2006 Minnesota Vikings season

*Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CST
*Game weather: Indoors
*Stadium: Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
*TV announcers (FOX): Dick Stockton (play-by-play), Daryl Johnston (color commentator), and Tony Siragusa (field reporter)
*Game attendance: 63,754
*Referee: Scott Green

Staying at home, the Vikings played a fierce NFC North fight with the Chicago Bears. In the first quarter, Minnesota got on the board first with kicker Ryan Longwell completing a 31-yard field goal. The Bears would tie the game, as kicker Robbie Gould completed a 41-yard field goal. In the second quarter, Longwell would give the Vikings a small lead, as he nailed a 26-yard field goal for the only score of the period. In the third quarter, Minnesota began to trail, as Gould kicked a 24-yard and a 31-yard field goal to give Chicago a small lead. In the fourth quarter, the Vikings retook the lead as CB Antoine Winfield returned an interception 7 yards for a touchdown. Gould would give the Bears a 49-yard field goal, but Longwell answered with a 41-yard field goal for the Vikings. Unfortunately, the Vikings fell to their doom, as Chester Taylor fumbled and the Bears QB Rex Grossman completed a 24-yard TD pass to WR Rashied Davis, which would give the Vikings their first loss of the year. Of the first five games played by the Bears in the 2006 season, this was the closest game. All others have been decided by at least 26 points.

Week 4: at Buffalo Bills

*Game time: 4:15 p.m. EST/3:15 p.m. CST
*Game weather: 60°F (sunny)
*Stadium: Qwest Field, Seattle, Washington
*TV announcers (FOX): Ron Pitts (play-by-play) and Terry Donahue (color commentator)
*Game attendance: 68,118
*Referee: Walt Anderson

Coming off their Bye Week, the Vikings flew to Qwest Field and took on the Seattle Seahawks. In the first quarter, the Vikes drew first blood with kicker Ryan Longwell nailing a 33-yard field goal. Afterwards, the Seahawks responded with QB Matt Hasselbeck completing a 72-yard TD pass to WR Darrell Jackson. In the second quarter, Seattle improved its lead with kicker Josh Brown kicking a 42-yard field goal. Fortunately, Minnesota responded with QB Brad Johnson completing a 40-yard TD pass to WR Marcus Robinson. In the third quarter, the Vikings managed to retake the lead with RB Mewelde Moore throwing a 15-yard option pass to TE Jermaine Wiggins, while RB Chester Taylor ran 95 yards for a touchdown (the longest rushing TD play in franchise history). In the fourth quarter, the Seahawks would have Brown kick a 26-yard field goal. Fortunately, the Vikes pulled away and won with DT Kevin Williams recovering a Seattle fumble in their endzone. With the win, Minnesota improved to 4-2.

Week 8: vs. New England Patriots

*Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CST
*Game weather: Indoors
*Stadium: Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
*TV announcers (FOX): Kenny Albert (play-by-play), Brian Baldinger (color commentator), and Jay Glazer (field reporter).
*Game attendance: 63,924
*Referee: Terry McAulay

Trying to end their two-game skid, the Vikings flew home for an NFC North fight with the Green Bay Packers. In the first quarter, the Vkings trailed early as Packers kicker Dave Rayner nailed a 20-yard field goal, while QB Brett Favre completed a 5-yard TD pass to RB Noah Herron. In the second quarter, the Vikes took the lead as QB Brad Johnson completed a 40-yard TD pass to WR Billy McMullen. Afterwards, McMullen recovered a fumble within the Packers end zone for another touchdown. However, Green Bay retook the lead with Favre completing an 82-yard TD pass to WR Donald Driver. In the third quarter, Rayner helped the Packers with a 24-yard field goal for the only score of the period. In the fourth quarter, Rayner would boot one more field goal for Green Bay, as he kicked a 29-yard field goal. Minnesota tried to fight back, but all they could get was kicker Ryan Longwell nailing a 34-yard field goal. With their third-straight loss, the Vikings fell to 4-5.

