2016 Minnesota Vikings
The 2016 Minnesota Vikings went 8–8, finishing 3rd in the NFC North, and missed the playoffs. They scored 327 points and allowed 307.
- Record
- 8–8
- Home
- 5–3
- Road & neutral
- 3–5
- Points
- 327–307
- NFC North
- Place 3 of 4
- Postseason
- Did not qualify
Where the season ranked
They scored 327 points, the tenth-fewest among the 32 teams, and allowed 307, the sixth-fewest. Their point differential was +20.
How the season unfolded
The Vikings opened with four straight wins and were 5–3 after eight games. They went 2–2 over the final four weeks to finish 8–8.
Their longest winning streak was five games, from Week 1 to Week 5.
Their longest losing streak was four games, from Week 7 to Week 10.
Best and worst games
Their biggest win was 38–10 over the Chicago Bears in Week 17 (January 1, 2017).
Their heaviest loss was 34–6 to the Indianapolis Colts in Week 15 (December 18, 2016).
In games decided by eight points or fewer, they went 2–4.
They played one overtime game and lost it.
Division and playoff opponents
They went 2–4 against the NFC North, splitting with the Packers and the Bears and getting swept by the Lions.
Against teams that reached the playoffs, they went 3–4 in the regular season.
Postseason
They missed the playoffs. The lowest record among NFC playoff teams was 9–7, one game better than their record.
Before and after
That was three wins fewer than in 2015, when they went 11–5.
In 2017, they went 13–3 and returned to the playoffs.
2016 schedule and results
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Sep 11, 2016 | at Tennessee Titans | W 25–16 |
| Week 2 | Sep 18, 2016 | vs Green Bay Packers | W 17–14 |
| Week 3 | Sep 25, 2016 | at Carolina Panthers | W 22–10 |
| Week 4 | Oct 3, 2016 | vs New York Giants | W 24–10 |
| Week 5 | Oct 9, 2016 | vs Houston Texans | W 31–13 |
| Week 7 | Oct 23, 2016 | at Philadelphia Eagles | L 10–21 |
| Week 8 | Oct 31, 2016 | at Chicago Bears | L 10–20 |
| Week 9 | Nov 6, 2016 | vs Detroit Lions | L 16–22 (OT) |
| Week 10 | Nov 13, 2016 | at Washington | L 20–26 |
| Week 11 | Nov 20, 2016 | vs Arizona Cardinals | W 30–24 |
| Week 12 | Nov 24, 2016 | at Detroit Lions | L 13–16 |
| Week 13 | Dec 1, 2016 | vs Dallas Cowboys | L 15–17 |
| Week 14 | Dec 11, 2016 | at Jacksonville Jaguars | W 25–16 |
| Week 15 | Dec 18, 2016 | vs Indianapolis Colts | L 6–34 |
| Week 16 | Dec 24, 2016 | at Green Bay Packers | L 25–38 |
| Week 17 | Jan 1, 2017 | vs Chicago Bears | W 38–10 |
Counted by WHYNFL from the final score of every 2016 game. Division place uses win percentage, then point differential; the NFL's full tiebreaker procedure is not applied.