CAROLINA PANTHERS AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS

Transcription

1 CAROLINA PANTHERS AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2008

2 WEEK 3 - CAROLINA PANTHERS (2-0) AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS (0-2) 2008 PRESEASON Date Opponent Result Aug. 8 SEATTLE SEAHAWKS L Aug. 16 at Baltimore Ravens W Aug. 23 PITTSBURGH STEELERS L Aug. 28 at Dallas Cowboys L REGULAR SEASON Sept. 8 at Green Bay Packers (MNF) L Sept. 14 INDIANAPOLIS COLTS L Sept. 21 CAROLINA PANTHERS Noon Sept. 28 at Tennessee Titans Noon Oct. 6 at New Orleans Saints (MNF) 7:30 p.m. Oct. 12 DETROIT LIONS Noon Oct. 19 at Chicago Bears Noon Oct. 26 BYE Nov. 2 HOUSTON TEXANS Noon Nov. 9 GREEN BAY PACKERS Noon Nov. 16 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers Noon* Nov. 23 at Jacksonville Jaguars Noon* Nov. 30 CHICAGO BEARS (SNF) 7:15 p.m.* Dec. 7 at Detroit Lions Noon* Dec. 14 at Arizona Cardinals 3:05 p.m.* Dec. 21 ATLANTA FALCONS Noon* Dec. 28 NEW YORK GIANTS Noon* * Game time subject to change/fl exible scheduling WEEKLY MEDIA SCHEDULE Tuesday, September 16 Players Day Off - No Access Wednesday, September 17 11:45 a.m. - Brad Childress Available 11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m. - Open Locker Room 1:30-3:30 p.m. - Practice * Thursday, September 18 11:45 a.m. - Bevell/Ferraro/Frazier Available 11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m. - Open Locker Room 1:30-3:30 p.m. - Practice * Friday, September 19 11:45 a.m.-12:50 p.m. - Practice * 12:50 p.m. - Brad Childress Available 12:50-1:35 p.m. - Open Locker Room Saturday, September 20 No Access Sunday, September 21 12:00 p.m. - Carolina Panthers at Minnesota Vikings Monday, September 22 12:35 p.m. - Brad Childress Press Conference 2:30-3:15 p.m. - Open Locker Room * Practice open through individual drills Sunday, September 21, H.H.H. Metrodome - Noon (CT) - FOX GAME SUMMARY After falling to the Indianapolis Colts last week, the Minnesota Vikings (0-2) will play their second consecutive home game this Sunday, September 21, against the Carolina Panthers (2-0). Kickoff is slated for noon at the H.H.H. Metrodome. This will be only the 8th time the two teams have matched up, with the Vikings holding the overall series lead 4-3. The Vikings are 4-2 against the Panthers at home. The last time they met, the Vikings defeated the Panthers in overtime at Minnesota. Next Sunday, September 28, the Vikings will head to Tennessee for the fi rst of two consecutive road games while the Panthers will return home to take on the Atlanta Falcons. BROADCAST COVERAGE TELEVISION: FOX (Channel 9) Play-By-Play: Ron Pitts Analyst: Tony Boselli Sideline Reporter: Charissa Thompson LOCAL RADIO: KFAN-AM 1130/KTLK FM Play-by-Play: Paul Allen Analyst: Pete Bercich Sideline Reporter: Greg Coleman Pre-Game Show: Joe Anderson 10:00 a.m. CT KFAN and KTLK serve as the fl agship stations for the 73-station, 6-state Minnesota Vikings Radio Network. A WIN WOULD... * Improve the Vikings record to 5-2 over the last seven games at home. * Improve Head Coach Brad Childress record against the Panthers to 2-0. * Improve the Vikings all-time record against the Panthers to 5-3. * Improve the Vikings record at the Metrodome to (regular season and postseason). * Improve the Vikings all-time record in September to * Improve the Vikings all-time record against the NFC South to WHAT TO WATCH FOR * This week s game features two of the top 25 all-time scorers in NFL history in K John Kasay (#13 with 1,526 points) and K Ryan Longwell (#24 with 1,265 points). * With 100+ rushing yards, RB Adrian Peterson can tie Michael Bennett for 3rd place in Vikings history with 9 career 100-yard games. He s currently tied with Bill Brown for 4th all-time with 8. * With one sack, DE Jared Allen will have 45 for his career. * With 73 receiving yards, WR Sidney Rice will reach 500 for his career. * With an INT for a TD, Darren Sharper will move into a tie for 2nd place all-time in the NFL. * With one sack, LB E.J. Henderson can move into 4th place all-time among Vikings LBs. * With a start, TE Jim Kleinsasser will have 95 for his career along with 120 games played. * With a touchdown, DT Kevin Williams will have sole possession of the all-time lead for defensive TDs by a Viking. OFFENSIVE/DEFENSIVE STATS OF THE WEEK Offense: RB Adrian Peterson currently has a career average over 100 rushing yards per game, as he has rushed for 1,604 yards in 16 career contests (100.3 yards per game). Defense: Last week the Vikings held the Colts to 25 rushing yards on 19 carries. Indianapolis had -3 rushing yards after the fi rst quarter and just 4 yards on the ground at halftime.

3 MEET THE HEAD COACHES CHILDRESS ENTERS 3RD SEASON AT HELM NFL Head Coach: 3rd Year Overall NFL Experience: 11th Year Coaching Experience: 31st Year Overall NFL Record: (.412) Regular Season: (.412) Postseason: 0-0 (.000) Record with MIN: (.412) Record vs. CAR: 1-0 (1.000) College: Eastern Illinois ( 78) Entering his third season leading the Vikings, Head Coach Brad Childress has a team built on his principles for winning football. Childress squad features strong play along both lines, a dynamic running game and an opportunistic defense. A bevy of top-fl ight linemen have been important to developing the identity of the Vikings and are now being complimented by emerging playmakers. The offseason addition of 2007 NFL sack leader and All-Pro DE Jared Allen via trade with Kansas City along with free agent starters WR Bernard Berrian, FB Thomas Tapeh, and S Madieu Williams fi lled key positions with veteran playmakers. With Allen, the Vikings now have 5 Pro Bowlers along the offensive and defensive lines and 7 members of the 2007 Pro Bowl squad. Coupled with a pair of proven 1,000-yard runners in the backfi eld and an aggressive defense with a nose for the ball, the Vikings enter 2008 with a strong nucleus of experienced talent. Since taking over the team in 2006, Childress has placed a premium on playing smart football, minimizing mistakes and winning the line of scrimmage. The 2007 Vikings became the 1st team in franchise history to rank #1 in the NFL in rushing offense and rushing defense. The duos of G Steve Hutchinson and C Matt Birk on offense joined by DTs Kevin Williams and Pat Williams on defense all made second consecutive Pro Bowl trips in The Vikings offense set franchise records by rushing for 2,634 yards (164.6 yards per game) with rookie phenom Adrian Peterson leading the way with an NFC-best 1,341 yards. Peterson s total ranked as the 2nd-highest in team history, and his 5.6 yards-per-carry average ranked 2nd-best in the NFL. Fellow RB Chester Taylor, coming off his fi rst 1,000-yard rushing season in 2006, fi nished with 844 yards and 7 TDs on 157 carries. Together Peterson and Taylor accounted for 2,185 of the team s rushing total, giving the Vikings the most dangerous rushing tandem in team history in terms of yardage. Second-year QB Tarvaris Jackson showed signifi cant improvement from year one as he threw for 1,911 yards and 9 TDs while rushing for 260 yards and 3 scores despite missing 4 games due to injury. He fi nished the season 8-4 as a starter. Defensively, the Williams tandem shut down the run better than anyone in the NFL, and the Vikings posted the #1 rush defense for the 2nd straight year. Over the past 2 seasons, the team has stifl ed opponents by allowing 67.9 yards per game, 2.9 yards per carry and 0.5 rushing TDs per game in those 32 games. Behind the rugged DTs, the Vikings have an emerging trio of linebackers who have a knack for the big play and ball-hawking defensive backs. The 2007 squad tied a francise record by scoring 6 TDs on interception returns and 2 more on fumble returns. The Vikings 13 defensive TDs (9 INTs, 4 FRs) since 2006 lead the NFL and are 5 more than the runner-up Packers 8. On special teams, the Vikings ranked 4th in the NFL with a 24.8 kickoff return average and 6th in the NFL as they held opponents to an average starting fi eld position just beyond the 26-yard line (26.2). The 2008 season marks Childress 31st in coaching and his 11th on an NFL sideline. He currently has a combined record of , including playoffs and bowl action. CHILDRESS COACHING BACKGROUND Minnesota Vikings Head Coach Philadelphia Eagles Offensive Coordinator Philadelphia Eagles Quarterbacks Wisconsin Offensive Coordinator/QBs/RBs 1990 Utah Wide Receivers Northern Arizona Offensive Coordinator 1985 Indianapolis Colts QBs/Quality Control Illinois Running Backs/Wide Receivers FOX LEADS THE PANTHERS NFL Head Coach: 7th Year Overall NFL Experience: 20th Year Coaching Experience: 31st Year Overall NFL Record: (.552) Regular Season: (.541) Postseason: 5-2 (.714) Record with CAR: Record vs. MIN: 2-1 (.666) College: San Diego State ( 77) Since taking over in 2002, John Fox has directed Carolina to two playoff appearances, two NFC Championship games and a Super Bowl. He has a combined record of , making him the winningest coach in team history. The Panthers have averaged over nine wins a season under Fox and have won fi ve of seven postseason games during that time. Fox s.714 postseason winning percentage ranks as one of the best in the NFL. Fox s best season was in 2003, when he led the Panthers to an 11-5 mark and won three consecutive playoff games before falling to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXVIII. Two years later the Panthers posted another 11-5 mark and returned to the NFC Championship, where they fell to the Seattle Seahawks. Fox s impact was immediate as he turned a 1-15 team from 2001 into a 7-9 squad in 2002, his fi rst with Carolina. The six-game improvement was the best in the NFL that season and the best jump fro a rookie head coach since the league instituted the 16-game schedule in FOX S COACHING BACKGROUND Carolina Panthers Head Coach New York Giants Defensive Coordinator 1996 St. Louis Rams Consultant Oakland Raiders Defensive Coordinator San Diego Chargers Secondary Coach Pittsburgh Steelers Secondary Coach University of Pittsburgh Defensive Coord./Secondary Coach 1985 Los Angeles Express Secondary Coach 1984 Iowa State Secondary Coach 1983 Kansas Secondary Coach 1982 Utah Secondary Coach 1981 Long Beach State Secondary Coach 1980 Boise State Secondary Coach 1979 U.S. International Assistant Coach 1978 San Diego State Graduate Assistant VIKINGS-PANTHERS ALL-TIME VIKINGS VS. PANTHERS ALL-TIME Won 4, Lost 3; Home 4-2, Away 0-1 Year... Site...Result Minnesota...W (OT) Carolina...L Minnesota...L Minnesota...L Minnesota...W Minnesota...W Minnesota...W LAST TIME The last time these two teams met was on Sunday, September 16, 2006, at the HHH Metrodome. The Vikings defeated the Panthers in head coach Brad Childress second game and fi rst home game, helping him become the fi rst Vikings coach to start his tenure 2-0. The Vikings offense was led by QB Brad Johnson who completed passes for 243 yards. On the ground RB Chester Taylor led the team in rushing with 24 carries for 143 yards. WR Troy Williamson had the fi rst 100+ yard game of his career, fi nishing with 6 catches for 102 yards. K Ryan Longwell became the fi rst kicker in Vikings history to throw a touchdown pass, as he completed a pass to TE Richard Owens on a fake fi eld goal attempt. Longwell kicked 3 fi eld goals, the last of which was a 19-yard blast in overtime for a Vikings win. WEEK 3 -- PANTHERS AT VIKINGS -- 2

