new team)ContractJason WhittleGFree agent (BUF)1 year ($720,000)Fred SmootCBFree agent (WAS)5 years ($25 million)Brad JohnsonQBFree agent (DAL)3 years ($7.5 million)Napoleon HarrisLBFree agent (KC)6 years ($24 million)Bethel JohnsonWRFree agent (PHI)1 yearJermaine WigginsTEFree agent (JAC)1 year ($1 million)
Staff
Roster
Preseason Schedule WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueNFL.comrecap1August 10St. Louis RamsL 10–130–1Hubert H. Humphrey MetrodomeRecap2August 17at New York JetsW 37–201–1Giants StadiumRecap3August 25at Seattle SeahawksL 13–301–2Qwest FieldRecap4August 30Dallas CowboysW 23–142–2Hubert H. Humphrey MetrodomeRecap
Game summaries Week 1: vs. St. Louis Rams
Week 2: at New York Jets
Week 3: at Seattle Seahawks
Week 4: vs. Dallas Cowboys
Regular season Schedule WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueNFL.comrecap1September 9Atlanta FalconsW 24–31–0Hubert H. Humphrey MetrodomeRecap 2September 16at Detroit LionsL 17–20 1–1Ford FieldRecap 3September 23at Kansas City ChiefsL 10–131–2Arrowhead StadiumRecap 4September 30Green Bay PackersL 16–231–3Hubert H. Humphrey MetrodomeRecap 5Bye 6October 14at Chicago BearsW 34–312–3Soldier FieldRecap 7October 21at Dallas CowboysL 14–242–4Texas StadiumRecap 8October 28Philadelphia EaglesL 16–232–5Hubert H. Humphrey MetrodomeRecap 9November 4San Diego ChargersW 35–173–5Hubert H. Humphrey MetrodomeRecap10November 11at Green Bay PackersL 0–343–6Lambeau FieldRecap11November 18Oakland RaidersW 29–224–6Hubert H. Humphrey MetrodomeRecap 12November 25at New York GiantsW 41–175–6Giants StadiumRecap 13December 2Detroit LionsW 42–106–6Hubert H. Humphrey MetrodomeRecap 14December 9at San Francisco 49ersW 27–77–6Bill Walsh Field at Monster ParkRecap15Chicago BearsW 20–138–6Hubert H. Humphrey MetrodomeRecap 16December 23Washington RedskinsL 21–328–7Hubert H. Humphrey MetrodomeRecap 17December 30at Denver BroncosL 19–22 8–8Invesco FieldRecap
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries Week 1: vs. Atlanta Falcons
The Vikings began their 2007 campaign at home against the Atlanta Falcons. In the first quarter, Minnesota scored first with defensive tackle Kevin Williams returning an interception 54 yards for a touchdown. It was the only score of the first half. In the third quarter, kicker Ryan Longwell kicked a 49-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, the Falcons got their only score of the game, with Matt Prater kicking a 45-yard field goal. From there, the Vikings had the only offense with Tarvaris Jackson throwing a 60-yard touchdown pass to rookie running back Adrian Peterson. Cornerback Antoine Winfield returned an interception 14 yards for a touchdown.
Week 2: at Detroit Lions
Following their home win over the Falcons, the Vikings flew to Ford Field for a Week 2 divisional match-up with the Detroit Lions. After a scoreless first quarter, Minnesota trailed early as Lions quarterback Jon Kitna completed a 9-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Roy Williams. The Vikings tied the game with a 1-yard touchdown run from quarterback Tarvaris Jackson. However, Detroit retook the lead with kicker Jason Hanson's 30-yard field goal.
In the third quarter, the Lions increased their lead with a 7-yard touchdown pass from J. T. O'Sullivan – who was in for the injured Kitna – to Calvin Johnson. Minnesota tied the game through a 32-yard field goal from Ryan Longwell and a 9-yard fumble return touchdown from defensive end Ray Edwards. After both teams failed to score in the fourth quarter, the Vikings received the ball first to begin overtime. However, nine plays into the Vikings' drive, Detroit recovered a fumble by backup Vikings quarterback Brooks Bollinger for the game's 10th overall turnover, allowing Hanson's to kick a 37-yard, game-winning field goal.
Week 3: at Kansas City Chiefs
Following their divisional road loss to the Lions, the Vikings flew to Arrowhead Stadium for an interconference duel with the Kansas City Chiefs. In the first quarter, the Vikings' rookie running back Adrian Peterson got an 11-yard touchdown run for the only score of the period. In the second quarter, Minnesota increased their lead via a 22-yard Ryan Longwell field goal. The Chiefs ended the half with kicker Dave Rayner getting a 39-yard field goal.