Week 11: at Miami Dolphins

*Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CST
*Game weather: 20°F (mostly cloudy)
*Stadium: Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
*TV announcers (FOX): Dick Stockton (play-by-play), Daryl Johnston (color commentator), and Tony Siragusa (field reporter)
*Game attendance: 62,221
*Referee: Tony Corrente

Trying to build on their win over the Cardinals, the Vikings flew to Soldier Field for an NFC North rematch with the Chicago Bears. After a scoreless first quarter, the Bears drew first blood in the second quarter with DB Devin Hester returning a punt 45 yards for a touchdown. Afterwards, Minnesota had kicker Ryan Longwell nail a 23-yard field goal. In the third quarter, Longwell would kick a 30-yard field goal, but that would be as close as the Vikings got to Chicago in the game, because after Longwell's field goal, the Bears took over with DB Ricky Manning, Jr. returning an interception 54 yards for a touchdown, while RB Cedric Benson got a 24-yard TD run. By the time the fourth quarter came around, QB Brad Johnson was benched for the game, due to throwing four interceptions. Back-Up QB Brooks Bollinger took over, but he fare any better, as he got sacked in his own end zone by NT Tank Johnson for a safety. Afterwards, the Vikings would have their only successful drive of the game with RB Ciatrick Fason getting a 4-yard TD run. Afterwards, Bollinger would get his left arm sprained during a sack, so rookie QB Tarvaris Jackson came in to finish the game. With the loss, Minnesota fell to 5-7.

Week 14: at Detroit Lions

*Game time: 8:00 p.m. EST/7:00 p.m. CST
*Game weather: 36°F (rain)
*Stadium: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
*TV announcers (NFL Network): Bryant Gumbel (play-by-play) and Cris Collinsworth (color commentator)
*Game attendance: 70,864
*Referee: Gene Steratore

Trying to keep their slim playoff hopes alive, the Vikings flew to Lambeau Field for an NFC North rematch with the Green Bay Packers in a Thursday night fight. For this game, Minnesota gave rookie QB Tarvaris Jackson the start. In the first half, the Packers took an early lead as kicker Dave Rayner nailed a 38-yard field goal in the first quarter and a 44-yard field goal in the second quarter. In the third quarter, the Vikes took the lead with CB Fred Smoot returning an interception 47 yards for a touchdown. Unfortunately, in the fourth quarter, Rayner gave Green Bay the win with a 44-yard field goal. With the loss, not only did the Vikings fall to 6-9, but they also got eliminated from the NFC playoff race.

A huge cause for Minnesota's loss was that the offense was only able to get three first downs the entire game. Also, keeping with the fact that the Vikings are the most penalized team in the league this season, they committed 10 penalties for a loss of 68 yards.

Week 17: vs. St. Louis Rams

*Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CST
*Game weather: Indoors
*Stadium: Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
*TV announcers (FOX): Dan McLaughlin (play-by-play) and Tony Boselli (color commentator)
*Game attendance: 63,557
*Referee: Peter Morelli

Trying to end their season on a high note, the Vikings went home for a Week 17 intraconference fight with the St. Louis Rams. In the first quarter, Minnesota trailed early as Rams DB Ronald Bartell returned an interception 38 yards for a touchdown. Also, kicker Jeff Wilkins helped St. Louis with a 42-yard field goal. Afterwards, the Vikings managed to score with QB Tarvaris Jackson getting a 1-yard TD run. However, in the second quarter, things got worse for the Vikes as Rams RB Steven Jackson got a 4-yard TD run and even a 10-yard TD pass from QB Marc Bulger. In the third quarter, things continued to get worse for Minnesota as Wilkins kicked a 53-yard field goal, while Jackson got a 2-yard TD run. In the fourth quarter, St. Louis wrapped up its domination with Jackson with a 59-yard TD run. Afterwards, the Vikes got its remaining points with RB Chester Taylor getting a 1-yard TD run, while Tarvaris Jackson completed a 3-yard TD pass to WR Travis Taylor. With three-straight losses to close out the season, the Vikings finished at 6-10.

Division standings

References

*http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/gamebook/NFL_20060911_MIN@WAS
*http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/gamebook/NFL_20060917_CAR@MIN
*http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/gamebook/NFL_20060924_CHI@MIN
*http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/gamebook/NFL_20061001_MIN@BUF
*http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/gamebook/NFL_20061008_DET@MIN
*http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/gamebook/NFL_20061022_MIN@SEA
*http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/gamebook/NFL_20061030_NE@MIN
*http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/gamebook/NFL_20061105_MIN@SF
*http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/gamebook/NFL_20061112_GB@MIN
*http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/gamebook/NFL_20061119_MIN@MIA
*http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/gamebook/NFL_20061126_ARI@MIN
*http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/gamebook/NFL_20061203_MIN@CHI
*http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/gamebook/NFL_20061210_MIN@DET
*http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/gamebook/NFL_20061217_NYJ@MIN
*http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/gamebook/NFL_20061221_MIN@GB
*http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/gamebook/NFL_20061231_STL@MIN