4 VIKINGS-PANTHERS INFORMATION Tarvaris Jackson Ryan Longwell Adrian Peterson Chester Taylor Kevin Williams VIKINGS PERFORMANCES VS. PANTHERS Has not played against Carolina 9 games, 23-for-24 PATs, FGs, 53 points; Passing , 1 TD Has not played against Carolina 2 games, 24 carries, 133 yds, 4.7 avg. 2 games, 7 tackles, 1.0 sack, 2 PBUs VIKINGS BIG DAYS VS. PANTHERS VIKINGS VS. PANTHERS SERIES NOTES * P Chris Kluwe boomed 3 punts more than 50 yards and pinned Carolina inside its 20-yard line three times in a win (9/17/06) * K Ryan Longwell booted a 19-yard fi eld goal at the 7:25 mark of overtime to give the Vikings a win against the Panthers (9/17/06). It was one of 3 fi eld goals Longwell made on the day, leading him to NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors. * The Vikings have a combined 4-3 record against the Panthers. * Six of the seven games (7 of 8 after this week) have been in Minnesota. * The Vikings are 4-2 against the Panthers at home but lost their only matchup with Carolina on the road * Longwell also threw his fi rst career TD pass against Carolina (9/17/06) when he completed a 16-yard pass to TE Richard Owens on a fake FG, the fi rst TD pass by a kicker in Vikings history. * TE Visanthe Shicanoe caught two passes for 7 yards and a touchdown for the N.Y. Giants against Carolina on 12/28/03. * RB Chester Taylor gained 133 yards on 24 carries (4.7 avg.) the last time these two teams met (9/17/06). LAST WEEK Despite posting a 15-0 third quarter lead, the Minnesota Vikings were edged out by the Indianapolis Colts on a last minute Adam Vinatieri fi eld goal. The loss dropped the Vikings to 0-2 on the season. It was the fi rst home loss to the Colts since 1966 and the fi rst loss in the last seven home games against the Colts for the Vikings. Vikings Offense All-Pro RB Adrian Peterson did most of the damage for the Vikings offense on the day, carrying the ball 29 times for 160 yards (5.5 yard average), 118 of which came in the fi rst half. Peterson s big day resulted in a number of benchmarks for the young running back as it marked the eighth time in his two-year career that he has breached the 100-yard mark, moving him past Michael Bennett into sole possession of fi rst place for most 100-yard games rushing in his fi rst two seasons with the Vikings. Peterson also set a new team record for most consecutive 100 yard games to start a season with two. WR Bobby Wade gained the most yards through the air with 42 yards receiving on 3 receptions, followed by second-year wide out Aundrae Allison with 37 yards on 2 catches (18.5 yard average). Vikings Defense The Vikings defense was able to keep the potent Colts offense at bay for most of the night, not allowing a single point until the third quarter. The Vikings front seven held the Colts to only 25 yards rushing on 19 carries, and with the exception of two breakdowns resulting in 75 and 32-yard pass plays, the secondary limited All-Pro QB Peyton Manning to 204 yards through the air and a 72.6 QB rating. Defensive captain LB E.J. Henderson sacked Manning for a loss of 10 yards and 2007 NFL sack leader DE Jared Allen recorded his fi rst sack as a Viking. With Manning under pressure most of the afternoon the Vikings secondary was able to capitalize off of a passes into coverage. Cornerbacks Antoine Winfield and Charles Gordon both picked off Manning passes. Winfi eld was especially impressive, covering Colts star wide receiver Marvin Harrison for most of the day and limiting him to 1 catch for 16 yards. Vikings Special Teams K Ryan Longwell tied a career-best, connecting on fi ve fi eld goals, including a 53-yard boot, and accounted for all of the Vikings 15 points. The 53-yarder is tied for fourth longest in team history. Allison returned one punt for 27 yards and RB Chester Taylor returned three kicks for 93 yards, including a 37-yard scamper. Vikings P Chris Kluwe placed two kicks inside the Colts 20 yard-line, leaving the Colts at their own 3 and 10-yard lines. He also recorded a 56-yard punt in the game. * Prior to the Vikings winning the last matchup between the two teams in 2006, Carolina had won three straight. * The Vikings-Panthers series has gone in streaks, with the Vikings winning three straight and the Panthers winning three straight. * The two teams have gone into overtime once, a win for the Vikings in * Four of the seven games have been decided by a touchdown or less. * Head Coach Brad Childress fi rst home win came against Carolina. SERIES BY THE NUMBERS Record vs. Panthers... Vikings Last regular season game... Vikings 16, Panthers 13 Panthers largest winning margin points (2005) Vikings largest winning margin points (2000) Current series streak... Vikings W1 Panthers longest win streak... W3 ( ) Vikings longest win streak... W3 ( ) Most Points, Panthers...38 (2005) Most Points, Vikings...31 (2000) Most Points, both teams... 51; Panthers 38, Vikings 13 (2003) Fewest Points, Panthers...12 (1996) Fewest Points, Vikings...13 (2001, 2005) Fewest Points, both teams... 26; Vikings 14, Panthers 12 (1996) 2008 STATISTICAL SNAPSHOT (NFL Ranking following Week 2) Vikings Panthers 0-2 Record (22t) Points Per Game 23.0 (11t) 37 (10t) First Downs 32 (22t) (15) Total Offense Per Game (19t) (4) Net Rushing Yards Per Game (12) (24) Net Passing Yards Per Game (18) 1/7 (11t) Had Intercepted/Yards Returned 1/26 (11t) 4/21 (17) Sacks Allowed/Yards Lost 4/27 (16) 32:17 (6) Possession Average 31:53 (8) 31.0 (20) Third Down Efficiency 25.0 (27t) 21.0 (17) Opp. Points Per Game 20.5 (15t) 32 (9t) Opp. First Downs 29 (6) (20) Opp. Total Offense Per Game (12) 82.0 (7) Opp. Net Rushing Yards Per Game (19) (24) Opp. Net Passing Yards Per Game (13) 2/1 (6t) Defensive Interceptions/Yards 0/0 (23t) 2/15 (29) Defensive Sacks/Yards 2/14 (28) + 0 (12t) Turnover Ratio +1 (7t) 11/43.4 (21) Punts/Gross Punting Average 11/43.8 (19) 11/47 (13t) Penalties/Yards 16/94 (26) WEEK 3 -- PANTHERS AT VIKINGS -- 3

5 VIKINGS-PANTHERS INFORMATION VIKINGS-PANTHERS CONNECTIONS VIKINGS-PANTHERS CONNECTIONS - Vikings LB Vinny Ciurciu played for Carolina from , including in Super Bowl XXXVIII. - Vikings special teams coordinator Paul Ferraro served as assistant special teams coach for the Panthers in Vikings DE Otis Grigsby went to training camp with the Panthers and spent the last two weeks of the 2006 season on the team s practice squad. LOCAL CONNECTIONS - Vikings WR Aundrae Allison is a native of Kannapolis, NC, and played collegiately at East Carolina in Greenville. - Vikings RB Maurice Hicks played football at North Carolina A&T in Greensboro, NC. - Panthers K Rhys Lloyd played at the University of Minnesota in 2003 and 2004 and at Rochester Community College in Lloyd also attended high school at Eastview. NFL CONNECTIONS - Vikings G Steve Hutchinson and DT Ellis Wyms played in Seattle with Panthers WR D.J. Hackett and CB Ken Lucas. - Vikings WRs Bernard Berrian and Bobby Wade played for Chicago with Panthers S Chris Harris, WR Muhsin Muhammad and CB Dante Wesley. - Vikings S Madieu Williams played with Panthers LB Landon Johnson for Cincinnati with Vikings offensive coordinator Leslie Frazier. - Vikings TE Visanthe Shiancoe was teammates with Panthers WR Mark Jones for the New York Giants. Jones also played with Wyms in Tampa Bay while Vikings defensive backs coach Joe Woods was on staff there. - Vikings WRs coach George Stewart and OL coach Pat Morris were on staff in San Francisco when Panthers P Jason Baker and LB Jason Kyle played there. - Vikings RBs coach Eric Bieniemy and DL coach Karl Dunbar played for San Diego when Panthers head coach John Fox coached secondary. - Dunbar also played for New Orleans while Panthers assistant head coach/running backs Jim Skipper was on staff. - Vikings head coach Brad Childress, defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier, strength and conditioning coach Tom Kanavy and head athletic trainer Eric Sugarman were on Philadelphia s staff in 2002 when Baker and DT Darwin Walker played there. - Vikings tight ends coach Jimmie Johnson played for the Eagles while Panthers defensive coordinator Mike Trgovac was on staff there. - Vikings DE Jared Allen and CB Benny Sapp played with Baker in Kansas City and Vikings LB coach Fred Pagac was on staff with the Chiefs while Baker was there. - Vikings S Darren Sharper, K Ryan Longwell and WR Robert Ferguson played for Green Bay with Panthers LB Na il Diggs. Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell was also on staff with the Packers while Diggs was there. - Sharper and Longwell were also in Green Bay with Panthers defensive coordinator Mike Trgovac and linebacker coach Ken Flajole. - Vikings RB Chester Taylor played for Baltimore with Panthers DT Maake Kemoeatu, G Keydrick Vincent and while DT Gary Gibson was in 2005 training camp with the Ravens. COLLEGE CONNECTIONS - Vikings LB Chad Greenway played at Iowa with Panthers S Charles Godfrey. - Vikings OT Artis Hicks played at Memphis while Panthers offensive line coach Dave Magazu was co-offensive coordinator/offensive line coach. - Vikings WR Bernard Berrian and CB Marcus McCauley played at Fresno State with Panthers CB Richard Marshall - Vikings special teams coordinator Paul Ferraro and Panthers special teams coordinator Danny Crossman were on the same staff at Georgia Tech and Crossman took over special teams when Ferraro left to take a job at Rutgers. - Vikings FB Thomas Tapeh played at the University of Minnesota with Panthers K Rhys Lloyd. - Vikings CB Antoine Winfield played at Ohio State with Panthers LB Na il Diggs and RB Nick Goings while Vikings LB coach Fred Pagac was on staff. - Pagac also coached for Ohio State while Panthers offensive coordinator Jeff Davidson played there from Vikings DE Ray Edwards played at Purdue with Panthers LB Landon Johnson. - Vikings rookies,qb John David Booty and OL Drew Radovich played at USC with Panthers C Ryan Kalil and WR Dwayne Jarrett. - Vikings off. asst. Chad O Shea was the special teams coach and recruiting coordinator at Southern Mississippi when Panthers G Jeremy Bridges played there. - Vikings G Anthony Herrera played at Tennessee with Panthers WR Mark Jones. - Vikings WR Robert Ferguson and Panthers C Geoff Hangartner both played at Texas A&M in INDIVIDUAL LEADERS (Qualifying Players Only) 2008 Minnesota Vikings Category Player Total NFC Rank NFL Rank Scoring Longwell t...3t Rushing Yds. Peterson Rushing Att. Peterson Passing Yds. Jackson Receptions Peterson t...74t Receiving Yds. Mills t...92t Interceptions Gordon/Winfi eld t...6t Fumble Rec. None Sacks Allen/Henderson t...30t Punting Avg. Kluwe Punt Ret. Avg. Allison t...14t KO Ret. Avg. Taylor Carolina Panthers Category Player Total NFC Rank NFL Rank Scoring Kasay t...3t Rushing Yds. Stewart Rushing Att. Williams Passing Yds. Delhomme t Receptions Muhammad t...14t Receiving Yds. Muhammad Interceptions None Fumble Rec. Gamble t Sacks Diggs/Lewis t...30t Punting Avg. Baker t Punt Ret. Avg. Jones t...14t KO Ret. Avg. Stewart BEST PERFORMANCES VS. PANTHERS Most Sacks By Vikings vs. Carolina John Randle, 10/12/ Lance Johnstone, 9/22/ Talance Sawyer, 11/19/ John Randle, 11/19/ Most Tackles By Vikings vs. Carolina Jeff Brady, 10/6/ Napoleon Harris, 9/17/ Robert Griffi th, 9/9/ Longest Catches by Vikings vs. Carolina Jake Reed, 10/12/ Robert Smith, 11/19/ t Cris Carter, 11/19/ Most Receiving Yards By Vikings vs. Carolina Cris Carter, 11/19/ Randy Moss, 11/19/ Troy Williamson, 9/17/ Most Rushing Yards By Vikings vs. Carolina Robert Smith, 10/12/ Chester Taylor, 9/17/ Robert Smith, 11/19/ Robert Smith, 10/6/ WEEK 3 -- PANTHERS AT VIKINGS -- 4

