| 2016 Minnesota Vikings season | |
|---|---|
| Owner | Zygi Wilf |
| General manager | Rick Spielman |
| Head coach | Mike Zimmer (games 1–12, 14–16) Mike Priefer (interim, game 13) |
| Home field | U.S. Bank Stadium |
| Results | |
| Record | 8–8 |
| Division place | 3rd NFC North |
| Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
| Pro Bowlers | |
| AP All-Pros | KR Cordarrelle Patterson (1st team) |
| Uniform | |
 | |
The 2016 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 56th in the National Football League (NFL) and their third under head coach Mike Zimmer. After starting the season with five consecutive wins prior to their bye week, the Vikings managed just three victories after the bye and were eliminated from playoff contention in Week 16 with a 38–25 road loss to the Packers.[1] They joined the 1978 Redskins, 1993 Saints, 2003 Vikings, 2009 Broncos, 2009 Giants and 2015 Falcons in missing the playoffs after starting 5–0 or better. The Vikings are the only NFL team to have more than once started 5–0 or better and missed the playoffs.
The team's new stadium, U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, opened at the start of the season, with a regular season debut victory on September 18 against division rival Green Bay on NBC Sunday Night Football. It was built on the site of the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, the team's home from 1982 through 2013. The Vikings played at the outdoor TCF Bank Stadium at the University of Minnesota in 2014 and 2015. This would be the season the Vikings introduced their color rush jersey, the Minnesota Vikings debuted the Jerseys at home against Dallas.
On August 30, starting quarterback Teddy Bridgewater suffered a season-ending ACL tear and dislocated knee on a non-contact play during team practice.[2] Originally, it was reported that Bridgewater's injury would keep him out for around a year and a half, and on January 27, 2017, it was reported that it was possible he could also miss the entire 2017 season.[3] The extent of Bridgewater's injury prompted the Vikings to make a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles for former number 1 draft pick Sam Bradford, giving up a first-round pick in the 2017 NFL draft and a conditional fourth-round pick in the 2018 Draft in exchange.[4][5] Adrian Peterson's season was also hit by injury after he tore the meniscus in his right knee in the home opener against the Packers.[6][7] On September 22, Peterson underwent successful surgery to repair the meniscus. It was also revealed that the knee had a mild LCL sprain, but it did not need surgery.[8] He was placed on injured reserve on September 23, 2016,[9] and reactivated on December 17,[10] but only made six rushing attempts before leaving the game, ending his season. Peterson left the team at the end of the season, ending his 10-year tenure with the Vikings.
- ^ "NFL: After 5-0 Start, Vikings Eliminated From Playoff Race". KSFY ABC. December 24, 2016. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
- ^ Goessling, Ben (August 30, 2016). "Vikings QB Teddy Bridgewater dislocates knee, tears ACL in drill". ESPN. Retrieved August 30, 2016.
- ^ "Report: Bridgewater likely to miss 2017 season". SI.com. January 27, 2017. Retrieved January 30, 2017.
- ^ Orr, Conor (September 3, 2016). "Sam Bradford traded to Vikings for two draft picks". NFL.com. NFL Enterprises. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
- ^ Smith, Alex (September 3, 2016). "Sam Bradford Traded To Minnesota". philadelphiaeagles.com. Philadelphia Eagles. Archived from the original on September 18, 2016. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
- ^ Rosenthal, Gregg (September 19, 2016). "Adrian Peterson has torn meniscus". NFL.com. NFL Enterprises. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
- ^ Rosenthal, Gregg (September 21, 2016). "Will this be Adrian Peterson's last stand in Minnesota?". NFL.com. NFL Enterprises. Retrieved September 21, 2016.
- ^ Patra, Kevin (September 22, 2016). "Adrian Peterson undergoes successful knee surgery". NFL.com. NFL Enterprises. Retrieved September 22, 2016.
- ^ Gantt, Darin (September 23, 2016). "Vikings put Adrian Peterson on injured reserve". ProFootballTalk. NBC Sports. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
- ^ Orr, Conor (December 17, 2016). "Vikings activate RB Adrian Peterson (knee) from IR". NFL.com. NFL Enterprises. Retrieved December 17, 2016.