The 1995 Season

1995 (8-8): Fourth in NFC Central
Head Coach: Dennis Green
9/3 L 14-31 @ Chicago 63,036
9/10 W 20-10 Detroit 52,234
9/17 L 17-23 OT Dallas 60,088
9/24 W 44-24 @ Pittsburgh 57,853
10/8 W 23-17 OT Houston 56,430
10/15 L 17-20 OT @ Tampa Bay 55,703
10/22 L 21-38 @ Green Bay 60,332
10/30 L 6-14 Chicago 61,238
11/5 W 27-24 Green Bay 62,839
11/12 W 30-24 OT @ Arizona 51,342
11/19 W 43-24 New Orleans 58,108
11/23 L 38-44 @ Detroit 74,559
12/3 W 31-17 Tampa Bay 52,879
12/9 W 27-11 Cleveland 47,984
12/18 L 30-37 @ San Francisco 64,975
12/24 L 24-27 @ Cincinnati 34,568

Key Draft Picks

Eight of the Vikings nine selections from the 1995 draft made the final team. Defensive-end Derrick Alexander was a extra first round selection that was part of the Chris Doleman trade the previous season. Also selected in the first round was a huge offensive tackle from Thee Ohio State University, Korey Stringer. Safety Orlando Thomas and cornerback Corey Fuller came along in the second-round. Quarterback Chad May was selected in the fourth-round. Miami running back James Stewart was selected in the fifth-round and was followed by defensive tackles Jose White and Jason Fisk in the seventh.

Season Summary

When David Palmer returned a punt for a touchdown on that ill-fated Thanksgiving Day game against the Detroit Lions, FOX announcer John Madden gushed, “Palmer clearly made up his mind that no one was going to catch him!” A fascinating proposition implying that on prior punt returns, Palmer had chosen to let himself be tackled. The more obvious conclusion: maybe Palmer was, like, faster?--probably never occurred to Madden whose number one priority was to discuss, instead, the proper number of turkey legs on a Thanksgiving Day turkey.

Posted by maasx003 at October 13, 2004 09:13 AM