6 VIKINGS TEAM NOTES VIKINGS COORDINATORS Offensive Coordinator Darrell Bevell Offensive Coordinator Darrell Bevell enters his 3rd season with the Vikings with 2 Pro Bowlers along the offensive line, the 2007 NFC-leading rusher in the backfi eld, a more experienced quarterback and a new playmaking wide receiver. In 2007, Bevell helped put together the best rushing attack in the NFL as the Vikings averaged yards per game and 5.3 yards per carry. Their 2,634 rushing yards was the highest total in team history while their 22 rushing touchdowns ranked tied for 2nd. The Vikings were led by the rushing tandem of rookie RB Adrian Peterson and RB Chester Taylor, who amassed a combined 2,185 yards on the ground, shattering Daunte Culpepper and Robert Smith s previous highest rushing total by a tandem of 1,991 yards in Against San Diego, Peterson broke the NFL single-game rushing record when he gained 296 yards on the ground. Peterson, along with C Matt Birk, G Steve Hutchinson, and FB Tony Richardson earned trips to the 2008 Pro Bowl. This offseason, Bevell s offense saw the addition of deep threat WR Bernard Berrian, FB Thomas Tapeh and RB Maurice Hicks. Asst. Head Coach/Def. Coord. Leslie Frazier On the defensive side of the ball, Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator Leslie Frazier will begin his 2nd season with the Vikings and his 9th season in the NFL. In his fi rst year with Minnesota, Frazier led the team to its 2nd-consecutive #1 ranking against the run, holding opponents to 74.1 yards per game on the ground. The team notched 8 defensive touchdowns and led the league with 6 interceptions returned for scores. The Vikings tied for 9th with 31 takeaways and tied a team record for the most defensive points scored in a season with 50 (8 touchdowns, 1 safety). Prior to joining the Vikings, Frazier won a Super Bowl in 2006 as a member of the Indianapolis Colts staff, coaching defensive backs and serving as a special assistant to Tony Dungy. During that championship season, the Colts defense posted 13 takeaways in the playoffs and allowed only 2 second-half TDs in the 4 postseason games. During the 2008 offseason, Frazier saw his unit add key pieces at defensive end with the trade for Jared Allen, who led the NFL with 15.5 sacks in 2007, and at safety with the signing of free agent Madieu Williams. Frazier now has 3 Pro Bowlers along the defensive line and 4 members of the 2007 Pro Bowl squad. Special Teams Coordinator Paul Ferraro The 2008 season marks Paul Ferraro s 3rd as the Vikings Special Teams Coordinator, his 4th season of NFL coaching and his 27th season of coaching overall. Ferraro s 2007 special teams units, the core of which have returned in 2008, were some of the most successful in team history. The 2007 squad set team records for kickoff return average, the longest kickoff return in team history, the most punts landed inside the 20, and the most 50+ yard punts. The team also converted a pair of onside kicks. Leading the way on special teams in 2007 was LB Heath Farwell, who topped the team in special teams tackles for the 2nd straight season, was voted by his teammates as the Special Teams MVP and was recognized as a Pro Bowl alternate. The Vikings ranked 4th overall in the NFL with a 24.8 kickoff return average, which also ranked as the highest return average in team history, and 6th in the NFL as they held opponents to an average starting fi eld position just beyond the 26-yard line (26.2). WR Aundrae Allison ranked #1 in the NFC and #3 in the NFL with an average of 28.7 yards per kickoff return, while Kluwe shattered his record of 28 punts inside the 20, as he landed 34. VIKINGS ASSISTANT COACHES Juney Barnett (Assistant Strength and Conditioning); Eric Bieniemy (Running Backs); Brendan Daly (Defensive Assistant/Defensive Line); Karl Dunbar (Defensive Line); Ryan Ficken (Quality Control-Offense/ Running Backs); Jim Hueber (Assistant Offensive Line); Jeff Imamura (Quality Control-Defense/Linebackers); Jimmie Johnson (Tight Ends); Tom Kanavy (Strength and Conditioning); Derek Mason (Assistant Secondary); Pat Morris (Offensive Line); Brian Murphy (Assistant Special Teams); Chad O Shea (Offensive Assistant/Wide Receivers); Fred Pagac (Linebackers); Kevin Rogers (Quarterbacks); Ryan Silverfi eld (Offensive/Defensive Assistant); Kevin Stefanski (Assistant to Head Coach); George Stewart (Wide Receivers); Martin Streight (Assistant Strength and Conditioning); Joe Woods (Defensive Backs) VIKINGS ELECT 2008 CAPTAINS The following are the Minnesota Vikings captains for the 2008 season, as voted on by teammates: Offense - Steve Hutchinson Defense - E.J. Henderson Special Teams - Ryan Longwell The Vikings will also honor offensive, defensive and special teams players of the week that will go out for the coin toss as well. VIKINGS BUILD PRACTICE SQUAD The following 8 players are currently on the Vikings practice squad: #61 Martail Burnett... DE...Rookie...Utah #75 Chris Clark... T...Rookie...Southern Miss. #63 Brian Daniels... G...1st Year...Colorado #11 Jaymar Johnson... WR...Rookie...Jackson State #68 Tim Mattran... C...Rookie...Stanford #82 Darius Reynaud... WR...Rookie...West Virginia #24 Marcus Walker... CB...Rookie...Oklahoma #34 Albert Young... RB...Rookie...Iowa VIKINGS LATEST ROSTER MOVES The following roster moves have taken place in the past week: Date Player Transaction Sept. 9 DT Leger Douzable Released from Practice Squad Sept. 9 LB Kyle Shotwell Released from Practice Squad Sept. 9 DE Martail Burnett Signed to Practice Squad Sept. 10 T Chris Clark Signed to Practice Squad VIKINGS VS. NFC/NFC SOUTH (Includes games when Tampa Bay was in NFC Central division) * The Vikings are a combined (.648) against the NFC South. * Minnesota is 20-9 against the NFC South during the month of September. * The Vikings are at home against the NFC South. * The Vikings are 1-1 in postseason action against the NFC South. * Vikings Head Coach Brad Childress is 2-0 against the NFC South, defeating Atlanta and Carolina in * Minnesota last played the entire NFC South division in 2005, fi nishing 1-3 against the four teams (win came against New Orleans). WEEK 3 -- PANTHERS AT VIKINGS --5

