The 1995 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 35th in the National Football League (NFL). Under head coach Dennis Green, they finished with an 8–8 record and still had a chance to make the playoffs entering Week 17 against the Cincinnati Bengals; however, victories by the Chicago Bears and the Atlanta Falcons in their final games rendered the Vikings' defeat to the Bengals inconsequential, and Minnesota missed the playoffs for the first time since the 1991 season. Despite the team's poor play, rookie safety Orlando Thomas recorded a league-leading 9 interceptions of the season.
Offseason Additions SubtractionsLB Jeff Brady (Buccaneers) DT Henry Thomas (Lions)DB Donald Frank (Raiders) FS Vencie Glenn (Giants) RB Terry Allen (Redskins) LB Carlos Jenkins (Rams) TE Steve Jordan (retirement) S Todd Scott (Jets) T Reggie McElroy (Broncos)
1995 expansion draft
+ Vikings selected during the expansion draft Round Selection Name Position Expansion team 11 22 Dave Garnett Linebacker Carolina Panthers 26 52 William Sims Linebacker 32 63 Eric Guliford Wide receiver
1995 draft
Pro Bowler
1995 Minnesota Vikings Draft Draft order Player name Position College Notes Round Selection 1 11 Derrick Alexander Defensive end Florida State From Broncos, via Falcons 24 Korey Stringer Offensive tackle Ohio State 2 42 Orlando Thomas Safety Southwestern Louisiana From Broncos 55 Corey Fuller Cornerback Florida State 3 89 Traded to the Houston Oilers 4 111 Chad May Quarterback Kansas State From Broncos 121 Traded to the Denver Broncos 5 157 James Stewart Running back Miami (FL) 6 189 John Solomon Defensive end Sam Houston State From Giants 196 Traded to the Denver Broncos 7 232 Jose White Defensive tackle Howard 243 Jason Fisk Defensive tackle Stanford Compensatory pick Notes:
Undrafted free agents + 1995 undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegePaul BurmeisterQuarterbackIowa
Staff
Roster
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 August 7 at San Diego Chargers W 23–19 1–0 Jack Murphy Stadium 47,934 2 August 12 at New England Patriots L 14–21 1–1 Foxboro Stadium 56,241 3 August 18 Oakland Raiders W 20–17 2–1 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 45,306 4 August 26 Kansas City Chiefs L 13–17 2–2 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 39,349
Regular season
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 September 3 at Chicago Bears L 14–31 0–1 Soldier Field 63,036 2 September 10 Detroit Lions W 20–10 1–1 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 52,234 3 September 17 Dallas Cowboys L 17–23 1–2 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 60,088 4 September 24 at Pittsburgh Steelers W 44–24 2–2 Three Rivers Stadium 57,853 5 Bye 6 October 8 Houston Oilers W 23–17 3–2 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 56,430 7 October 15 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 17–20 3–3 Tampa Stadium 55,703 8 October 22 at Green Bay Packers L 21–38 3–4 Lambeau Field 60,332 9 October 30 Chicago Bears L 6–14 3–5 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 61,238 10 November 5 Green Bay Packers W 27–24 4–5 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 62,839 11 November 12 at Arizona Cardinals W 30–24 5–5 Sun Devil Stadium 51,342 12 November 19 New Orleans Saints W 43–24 6–5 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 58,108 13 November 23 at Detroit Lions L 38–44 6–6 Silverdome 74,559 14 December 3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 31–17 7–6 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 52,879 15 December 9 Cleveland Browns W 27–11 8–6 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 47,984 16 December 18 at San Francisco 49ers L 30–37 8–7 Candlestick Park 64,975 17 December 24 at Cincinnati Bengals L 24–27 8–8 Riverfront Stadium 34,568 Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Standings
Statistics
Team leaders Category Player(s) Value Passing yards Warren Moon 4,228 Passing touchdowns Warren Moon 33 Rushing yards Robert Smith 632 Rushing touchdowns Robert Smith 5 Receiving yards Cris Carter 1,371 Receiving touchdowns Cris Carter 17 Points Fuad Reveiz 122 Kickoff return yards Qadry Ismail 1,037 Punt return yards David Palmer 342 Tackles Ed McDaniel 115 Sacks John Randle 10.5 Interceptions Orlando Thomas 9 Forced fumbles Ed McDaniel 6
League rankings Category Total yards Yards per game NFL rank Passing offense 4,205 262.8 5th Rushing offense 1,733 108.3 16th Total offense 5,938 371.1 4th Passing defense 4,122 257.6 28th Rushing defense 1,329 83.1 4th Total defense 5,451 340.7 20th
Awards and records Cris Carter, led NFL in receiving touchdowns Cris Carter, All-Pro selection Cris Carter, Pro Bowl selection Orlando Thomas, NFL interceptions leader (9)
Milestones Cris Carter, 100 reception season NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, NY, , p. 440 Warren Moon, 4th 4,000-yard passing season
References
External links 1995 Minnesota Vikings Statistics & Players on Pro-Football-Reference.com