In the second half, Kansas City were the only team to score. In the third quarter, the Chiefs drew closer with Rayner kicking a 49-yard field goal, before closing out the win in the fourth quarter with quarterback Damon Huard completing a 16-yard touchdown pass to Dwayne Bowe.
Week 4: vs. Green Bay Packers
Trying to snap a two-game losing streak, the Vikings returned home for an NFC North duel with the Green Bay Packers. With regular starting quarterback Tarvaris Jackson recovering from injuries, Kelly Holcomb started in his place. In the first quarter, the Vikings trailed early as Brett Favre threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Greg Jennings, surpassing Dan Marino with the 421st touchdown pass of his career. After Favre was honored for his accomplishment, Minnesota narrowed the margin between the two teams to a single point with field goals of 44 and 35 yards from kicker Ryan Longwell, before Mason Crosby hit a 28-yard field goal to restore a four-point lead for the Packers going into halftime.
In the third quarter, Crosby and Longwell cancelled each other out with field goals from 44 yards and 48 yards, respectively. In the fourth quarter, Crosby made a 33-yard field goal, before Favre completed a 33-yard touchdown pass to James Jones. Minnesota tried to rebound with Holcomb completing a 15-yard touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver Sidney Rice. The Vikings failed with an attempted onside kick, but two plays later Chad Greenway recovered a fumble by Favre, giving the Vikings just under 2 minutes to go 54 yards for a game-tying touchdown. However, after moving into Green Bay territory, Holcomb was subsequently intercepted by Atari Bigby, allowing Favre to kneel out the game.
Adrian Peterson ran 12 times for 112 yards, making him the first rookie running back since Chuck Foreman to rush for 100 yards in each of his first three games as a Vikings starter.
Week 6: at Chicago Bears
Coming off their bye week, the Vikings went to Soldier Field for a Week 6 NFC North contest against the Chicago Bears. In the first quarter, Minnesota trailed early as Devin Hester returned a punt 89 yards for a touchdown. The Vikings responded with a 60-yard touchdown pass from Tarvaris Jackson to Troy Williamson. In the second quarter, Chicago's Brian Griese completed a 39-yard touchdown pass to Bernard Berrian. Afterwards, Minnesota answered with a 67-yard touchdown run from Adrian Peterson.
In the third quarter, the Vikings took the lead with 73-yard touchdown run from Peterson for the only score of the period. Kickers Ryan Longwell and Robbie Gould traded field goals of 48 and 32 yards to start the fourth quarter, before Peterson scored his third touchdown of the game on a 35-yard run. Chicago tied the game again with Griese completing a 33-yard touchdown pass to Muhsin Muhammad, followed by an 81-yard touchdown pass to Hester. But on the ensuing kickoff, Peterson sprinted all the way down to the Chicago 38-yard line, setting Longwell up for a 55-yard, game-winning field goal.
With the win, the Vikings improved to 2–3, largely in part to Peterson's 224 rushing yards, which put him fifth for the most rookie rushing yards in one game. Up to this point, he had a total of 607 rushing yards, which placed him second for the most rookie rushing yards through the first five games, only behind Eric Dickerson. He also broke the NFL record for most all purpose yards in a single game, with 361.
Week 7: at Dallas Cowboys
Coming off their impressive divisional road win over the Bears, the Vikings flew to Texas Stadium for a Week 7 intraconference duel with the Dallas Cowboys. In the first quarter, Minnesota trailed early as Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo completed a 5-yard touchdown pass to Terrell Owens. The Vikings responded with a 20-yard touchdown run from Adrian Peterson. In the second quarter, Minnesota scored a bizarre defensive touchdown, as Antoine Winfield forced a fumble from Cowboys receiver Patrick Crayton; linebacker Ben Leber recovered the ball and ran with it before lateraling it to Cedric Griffin; Griffin then also fumbled the ball, but it bobbled back up into his hands and he was able to run it in for a touchdown.
In the third quarter, the Vikings began to struggle as Cowboys running back Marion Barber III scored a 1-yard touchdown, before safety Pat Watkins returned a blocked field goal 68 yards for a touchdown. In the fourth quarter, Dallas closed out the win with kicker Nick Folk getting a 45-yard field goal.
Week 8: vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Hoping to rebound from their road loss to the Cowboys, the Vikings came home for a Week 8 intraconference duel with the Philadelphia Eagles that saw head coach Brad Childress go up against his mentor, Philadelphia coach Andy Reid. With starting quarterback Tarvaris Jackson out with a thumb injury, veteran backup Kelly Holcomb got the start.