7 VIKINGS TEAM NOTES 2008 NFL DRAFT After trading away their 1st round pick and two 3rd round picks with Kansas City for DE Jared Allen, the Vikings used two picks on defense and three on offense in the 2008 NFL Draft. With their only selection on Day 1, the Vikings traded up in the 2nd round to take S Tyrell Johnson out of Arkansas State. Johnson was the 2nd safety drafted in 2008 and the highest drafted safety by the Vikings since Orlando Thomas in With their remaining four picks, the Vikings chose QB John David Booty, DT Letroy Guion, C John Sullivan and WR Jaymar Johnson. Round 1 Traded the #17 overall pick to Kansas City Chiefs for DE Jared Allen. Round 2 1. Tyrell Johnson (#43), S, Arkansas State (Traded Philadelphia #47 and #117 pick for #43 and #152) 2008 Totals: 2 starts, 6 tackles (6 solo) Round 3 Traded the #73 and #82 overall picks to Kansas City Chiefs for DE Jared Allen. Round 5 2. John David Booty (#137), QB, Southern California (Traded Green Bay #150 and #209 for #137) 2008 Totals: Has not played during 2008 regular season. 3. Letroy Guion (#152), DT, Florida State 2008 Totals: Has not played during 2008 regular season. Round 6 4. John Sullivan (#187), C, Notre Dame 2008 Totals: 2 games played 5. Jaymar Johnson (#193), WR, Jackson State (Practice Squad) Round 7 Traded the #209 overall pick to Green Bay OFFSEASON ACQUISITIONS In one of the most active offseasons in recent team history, the Vikings added several players via free agency, highlighted by WR Bernard Berrian (Chicago), S Madieu Williams (Cincinnati), and FB Thomas Tapeh (Philadelphia). The team also landed 2007 sack leader DE Jared Allen via a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs. Free Agency Notes WR Bernard Berrian (Chi.) Had career-best 71 catches in Has averaged 14.6 yards per catch during career S Michael Boulware (Hou.) - IR Started for Seattle in Super Bowl XL and intercepted Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger in the game RB Maurice Hicks (SF) Owns the top 2 single-season kickoff return totals in 49ers history, including team record 1,502 in 2007 CB Benny Sapp (KC) Snared INT off Brett Favre vs. Green Bay last season FB Thomas Tapeh (Phi.) Helped Eagles advance to Super Bowl XXXIX after the 2004 season S Madieu Williams (Cin) Has 9 career INTs, 5 of which have come in the past 2 seasons...also has 268 career tackles DE Ellis Wyms (Sea.) Posted a sack on NFL MVP Rich Gannon in Super Bowl XXXVII during Tampa Bay Buccaneers win Trade DE Jared Allen Notes Led the NFL with 15.5 sacks in 2007 despite missing 2 games...earned 1st Pro Bowl and All-Pro Honors VIKINGS FACTS AND FIGURES Oldest Vikings player Gus Frerotte, 37 Born 7/31/71 Youngest Vikings player Letroy Guion, 21 Born 6/21/87 Most seasons as a Viking Matt Birk 11th Vikings season Most NFL seasons Gus Frerotte 15th season in the NFL College with the most Vikings Maryland, 4 Jeff Dugan, E.J. Henderson, Erin Henderson, Madieu Williams Conference with the most Vikings Big 12 9 players on 08 roster Largest Viking Bryant McKinnie, T Stands 6-8 and weighs 335 pounds Smallest Viking Antoine Winfi eld, CB Stands 5-9 and weighs 180 pounds Former 1 st -round draft picks 7 Chad Greenway, Steve Hutchinson, Bryant McKinnie, Adrian Peterson, Kenechi Udeze, Kevin Williams, Antoine Winfi eld Pro Bowlers 7 Jared Allen, Matt Birk, Steve Hutchinson, Adrian Peterson, Darren Sharper, Kevin Williams, Pat Williams Coaches who played in the NFL 5 Eric Bieniemy, Karl Dunbar, Leslie Frazier, Jimmie Johnson, Fred Pagac NEW FACES The Vikings have 15 new faces from the 2007 season - S Husain Abdullah, DE Jared Allen, WR Bernard Berrian, QB John David Booty, QB Gus Frerotte, DT Letroy Guion, LB Erin Henderson, RB Maurice Hicks, S Tyrell Johnson, T Drew Radovich, S Benny Sapp, C John Sullivan, FB Thomas Tapeh, S Madieu Williams, and DT Ellis Wyms WEEK 3 -- PANTHERS AT VIKINGS -- 6

8 VIKINGS TEAM NOTES The Vikings have 7 rookies on their current roster: HEY ROOK! DRAFT CHOICES * Tyrell Johnson Vikings fi rst pick in 2008 NFL Draft (2nd round, 43rd overall) Second safety drafted in 2008 and highest-drafted safety by the Vikings since Orlando Thomas in 1995 Highest-drafted Arkansas State defensive player since Cincinnati selected LB Bill Bergey #31 overall in * John David Booty Played at USC under former Vikings assistant Pete Carroll Left USC ranked 4th in career TD passes and 5th in career passing yards 6th QB selected in 2008 NFL Draft Brother, Josh, was a QB with the Cleveland Browns. * Letroy Guion First Florida State player drafted by the Vikings since CB Corey Fuller in 1995 Youngest Viking, turned 21 on 6/21/08. * John Sullivan Fourth center taken in 2008 NFL Draft; fi rst Notre Dame center since 2003 Served as team captain his senior season. ROOKIE FREE AGENTS * S Husain Abdullah Honorable Mention All-Pac 10 as a senior Named Cougars Defensive MVP Brother, Hazma, was a starter for Denver Broncos in 2007 Teammates at WSU with Eric Frampton. * LB Erin Henderson Brother of Vikings starting MLB E.J. Henderson, he and E.J. have never been teammates before Led ACC in tackles in 2007 and fi nished 9th in the nation with tackles per game Named 2007 Honorable Mention All-American by Pro Football Weekly, Rivals.com, SI.com and College Football News. * Drew Radovich Teammates at USC with John David Booty Father, Mark, was a LB at Arizona State ( ) Member of the 2006 and 2007 Rose Bowl Championship squads. INTERNATIONAL VIKINGS The Vikings have three players who were born outside of the United States: * G Anthony Herrera was born in Trinidad, Tobago, before emigrating to the United States as a child, arriving in Florida on his 14th birthday. Herrera became a U.S. citizen in the spring of * FB Thomas Tapeh was born in Liberia and moved to the United States with his mother and two sisters when he was nine years old. * S Madieu Williams is a native of Sierra Leone. He moved to Maryland with his family at age nine. NFL WEEK THREE SCHEDULE (All Times Cenral) Sunday, September 21 Carolina at Minnesota... Noon Kansas City at Atlanta... Noon Oakland at Buffalo... Noon Tampa Bay at Chicago... Noon Miami at New England... Noon Cincinnati at NY Giants... Noon Houston at Tennessee... Noon Arizona at Washington... Noon New Orleans at Denver...3:05 p.m. Detroit at San Francisco...3:05 p.m. St. Louis at Seattle...3:05 p.m. Cleveland at Baltimore...3:15 p.m. Jacksonville at Indianapolis...3:15 p.m. Pittsburgh at Philadelphia...3:15 p.m. Dallas at Green Bay...7:15 p.m. Monday, September 22 N.Y. Jets at San Diego...7:30 p.m. VIKINGS INACTIVES The following players were inactive last week vs. Indianapolis: #4 John David Booty... QB #20 Madieu Williams... S #21 Marcus McCauley... CB #43 Maurice Hicks... RB #50 Erin Henderson... LB #60 Drew Radovich... T #83 Jeff Dugan... TE #98 Letroy Guion... DT NFL STANDINGS AFC East Team W L T Pct. PF PA Home Away Conf. Div. New England Buffalo N.Y. Jets Miami AFC North Team W L T Pct. PF PA Home Away Conf. Div. Baltimore Pittsburgh Cleveland Cincinnati AFC South Team W L T Pct. PF PA Home Away Conf. Div. Tennessee Indianapolis Jacksonville Houston AFC West Team W L T Pct. PF PA Home Away Conf. Div. Denver Oakland San Diego Kansas City NFC East Team W L T Pct. PF PA Home Away Conf. Div. N.Y. Giants Dallas Philadelphia Washington NFC North Team W L T Pct. PF PA Home Away Conf. Div. Green Bay Chicago Detroit Minnesota NFC South Team W L T Pct. PF PA Home Away Conf. Div. Carolina New Orleans Tampa Bay Atlanta NFC West Team W L T Pct. PF PA Home Away Conf. Div. Arizona San Fran St. Louis Seattle WEEK 3 -- PANTHERS AT VIKINGS -- 7

9 VIKINGS TEAM NOTES 2008 STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE The Vikings face the toughest strength of schedule of all NFC teams during the 2008 NFL season. Minnesota hosts the past two Super Bowl Champions - N.Y. Giants and Indianapolis Colts and plays six teams that went to the 2007 playoffs - Green Bay, Indianapolis, Tennessee, Tampa Bay, Jacksonville and N.Y. Giants NFL Strength of Schedule Team 2007 Pct./W-L Pittsburgh Steelers.598 / Indianapolis Colts.594 / Jacksonville Jaguars.559 / Minnesota Vikings.551 / Baltimore Ravens.551 / Cincinnati Bengals.547 / Cleveland Browns.547 / Houston Texans.547 / Detroit Lions.543 / Tennessee Titans.543 / Chicago Bears.531 / Green Bay Packers.531 / Dallas Cowboys.523 / Washington Redskins.523 / NY Giants.520 / Philadelphia Eagles.520 / St. Louis Rams.488 / San Francisco 49ers.484 / Seattle Seahawks.477 / Tampa Bay Buccaneers.469 / Arizona Cardinals.465 / Carolina Panthers.465 / Miami Dolphins.465 / Atlanta Falcons.461 / NY Jets.457 / Kansas City Chiefs.453 / Buffalo Bills.449 / New Orleans Saints.449 / Denver Broncos.445 / Oakland Raiders.438 / San Diego Chargers.422 / New England Patriots.387 / DOME FIELD ADVANTAGE The Vikings currently have a combined record of (.640) at the HHH Metrodome in the regular season and the playoffs. The team has never been shut out at the Dome and hasn t been shut out at a home stadium since 10/7/62, when they lost 13-0 to Chicago at Met Stadium. COACH CHILDRESS ON... The Vikings 0-2 start... We re all in this together. The last time I checked, they re not going to crown anybody king after one game or after two games. That s why we press on. Even though it s a marathon, these games are one-play sprints. One play after another play, after another play, after another play, quarter-by-quarter. We get to do it again next week here against a good football team. We ve played two good football teams. We played them close. We haven t been able to get over the top, but we re going to continue to press on. The Vikings defensive line play vs. Indianapolis... I thought they ramped it up. I thought they made (Manning) uncomfortable a lot of the day. I thought they pushed the pocket pretty well. Obviously they got to him a little bit and knocked him down a little bit. That s what they need to do, is make those quarterbacks uncomfortable. Finishing games strong... When I talk about closing people out and winning, last week we had a chance to come up the fi eld and win the game. This week we re trying to hold them off to have a chance to win the game. We need to be able to close them out both ways. PRACTICE SQUAD MAKES PERFECT The Vikings have several players on the 53-man roster who have climbed the NFL ladder, starting their careers as practice squad players. Vikings starting RG Anthony Herrera was a practice squad player as a rookie in Vikings CB Charles Gordon and LB David Herron began their careers as practice squad members with the club and moved into regular roles with the team. Veteran RB Maurice Hicks was a member of the 49ers practice squad in 2004 before moving to the active roster and setting team record for kickoff return yards in 2006 and Special teams standout Vinny Ciurciu entered the NFL in 2003 on the Panthers practice squad but ended that season playing in the Super Bowl for the team against New England. The Vikings top special teams player, Heath Farwell (IR), came into the NFL as a rookie free agent and spent the majority of his rookie season on the Vikings practice squad before moving to the active roster. UNDRAFTED DOESN T MEAN UNDESERVING For many NFL players, not being selected in the 7 rounds of the draft is extra motivation to prove their worth. The Vikings feature a number of undrafted players who have earned valuable roles on the team. The most notable is 2-time Pro Bowl DT Pat Williams, who was a rookie free agent with Buffalo in 1997 before moving into a starting role with the Bills in The Vikings had 3 undrafted rookies make the 53-man roster in LB Erin Henderson, S Hussain Abdullah and T Drew Radovich. Vikings long snapper Cullen Loeffler was a rookie free agent with the club as was starting RG Anthony Herrera and DB/return man Charles Gordon. Vikings lineman Artis Hicks was a rookie free agent with the Eagles and went on to start in the Super Bowl for the team. The Vikings most notable all-time undrafted players include future Ring of Honor inductees John Randle and Mick Tingelhoff. VIKINGS PRONUNCIATION GUIDE Players Husain Abdullah - WHO-sane ab-dul-la Bernard Berrian - bare-e-an Vinny Ciurciu - chur-choo Jeff Dugan - DOO-gan Gus Frerotte - FUR-ott Letroy Guion - LA-troy GUY-on Otis Grigsby - grigs-bee Anthony Herrera - HA-rare-ah Tarvaris Jackson - ta-var-is Tyrell Johnson - TIE-rell Jim Kleinsasser - KLINE-sauce-er Chris Kluwe - CLUE-ee Ben Leber - LEE-ber Cullen Loeffl er - LEFF-ler Brian Robison - ROB-ah-sin Visanthe Shiancoe - vi-sahn-tay SHANK-oh Naufahu Tahi - nah-fah-who TAH-hee Thomas Tapeh - ta-pay Madieu Williams - muh-dee-you Antoine Winfi eld - an-twan Ellis Wyms - wims Coaches Eric Bieniemy - bee-en-uh-me Tom Kanavy - ka-nay-vee Fred Pagac - PUG-itch AT WEEK 3 -- PANTHERS AT VIKINGS-- 8

