2004 Minnesota Vikings
The 2004 Minnesota Vikings went 8–8, finishing 2nd in the NFC North, and lost in the Divisional round. They scored 405 points and allowed 395.
- Record
- 8–8
- Home
- 5–3
- Road & neutral
- 3–5
- Points
- 405–395
- NFC North
- Place 2 of 4
- Postseason
- Lost Divisional
Where the season ranked
They scored 405 points, the sixth-most among the 32 teams, and allowed 395, the seventh-most. Their point differential was +10.
How the season unfolded
The Vikings started 3–1 and were 5–3 after eight games. They went 1–3 over the final four weeks to finish 8–8.
Their longest winning streak was four games, from Week 3 to Week 7.
Their longest losing streak was three games, from Week 8 to Week 10.
Best and worst games
Their biggest win was 35–17 over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 1 (September 12, 2004).
Their heaviest loss was 34–13 to the New York Giants in Week 8 (October 31, 2004).
They scored a season-high 38 points against the New Orleans Saints in Week 6 (October 17, 2004), winning 38–31.
In games decided by eight points or fewer, they went 5–5.
They played one overtime game and won it.
Division and playoff opponents
They went 3–3 against the NFC North, sweeping the Lions, splitting with the Bears, and getting swept by the Packers.
Against teams that reached the playoffs, they went 0–5 in the regular season.
Postseason
In the Wild Card round, they beat the Green Bay Packers 31–17 on the road.
In the Divisional round, they lost to the Philadelphia Eagles 27–14 on the road.
Before and after
That was one win fewer than in 2003, when they went 9–7.
It was the franchise’s first playoff appearance since 2000.
In 2005, they went 9–7 and missed the playoffs.
2004 schedule and results
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Sep 12, 2004 | vs Dallas Cowboys | W 35–17 |
| Week 2 | Sep 20, 2004 | at Philadelphia Eagles | L 16–27 |
| Week 3 | Sep 26, 2004 | vs Chicago Bears | W 27–22 |
| Week 5 | Oct 10, 2004 | at Houston Texans | W 34–28 (OT) |
| Week 6 | Oct 17, 2004 | at New Orleans Saints | W 38–31 |
| Week 7 | Oct 24, 2004 | vs Tennessee Titans | W 20–3 |
| Week 8 | Oct 31, 2004 | vs New York Giants | L 13–34 |
| Week 9 | Nov 8, 2004 | at Indianapolis Colts | L 28–31 |
| Week 10 | Nov 14, 2004 | at Green Bay Packers | L 31–34 |
| Week 11 | Nov 21, 2004 | vs Detroit Lions | W 22–19 |
| Week 12 | Nov 28, 2004 | vs Jacksonville Jaguars | W 27–16 |
| Week 13 | Dec 5, 2004 | at Chicago Bears | L 14–24 |
| Week 14 | Dec 12, 2004 | vs Seattle Seahawks | L 23–27 |
| Week 15 | Dec 19, 2004 | at Detroit Lions | W 28–27 |
| Week 16 | Dec 24, 2004 | vs Green Bay Packers | L 31–34 |
| Week 17 | Jan 2, 2005 | at Washington | L 18–21 |
| Wild Card | Jan 9, 2005 | at Green Bay Packers | W 31–17 |
| Divisional | Jan 16, 2005 | at Philadelphia Eagles | L 14–27 |
Counted by WHYNFL from the final score of every 2004 game. Division place uses win percentage, then point differential; the NFL's full tiebreaker procedure is not applied.