10 VIKINGS OFFENSIVE TEAM NOTES VIKINGS RUSHING OFFENSE UNDER CHILDRESS Since Brad Childress took over in 2006, the Vikings have rushed for 4,821 yards over the past three seasons, which ranks 3rd in the NFL during that time frame. The team has averaged yards per game over the past 34 contests. The Vikings fi nished with the #1 rushing offense in 2007 with 2,634 yards, and currently the team ranks 4th in 2008 with 367 yards on the ground Rushing Yards Per Game Team/GP Attempts Yards Yds Per Game 1) Baltimore/ ) Oakland/ ) Atlanta/ ) Minnesota/ ) N.Y. Giants/ Rushing Yards (Regular Season) Team Attempts Yards 1) Jacksonville... 1, ,063 2) Atlanta ,882 3) Minnesota... 1, ,821 4) San Diego... 1, ,802 * The team s 4.8 yards-per-carry average over the past three seasons ranks 2nd, behind the Atlanta Falcons 4.9 average. Rushing Average (Regular Season) Team Attempts Yards Avg. 1) Atlanta , ) Minnesota... 1, , * The Vikings 137 rushes of 10+ yards from ranks 2nd in the league (13.6% of Vikings rushes). Rushes of 10+ Yards Team Rushes of 10+ Yards 1) Jacksonville ) Minnesota ) Atlanta Falcons * RB Chester Taylor s 95-yard TD run against Seattle (2006) ranks as the longest run in the NFL in the past three years. * The Vikings have scored 35 rushing touchdowns, which ranks 6th in the NFL. * In 2007, the Vikings offense ranked tied for 6th in the league in explosive plays (10+ yards) with 213 (87 rush, 126 pass). The team also scored 19 touchdowns on plays of 10+ yards, which ranked tied for 9th in the NFL. The Vikings 87 rushes of 10+ yards in 07 led the league and the19.4 yards-per-rush average of those 87 carries also ranked 1st. * The Vikings 2007 ground attack ranked #1 all-time in team history and the 5.3 yards-per-carry average also ranks tied for 1st. The Vikings 22 rushing TDs that year ranks tied for 2nd all-time. Vikings Single-Season Rushing Yards 1) 2, ) 2, ) 2, Vikings Single-Season Rushing Average 1t) t) VIKINGS QUARTERBACKS Third-year QB Tarvaris Jackson returns to lead the Vikings in 2008 after serving as the team s starter in Jackson has started 16 of 18 games played since coming into the league as a rookie in He has completed 248 of 434 passes (57.1%) for 2,694 yards and 12 TDs while rushing 79 times for 403 yards (5.1 yards per carry) during his career. Backup QB Gus Frerotte returns for a second stint with the Vikings in 2008 after playing with the Miami Dolphins in 2005 and the St. Louis Rams for the past two seasons. Frerotte spent the seasons with the Vikings where he started two games (both wins) and completed 38-of-66 (57.6%) passes for 690 yards and 7 touchdowns. He set the franchise record for single-game passer rating at points and threw 4 TDs in his fi rst Vikings start. Frerotte is in his 15th year in the NFL in He has started 84 career games, including playoff games for two different teams. QB John David Booty was drafted by the Vikings out of USC in the 5th round (137 overall) of the 2008 draft. While with the Trojans, he posted a 20-3 record as a starter. He currently ranks 4th on the all-time USC career TD passing list with 55 TDs. ACTION JACKSON QB Tarvaris Jackson has completed 30-of- 59 passes (50.8%) for 308 yards and a touchdown through two games in He has also run the ball 10 times for 66 yards (6.6 avg.) After returning from a concussion suffered in Week 9 of the 2007 season, Jackson completed 120-of-174 passes (69.0%) for 1,311 yards and 7 TDs in the last 7 games. He averaged passing yards per game after his return, and he rushed for two scores and two 2-point conversions. His four throws of 60+ yards ranks 2nd for the most in a season. Jackson finished 8-4 as a starter in 2007 and 7-3 in his last 10 starts with wins over 2006 playoff teams Chicago (twice), San Diego and the N.Y. Giants. Two of his losses came in overtime on the road. Rushing TDs By Vikings Quarterbacks In First Two Seasons Player Rushing TDs 1) Fran Tarkenton, ) Daunte Culpepper, ) Joe Kapp, ) Tarvaris Jackson, Two-Point Conversions In A Game - NFL Tarvaris Jackson, Minnesota at Denver, 12/30/ Reggie Bush, New Orleans vs. St. Louis, 11/11/ Todd Heap, Baltimore vs. Cincinnati, 10/19/ Marshall Faulk, St. Louis vs. Atlanta, 10/15/ Charles Johnson, Pittsburgh vs. Tennessee, 11/1/ Terrell Davis, Denver vs. Atlanta, 9/28/ Michael Jackson, Baltimore vs. New England, 10/6/ Brett Perriman, Detroit vs. Green Bay, 11/6/ EFFICIENT ON 4TH DOWN The Vikings are currently tied for 1st in the NFL on fourth down effi ciency, going 2-for-2 against the Packers in Week 1. Vikings th Down Attempts Game Situation Result at Green Bay, 9/8/ , GB Jackson 23t pass to Rice at Green Bay, 9/8/ , GB Jackson 3 run Vikings Single-Season Rushing Touchdowns 1) t) t) WEEK 3 -- PANTHERS AT VIKINGS -- 9

11 VIKINGS OFFENSIVE TEAM NOTES VIKINGS RUNNING BACKS The Vikings currently boast one of the most dangerous running attacks in the NFL, led by RBs Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor. Together the two accounted for 2,185 yards on the ground in 2007, which surpassed Robert Smith and Daunte Culpepper s 1,991 combined rushing yards in Peterson and Taylor also fi nished #2 and #3 in the league with rushing averages of 5.6 and 5.4 yards-per-carry respectively. Peterson broke the NFL record for most rushing yards in a single game with 296 against the San Diego Chargers and Taylor has the longest run in Vikings history with a 95-yard scamper at Seattle (2006). RB Maurice Hicks joined the Vikings in the 2008 offseason, after spending the previous four years with the San Francisco 49ers. With the 49ers, Hicks had 205 career carries for 869 yards (4.2 avg.) and six touchdowns. He was also a weapon on special teams as he owns the top two single-season kickoff return totals in 49ers history, including the team record of 1,502 in Also joining the Vikings during the 2008 offseason was FB Thomas Tapeh. Tapeh, who graduated high school in St. Paul, MN, and attended the University of Minnesota, is in his 5th year in the NFL, having played with the Philadelphia Eagles from Tapeh played with the Eagles when Vikings Head Coach Brad Childress was the Eagles offensive coordinator, and both men helped the Eagles advance to Super Bowl XXXIX after the 2004 season. Tapeh helped RB Brian Westbrook set a career-high with 1,333 rushing yards and opened holes for Westbrook to break the 100-yard mark 14 times during , including playoffs. FBs Jeff Dugan and Naufahu Tahi round out the Vikings backfi eld. Dugan, a 7th-round draft choice (220 overall) in 2004, has started 12 games during his Vikings career, including 7 in He is a physical blocker who helped the Vikings set a team record with 2,634 rushing yards in He can also line up at TE. Tahi is in his 3rd year in the NFL and with the Vikings. He was originally picked up by the Vikings from the Cincinnati Bengals practice squad. WINNING ON THE GROUND The Vikings are a combined 10-4 when one of their current running backs rushes for 100 yards. Adrian Peterson - 8 games record vs. San Diego, 11/4/07 W at Chicago, 10/14/07 W vs. Indianapolis, 9/14/08 L vs. Detroit, 12/2/07 W vs. Green Bay, 9/30/07 L at Green Bay, 9/8/08 L vs. Atlanta, 9/9/07 W at Kansas City, 9/23/07 L Chester Taylor - 6 games record at Seattle, 10/22/06 W vs. Oakland, 11/18/07 W vs. Arizona, 11/26/06 W vs. Detroit, 10/8/06 W vs. Carolina, 9/17/06 W at San Francisco, 12/9/07 W RUSHING YARDS BY A TANDEM The rushing tandem of Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor ranked as the best in team history in terms of yardage in Together the two accounted for 2,185 yards on the ground, which surpassed Robert Smith and Daunte Culpepper s 1,991 combined rushing yards in Peterson and Taylor also finished #2 and #3 in the league with rushing averages of 5.6 and 5.4 respectively. RUSHING TO THE TOP RB Adrian Peterson leads the NFL in rushing through Week 2 of the 2008 NFL season with 263 yards. He became the fi rst Vikings RB in team history to break the 100-yard plateau in the opening two games of the season and he ran for his 8th career 100-yard game vs. Indianapolis, which is tied for 4th in Vikings history. His 160 yards on the day against the Colts is his 3rd best game as a pro. Peterson has a career average over 100 yards per game, rushing for 1,604 yards in 16 career contests. Peterson became only the 2nd RB in Vikings history to rush for 100+ yards in consecutive openers- vs. Atlanta in 2007 and at Green Bay in He joined Vikings all-time leading rusher Robert Smith in the feat, which he accomplished in the 1996 and 1997 openers. Peterson can join Smith and Chuck Foreman as the only Vikings RBs to post consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons if he continues his pace NFL Rushing Leaders 1) Adrian Peterson, MIN ) Michael Turner, ATL ) Willie Parker, PIT Vikings Career 100-Yard Rushing Performances 1) Robert Smith ) Chuck Foreman ) Michael Bennett ) Adrian Peterson ) Bill Brown ) Terry Allen... 7 Peterson s 100-Yard Rushing Performances vs. Atlanta, 9/9/ at Kansas City, 9/23/ vs. Green Bay, 9/30/ at Chicago, 10/14/ vs. San Diego, 11/4/ vs. Detroit, 12/2/ at Green Bay, 9/8/ vs. Indianapolis, 9/14/ Peterson s Career Touchdowns Game Play vs. Atlanta, 9/9/ pass from Jackson at Kansas City, 9/23/ run at Chicago, 10/14/ run, 73 run, 35 run at Dallas, 10/21/ run vs. San Diego, 11/4/ run, 64 run, 46 run vs. Detroit, 12/2/ run, 13 run vs. Chicago, 12/17/ run, 8 run at Green Bay, 9/8/ run FOOTBALL HAT TRICK RB Adrian Peterson and former RB Chuck Foreman are the only running backs in team history to rush for 3 TDs in single games twice during their Vikings careers. The 2007 Vikings were also the first team in franchise history to ever have a running back rush for 3 TDs in a single game more than once in a season Vikings 3-Rushing TD Performances Adrian Peterson... at Chicago, 10/14/07 Adrian Peterson... vs. San Diego, 11/4/07 Chester Taylor...vs. Oakland, 11/18/07 Most Rushing Yards By A Tandem - Vikings 2, : Adrian Peterson-1,341; Chester Taylor-844 1, : Robert Smith-1,521; Daunte Culpepper-470 WEEK 3 -- PANTHERS AT VIKINGS -- 10

12 VIKINGS OFFENSIVE/DEFENSIVE TEAM NOTES VIKINGS OFFENSIVE LINE The Vikings offensive line is anchored by two perennial Pro Bowlers in C Matt Birk and G Steve Hutchinson. Birk, who has played in 131 career games with 108 starts since being drafted by the Vikings in 1998, has played in six Pro Bowls ( ), which is tied with Mick Tinglehoff for the most by a Vikings center. He has paved the way for some of the best rushing performances in Vikings history, having been a fi xture in the lineup for four of the Vikings top fi ve single-season performances during his seven seasons as a full-time starter. He has also helped set the top three team rushing marks. Hutchinson joined the Vikings in 2006 and helped the team lead the NFL in rushing yards in 2007 with 2,634. Widely considered the top guard in the NFL, he has appeared in fi ve Pro Bowls and is a 5-time All-Pro. Hutchinson has blocked for 1,000-yard rushers in each of his seven NFL seasons. Also starting along the line are T Ryan Cook, G Anthony Herrera and T Artis Hicks. Currently T Bryant McKinnie is serving a four-game suspension, which he will return from when the Vikings head to New Orleans. Backup tackles Marcus Johnson and Drew Radovich, along with C John Sullivan, fi ll out the rest of the offensive line. FOLLOWING ROUTE 76 Since joining the Vikings in 2006, perennial All-Pro LG Steve Hutchinson has proven his worth. In 34 games with the Vikings he has blocked for a 100-yard rusher 15 times (Adrian Peterson-8, Chester Taylor-6, Artose Pinner-1). Hutchinson has now blocked for a 100-yard rusher 46 times in his career and has made room for 3 games with a runner over 200 yards. Hutchinson has had a 1,000-yard rusher behind him in each of his 7 NFL seasons and is off to a fast start again in VIKINGS WIDE RECEIVERS In 2008 the Vikings receiving core will benefi t from the addition of big-play WR Bernard Berrian, who was acquired as a free agent from Chicago this past offseason. The former 3rd round draft pick of the Bears played four seasons for the Vikings NFC North foe and used his exceptional speed to rack up 2,197 yards off 150 receptions. Berrian joins incumbents Sidney Rice and Bobby Wade as the Vikings starting wideouts. Rice, 22 years old, enters his second season in Minnesota. As a rookie Rice gained 396 yards and scored four touchdowns. His four trips to the end zone ranked him second behind Kansas City s Dwayne Bowe for rookie TD catches. The former high school quarterback also threw two passes on trick plays that resulted in 94 yards for the Vikings. His longest pass, 79 yards, is the longest in Vikings history by a non-quarterback. Bobby Wade returns to his preferred slot position in 2008 after a strong season last year in which he led the Vikings in receptions with 54, which was also a career high. Second-year man Aundrae Allison, holder of the longest play in Vikings history a 104-yard kickoff return - and Robert Ferguson round out the receiving core. RICE IS NICE 2007 NFL Rookie Receiving TDs 1) Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City...5 2t) Sidney Rice, Minnesota...4 2t) Calvin Johnson, Detroit...4 4) Matt Spaeth, Pittsburgh...3 WR Sidney Rice tied for 2nd among rookie wide receivers with 4 touchdown receptions in 2007 and is off to a fast start in 2008, catching a TD against Green Bay in week one. Rice had 31 catches for 396 yards and 4 TDs in 07, including a 60-yarder and a 40-yarder, on the season. He averaged 12.8 yards per catch. Rice also threw 2 passes for 94 yards and a TD in 2007, giving him a passer rating of VIKINGS DEFENSIVE LINE The Vikings defensive line contains three Pro Bowlers in defensive tackles Kevin Williams and Pat Williams and newcomer DE Jared Allen. Together Kevin and Pat, along with defensive ends Ray Edwards and Kenechi Udeze (on reserve/non-football illness list in 2008), have formed the toughest defensive line in the NFL against the run over the past two years. In 2007, the team allowed an average of 74.1 yards per game on the ground, and only three teams - Dallas, Washington and Denver - gained 100 yards rushing, while the longest individual rush was for 30 yards. The previous season the Vikings allowed just 985 rushing yards (61.6 per game), which ranked 2nd since the 1969 AFL-NFL merger to only the 2000 Baltimore Ravens, who gave up only 970 rushing yards during their Super Bowl Championship season. Kevin has played in three Pro Bowls while Pat has played in the past two. In one of the biggest 2008 offseason moves in the NFL, Allen joined the Vikings via a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs. Having led the NFL in sacks with 15.5 in 2007 despite missing two games, Allen earned his fi rst Pro Bowl and All-Pro Honors that season. He ranks 2nd to only DE Jason Taylor with 43.0 sacks since entering the league in Filling out the rest of the line is Edwards, who tied for the team lead in sacks in 07 with 5.0, as well as defensive tackles Ellis Wyms, Leger Douzable and defensive ends Otis Grigsby and Brian Robison. Wyms joined the Vikings via free agency during the 2008 offseason and Douzable was drafted by the team in the 5th round of the 2008 draft (152 overall). Robison earned all-rookie honors in 2007 as he ranked 3rd among NFL rookies with 4.5 sacks. WILLIAMS WRITES HISTORY In Week 14 last season at San Francisco, DT Kevin Williams scored his 4th career TD on an 18-yard INT return, moving him into a 1st-place tie for the most career defensive touchdowns (INTs and FRs) in Vikings history. The interception was also Williams 2nd on the season, which tied a team record for the most in a season by a defensive lineman, and his 4th career pick, which is a team record for the most in a career by a defensive lineman. Williams NFL TDs vs. Jacksonville, 11/28/ fumble return at Seattle, 10/22/ fumble return vs. Atlanta, 9/9/ INT return at San Francisco, 12/9/ INT return Most Career Defensive Touchdowns (INT-FR) - Vikings 1t) Kevin Williams, (2-2)...4 1t) Orlando Thomas, (2-2)...4 1t) Dewayne Washington, (3-1)...4 1t) Joey Browner, (3-1)...4 1t) Bobby Bryant, (3-1)...4 1t) Paul Krause, (2-2)...4 1t) Ed Sharockman, (3-1)...4 Most Career Interceptions By A Defensive Lineman - Vikings 1) Kevin Williams, ) Chris Doleman, , t) 4 Players... 2 Most Single Season INTs By A Defensive Lineman - Vikings 1t) Kevin Williams, t) Tim Newton, TM WEEK 3 -- PANTHERS AT VIKINGS -- 11

13 VIKINGS DEFENSIVE TEAM NOTES NOWHERE TO RUN The Vikings have allowed only two 100-yard individual rushing performances in the past 34 games. Only St. Louis Rams RB Steven Jackson (12/31/06) and Green Bay Packers RB Ryan Grant (9/8/08) have reached the century mark during that time with 142 and 119 yards respectively. Over the past three seasons ( ), the Vikings have given up a total of 2,334 rushing yards. Opponents are averaging just 68.6 rushing yards per game during that time. The Vikings ranked #1 against the rush in both 2006 and 2007 and are currently ranked 7th in 2008, having given up 164 yards through two games. Opponents Average Rushing Yards Per Game Season Avg. Yds/Game(Rank) (1st) (1st) (7th) Opponents Average Rushing Yards Per Carry Season Avg. Yds/Carry (Rank) (1st) (2nd) (7th) Opponents Rushing Touchdowns Season Rushing TDs (Rank) (T-4th) (T-3rd) (T-15th) Opponents Rushes For Negative Yards (No Kneeldowns) Season Negative Rushes (Rank) Yards Lost (Rank) (1st) (1st) (1st) (1st) (T-2nd) (T-8th) ALLEN NOTCHES FIRST VIKINGS SACK Vikings newly-acquired DE Jared Allen, who fi nished as the 2007 NFL sack leader with 15.5 sacks, notched his fi rst sack as a Viking in Week 2 vs. Indianapolis when he caught QB Peyton Manning for a 5-yard loss. It was Allen s fi rst sack of Manning and his 44th career sack. Currently Allen s one sack ranks tied for 14th in the NFL. Since entering the league in 2004, Allen s 44.0 sacks rank 2nd in the NFL behind only Redskins DE Jason Taylor, who has 47.0 during that time frame. NFL Sack Leaders from Player Sacks 1) Jason Taylor ) Jared Allen t) Patrick Kerney t) Aaron Schobel NFL Sack Leaders Player Sacks 1) Jared Allen ) Patrick Kerney t) Demarcus Ware t) Mario Williams HURRY UP AND THROW DE Ray Edwards currently leads the Vikings with 8 quarterback hurries. Against Indianapolis and Peyton Manning in Week 2, Edwards tied a career-high with 5 hurries, while at Green Bay, he was only one of two Vikings to notch a QB hurry of Aaron Rodgers, which he did 3 times. VIKINGS LINEBACKERS A trio of ball-hawking linebackers return for the Vikings in 2008, including 2007 Team Defensive MVP and 2008 defensive captain E.J. Henderson. The middle linebacker, Henderson has led the Vikings in tackles in each of the past two seasons with 155 and 142 tackles respectively. Henderson also has recorded 7.5 of his 9.5 sacks over the past two seasons as well as scoring his lone career touchdown on a 45-yard interception return in Flanking Henderson are Ben Leber and Chad Greenway. Leber, a seven year veteran out of Kansas State, was acquired by the Vikings from San Diego in Leber has three-times been a starter on the NFL s number-one rated rush defense with San Diego in 2005 and Minnesota in 2006 and Leber also tied for the team lead in sacks with 5. Greenway will start his second season at linebacker after missing all of his rookie season with a knee injury. Greenway was a fi rst round selection (17th overall) of the Vikings in 2006 after an impressive college campaign where was named an All-American his senior year. In his fi rst year starting for the Vikings in 2007 Greenway showed his playmaking abilities as he led the team in takeaways with 6 (4 FR, 2 INT) and was second on the team with 130 tackles. His four fumble recoveries tied him for the NFL lead. Green way also returned an interception for a touchdown off of eventual Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning. Second-year man out of Michigan State David Herron, former Carolina Panther and Boston College Eagle Vinny Ciurciu, and rookie Erin Henderson, brother of E.J. and Maryland product, round out the linebacking core for Defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier and linebackers coach Fred Pagac. LB Heath Farwell, who led the team in special teams tackles in both 2006 and 2007 with 25 and 32 respectively, was lost for the 2008 season with a torn ACL in the fi rst preseason game. MAN IN THE MIDDLE Currently Vikings captain LB E.J. Henderson leads the team with 16 tackles (12 solo). He also has one of the team s two sacks. Over the past four years ( ) Henderson has led the team in tackles three times. In 2004 he led the squad with 125 stops. In 2006 his 142 tackles led the Vikings and last year his 155 stops were a career--high and led the team. He was named the team s 2007 defensive MVP for his performance. The only year Henderson didn t lead the team in tackles was in 2005, when he ranked 2nd with 102. HENDERSON HOUNDS QBS LB E.J. Henderson s sack of Colts QB Peyton Manning gave him 10.5 for his career and moved him into 5th place in Vikings history for sacks by a linebacker. Sacks by Vikings Linebackers 1) Matt Blair ) Ed McDaniel ) Fred McNeill ) Roy Winston ) E.J. Henderson GREENWAY NEARING 100 Vikings LB Chad Greenway has 95 solo tackles and 143 total stops through 18 career games. In 2007, he ranked 2nd on the team with 130 total tackles (83 solo), tying for the team lead once and leading the squad three times. Greenway also ranked tied for 1st in the NFL with 4 fumble recoveries in WEEK 3 -- PANTHERS AT VIKINGS -- 12

14 VIKINGS DEFENSIVE TEAM NOTES VIKINGS DEFENSIVE BACKS The Vikings return three of four starters in the secondary for Joining CB Cedric Griffin, S Darren Sharper, and CB Antoine Winfield is 2008 free agent pickup S Madieu Williams. Williams adds another veteran body in the defensive backfi eld having been a three-year starter (missed his sophomore season due to injury) for Cincinnati. Sharper, the 12-year veteran, is the leader in the secondary. The four-time Pro Bowl starter has 53 career interceptions (17 with the Vikings), the most by any active player in the NFL. Sharper also is tied for fi fth in NFL history with eight career interception return touchdowns. The former University of Texas star Cedric Griffi n enters his third year with Vikings after being drafted by the team in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft, while Winfi eld, a fi rst round pick (23rd overall) by Buffalo in the 1999 NFL draft, has gone on to record 763 career tackles and 18 interceptions. With Madieu Williams beginning the season on the sidelines with a neck injury, the Vikings fi rst selection in the 2008 NFL Draft (2nd round, 43rd overall) Tyrell Johnson will gain some important and meaningful reps at the safety position. Adding depth to the the secondary is Charles Gordon, Marcus McCauley, Eric Frampton, Benny Sapp and rookie Husain Abdullah. SHARPER IMAGE S Darren Sharper is currently tied for the Vikings team record for the most interception returns for a touchdown with 3. As a Viking, Sharper has notched 17 INTs. He now has 1,024 career return yards, which ranks 8th in NFL history. Sharper currently leads all active players with the most interceptions (53) as well as the most combined takeaways (58). His 53 INTs are tied with Deion Sanders for 21st all-time. Interceptions By Active NFL Players 1) Darren Sharper ) Ty Law Combined Takeaways By Active NFL Players 1) Darren Sharper (53 INTs, 5 FRs) 2) Ty Law (52 INTs, 5 FRs) NFL Career Interception Return TDs 1) Rod Woodson t) Ken Houston t) Deion Sanders t) Aeneas Williams t) Darren Sharper t) Eric Allen... 8 Vikings Career Interception Return TDs 1t) Darren Sharper (S) t) Jimmy Hitchcock (CB) t) Dewayne Washington (CB) t) Audray McMillian (CB) t) Joey Browner (S) t) Bobby Bryant (CB) t) Ed Sharockman (CB) t) Rip Hawkins (LB) TAKEAWAY TOINE A ballhawker who hits with authority, Vikings CB Antoine Winfield frequently fi nds himself around the ball. In Week 2 against the Colts, Winfi eld intercepted QB Peyton Manning for the third time in Winfi eld s career. His fi rst career INT came off a defl ected Manning pass at Indianapolis on 9/12/99. Last week s INT was Winfi eld s 13th since joining Minnesota in 2004 and his 18th takeaway as a Viking (13 INTs, 5 FRs). The Vikings defense currently ranks tied for 6th in the league with two interceptions. Both picks came in Week 2 off QB Peyton Manning as CBs Antoine Winfield and Charles Gordon each hauled in an errant pass. The Vikings have notched 38 interceptions from , which is tied for 8th in the NFL during that time. Nine of those INTs have gone for touchdowns, a total that leads the league over the seasons. The team has scored 13 defensive touchdowns (9 INTs, 4 FRs) in the past 34 games, and that also leads the league over the seasons. NFL Interceptions ) San Diego t) Baltimore t) Green Bay t) New England t) Tennessee ) Jacksonville ) Chicago t) Minnesota t) Cincinnati t) Oakland...38 PICKS, PICKS, PICKS NFL Defensive Touchdowns ( ) Minnesota Vikings (9 INTs, 4 FRs) Green Bay Packers (7 INTs, 4 FRs) Vikings Defensive Touchdowns ( ) Game Play vs. Chicago, 9/24/06... Antoine Winfi eld 7 INT return vs. Detroit, 10/8/06... Ben Leber FR in end zone vs. Detroit, 10/8/06... E.J. Henderson 45 INT return at Seattle, 10/22/06... Kevin Williams FR in end zone at Green Bay, 12/21/06... Fred Smoot 47 INT return vs. Atlanta, 9/9/07... Kevin Williams 54 INT return vs. Atlanta, 9/9/07... Antoine Winfi eld 14 INT return at Detroit, 9/16/07... Ray Edwards 9 FR return at Dallas, 10/21/07... Cedric Griffi n 28 FR return at NY Giants, 11/25/07... Darren Sharper 20 INT return at NY Giants, 11/25/07... Dwight Smith 93 INT return at NY Giants, 11/25/07... Chad Greenway 37 INT return at San Francisco, 12/9/07... Kevin Williams 18 INT return PICKS FOR SIX Over the team s 48-year existence, only seven times have the Vikings returned two or more interceptions for touchdowns in the same game. In each of those games, the Vikings were victorious. Game Players with INTs for TDs Result at Green Bay, 10/29/ Wally Hilgenberg and Paul Krause... W vs. New Orleans, 12/4/ Carl Lee and Jesse Solomon... W 45-3 vs. Detroit, 10/8/ Issiac Holt and Mike Merriweather... W at Chicago, 11/2/ Jack Del Rio and Carlos Jenkins... W vs. Detroit Lions, 11/23/ Corey Chavous and Brian Williams... W vs. Atlanta Falcons, 9/9/ Kevin Williams and Antoine Winfi eld... W 24-3 at New York Giants, 11/25/ Chad Greenway, Darren Sharper, Dwight Smith... W WEEK 3 -- PANTHERS AT VIKINGS -- 13

15 VIKINGS DEFENSIVE/SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES RETURN TO SENDER Under Head Coach Brad Childress, the Vikings have scored 16 times on returns (INT, FR, KR and PR), a number that ranks 2nd in the league from The Vikings have scored 13 times on defense, returning 9 interceptions and 4 fumble recoveries for touchdowns. The other 3 scores came on a kickoff return, a punt return and an offensive fumble recovered for a TD. NFL Returns/Defensive Touchdowns ) Chicago ) Minnesota ) Green Bay t) Arizona t) San Diego Most INT Returns For Touchdowns In A Single Game - NFL 1) 4... Seattle...vs. Kansas City, 11/4/84 2t) 3... Minnesota...at NY Giants, 11/25/07 2t) 3... Tampa Bay...vs. New Orleans, 12/11/77 2t) 3... Cincinnati...vs. Houston, 12/17/72 2t) 3... Houston...vs. San Diego, 12/19/71 2t) 3... Buffalo...vs. NY Jets, 9/29/68 2t) 3... Baltimore...vs. Pittsburgh, 9/29/68 2t) 3... Philadelphia...vs. Pittsburgh, 12/12/65 2t) 3... Cleveland...vs. Chicago, 12/11/60 2t) 3... Baltimore...vs. Green Bay, 11/5/50 PICKS, PICKS, PICKS In the Vikings 48-year history, the team has returned 78 interceptions for touchdowns; 9 of those INT returns have come in the past 3 seasons under Coach Childress and his staff. TAYLOR MADE RB Chester Taylor currently ranks 2nd in the NFC and 7th in the NFL with a 28.5 yards per kickoff return average. Taylor has returned 4 kickoffs for 114 yards, with a long of 37. In Week 2, Taylor returned 3 kickoffs for 93 yards, an average of 31.0 yards per return. His fi rst two returns were for 37 and 35 yards, giving the Vikings starting fi eld position at their own 38 and 34-yard lines. NFC Kickoff Return Leaders Player Returns Yards Average 1) Felix Jones, DAL ) Chester Taylor, MIN ) Allen Rossum, SF ) Rock Cartwright, WAS NFL Kickoff Return Leaders Player Returns Yards Average 1) Felix Jones, DAL ) Darren Sproles, SD ) Brian Witherspoon, JAC ) Ellis Hobbs, NE ) Glenn Holt, CIN ) Johnnie Lee Higgins, OAK ) Chester Taylor, MIN AT WHEN THE GAME IS ON THE LINE One of the most accurate kickers in the NFL since entering the league as an unheralded rookie free agent in 1997, K Ryan Longwell has left a lasting impression on the record books. With the Vikings, Longwell has made 35-of-35 field goals from inside 45 yards in his Vikings career. His only misses are from 46+ yards. Last week vs. Indianapolis, Longwell connected on 5-of-6 FGs, including a 53-yarder. Longwell s Game Winners Date...Game...FG...Time... Final 12/27/98...at Detroit : /17/00...Philadelphia : /15/00...San Francisco : /24/00...Tampa Bay :31 OT /14/04...Minnesota : /21/04...@ Houston : /12/04...Detroit : /24/04...@ Minnesota : /11/05...Detroit :17 OT /11/06...@ Washington : /17/06...Carolina :25 OT /14/07...@ Chicago : NFL Career FG Percentage Leaders (Regular Season) 1) Mike Vanderjagt ) Shayne Graham ) Matt Stover ) Phil Dawson ) Adam Vinatieri ) John Carney t) Ryan Longwell t) Jeff Reed LONGWELL S 274 IS 23RD IN NFL HISTORY K Ryan Longwell is currently in 23rd place all-time with 274 made fi eld goals. He needs 8 to tie Fred Cox and Jim Bakken s 282. NFL Career FGs Made (Regular Season) 1) Morten Anderson ) Gary Anderson ) Matt Stover ) John Carney ) Jason Elam ) Jason Hanson ) Nick Lowery ) Jan Stenerud ) Norm Johnson ) John Kasay ) Eddie Murray ) Al Del Greco ) Steve Christie ) George Blanda ) Adam Vinatieri ) Jeff Wilkins t) Pat Leahy t) Jim Turner t) Matt Bahr t) Mark Moseley t) Jim Bakken t) Fred Cox ) Ryan Longwell WEEK 3 -- PANTHERS AT VIKINGS -- 14

16 LONGWELL RANKS 24TH IN ALL-TIME SCORING K Ryan Longwell currently ranks 24th in all-time scoring in NFL history with 1,265 points. Last week vs. Indianapolis, his 15 points moved him past former WR Jerry Rice s 1,256. Since entering the league in 1997, Longwell ranks 3rd in total scoring behind kickers Jason Elam and Adam Vinatieri. All-Time NFL Scoring Leaders Player Games Points 1) Morten Anderson, (25) ,544 2) Gary Anderson, (23) ,434 3) George Blanda, (26) ,002 4) John Carney, (21) ,833 5) Matt Stover, (18) ,827 6) Jason Elam, (16) ,805 7) Norm Johnson, (18) ,736 8) Nick Lowery, (18) ,711 9) Jan Stenerud, (19) ,699 10) Jason Hanson, (17) ,673 11) Eddie Murray, (19) ,594 12) Al Del Greco, (17) ,584 13) John Kasay, (17) ,526 14) Steve Christie, (15) ,476 15) Pat Leahy, (18) ,470 16) Jim Turner, (16) ,439 17) Matt Bahr, (17) ,422 18) Jeff Wilkins, (14) ,416 19) Adam Vinatieri, (13) ,400 20) Mark Moseley, (16) ,382 21) Jim Bakken, (17) ,380 22) Fred Cox, (15) ,365 23) Lou Groza, (17) ,349 24) Ryan Longwell, (12) ,265 25) Jerry Rice, (20) ,256 NFL Scoring Player Points 1) Jason Elam... 1,326 2) Adam Vinatieri... 1,280 3) Ryan Longwell... 1,265 FROM 50 AND BEYOND K Ryan Longwell has connected on 15 fi eld goals from 50+ yards during his career. He also has two of the fi ve longest fi eld goals in Vikings history. Longwell s 50+ Yard Field Goals - Career Date FG Final 9/2/97, at Detroit W /17/99, at Denver L /8/00, at Detroit L /29/00, at Miami L /12/00, at Tampa Bay L /16/01, at Tennessee L /5/03, vs. Kansas City L /11/04, at Tennessee L /17/04, at Detroit W /11/05, at Detroit L /23/05, at Minnesota L /13/05, at Atlanta W /13/05, at Atlanta W /14/07, at Chicago W /14/08, vs. Indianapolis L Longest Field Goals In Vikings History 1) Paul Edinger, vs. Green Bay, 10/23/05 2) Ryan Longwell, at Chicago, 10/14/07 3t) Jan Stenerud, vs. Atlanta, 9/16/84 3t) Paul Edinger, vs. Chicago, 1/1/06 5t) Ryan Longwell, vs. Indianapolis, 9/14/08 5t) other players VIKINGS SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES WEEK 3 -- PANTHERS AT VIKINGS PINNING THEM DEEP Vikings 4th year P Chris Kluwe has left opponents inside their own 20-yard line four times in 2008, which ranks tied for 6th in the NFC and 7th in the NFL. Leaving opponents inside the 20 is familiar territory for Kluwe, as he has done so 83 times since entering the league in That total ranks tied for 4th during that time span. Kluwe s 43.6-yard gross punting average ranks 16th in the league from In 2007, Kluwe left opponents inside the 20-yard line 34 times, which also ranked 3rd in the NFL and was a Vikings single-season record. Kluwe broke a single game team record at Detroit (9/16/07) when he punted 4 times for 230 yards, a gross average of 57.5 yards per punt. The previous record was held by Mitch Berger (55.8 yards per punt). Kluwe now has two of the top three gross punting performances in team history Punts Inside The 20-Yard Line Player Punts Inside 20 1) Dustin Colquitt, KC t) Jason Baker, Car t) Josh Bidwell, TB t) Jeff Feagles, NYG t) Nick Harris, Det t) Donnie Jones, Stl t) Chris Kluwe, Min t) Mitch Berger, Pit t) Brandon Fields, Mia t) Dirk Johnson, Ari t) Kyle Larson, Cin t) Brad Maynard, Chi t) Brian Moorman, Buf t) Adam Podlesh, Jac... 4 Vikings Single Game Gross Punting Average Chris Kluwe, at Det., 9/16/ (4 punts yards) Mitch Berger, vs. Cin., 11/15/ (4 punts yards) Chris Kluwe, vs. TB, 9/11/ (4 punts yards) Most 50+ Yard Punts In A Single Season 1) Chris Kluwe, t) Chris Kluwe, t) Mitch Berger, VIKINGS VS. NFC/NFC NORTH The Vikings have an all-time record (regular season and postseason) of (.546) versus the NFC. Against NFC North opponents, the franchise is a combined in the 282 games against the division. The Vikings have the most playoff appearances (22) and division titles (16) within the NFC North. Team Total Games All-Time Series Titles Chicago Bears Detroit Lions Green Bay Packers IMPORTANT 2008 SEASON DATES October 14 - Trading Deadline January Wild Card Playoffs January Divisional Playoffs January 18 - Conference Championships February 1 - Super Bowl XLIII, Tampa, Florida

17 VIKINGS EXTRA POINTS VOICES OF THE VIKINGS KFAN-AM radio mid-day personality Paul Allen enters his 7th season as the Vikings radio play-by-play voice in Joining him in the booth for the 2nd year is former Vikings LB and coach Pete Bercich, while former Vikings punter Greg Coleman will serve as the sideline reporter. KFAN-AM (1130) and KTLK (100.3 FM) serve as the fl agship stations for the Minnesota Vikings Radio Network, which includes outlets in six states: Minnesota: Iowa: Market Station Freq. Market Station Freq. Twin Cities KFAN-AM 1130 Ames KASI-AM 1430 Twin Cities KTLK-FM Cedar Rapids KMJM-AM 1360 Aitkin KKIN-FM 94.3 Mason City KGLO-AM 1300 Alexandria KIKV-FM Sioux City KMNS-AM 620 Austin KNFX-AM 970 Spencer KICD-AM 1240 Bemidji KBUN-AM 1450 Bemidji KBHP-FM Montana: Benson KSCR-FM 93.5 Miles City KKRY-FM 92.5 Blue Earth KBEW-FM 98.1 Brainerd KBLB-FM 93.3 North Dakota: Crookston KROX-AM 1260 Bismarck KXMR-AM 710 Dassel KARP-FM Carrington KDAK-AM 1600 Detroit Lakes KDLM-AM 1340 Devils Lake KDLR-AM 1240 Detroit Lakes KRCQ-FM Dickinson KLTC-AM 1460 Duluth WEBC-AM 560 Fargo KFGO-AM 790 Ely WELY-AM 1450 Ely WELY-FM 94.5 Grand Forks KKXL-AM 1440 Fergus Falls KBRF-AM 1250 Jamestown KQDJ-AM 1400 Grand Rapids KMFY-FM 96.9 Minot KRRZ-AM 1390 Hibbing WMNT-AM 650 Oakes KDDR-AM 1220 Hutchinson KARP-FM Valley City KOVC-AM 1490 Intl. Falls KSDM-FM Williston KEYZ-AM 600 Jackson KRAQ-FM Mankato KHRS-FM Mankato KXLP-FM 93.1 South Dakota: Mankato KYSM-AM 1230 Aberdeen KSDN-AM 930 Marshall KARL-FM Milbank KMSD-AM 1510 Morris KKOK-FM 95.7 Mobridge KMLO-FM New Ulm KNUJ-FM Pierre KPLO-FM 94.5 Park Rapids KPRM-AM 870 Sioux Falls KXQL-FM Pine City WCMP-FM Sisseton KBWS-FM Rochester KRCH-FM Watertown KWAT-AM 950 Rochester KWEB-AM 1270 Yankton KVTK-AM 1570 Roseau KCAJ-FM St. Cloud WJON-AM 1240 Wisconsin: Spring Grove KQYB-FM 98.3 Amery WLMX-FM Staples KSKK-FM 94.7 Balsam Lake WLMX-FM Thief River Falls KTRF-AM 1230 Eau Claire WMEQ-AM 880 Wadena KSKK-FM 94.7 Hayward WHSM-FM Walker KQKK-FM LaCrosse KYOB-FM 98.3 Waseca KOWZ-AM 1170 Menomonie WMEQ-AM 880 Winona KWNO-FM 99.3 Rice Lake WKFX-FM 99.1 VIKINGS ON THE AIR Catch the Vikings every Saturday during the season from 6:00-7:00 p.m. on back-toback FSN North shows - Vikings GamePlan and Vikings Weekly. Vikings GamePlan offers an in-depth look at the upcoming opponent. Hosted by Vikings play-by-play announcer Paul Allen, the show lets fans watch and listen to Head Coach Brad Childress and assistant coaches discuss the week s matchup and the state of the 2008 Vikings. Vikings Weekly is a 30-minute segment that gives fans an opportunity to see their favorite athletes off the fi eld in a more personal setting. Players allow host Ann Carroll and crew to follow them outside of Winter Park to get a glimpse of their hobbies, their families, and other parts of their lives that fans otherwise wouldn t know. ALLEN TEAMS WITH JDRF TO SACK DIABETES Vikings DE Jared Allen is launching a new initiative called Sack Diabetes. This regular season, in each city where Allen plays, he will donate $3,000 for every sack he records through his newly formed foundation to the local Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) chapter. For every sack Jared records at the Metrodome, he will make a $3,000 donation to the Minnesota JDRF chapter. Cities where Vikings play this season include: Date Team JDRF Chapter/Branch 9/8...Green Bay... Northeast Wisconsin 9/28...Tennessee... Nashville Chapter 10/6...New Orleans... Louisiana 10/19...Chicago... Greater Illinois 11/16...Tampa Bay... Tampa Bay 11/23...Jacksonville... Jacksonville 12/7...Detroit... Greater Detroit 12/14...Arizona... Desert Southwest THIS WEEK IN THE COMMUNITY BEN LEBER AND TEAMMATES VISIT UNIVERSITY OF MINNE- SOTA CHILDREN S HOSPITAL, FAIRVIEW On Tuesday, September 16, from 10:30-11:30 a.m., LB Ben Leber, along with teammates G Brian Daniels, G Anthony Herrera, LB David Herron, C Tim Mattran, T Drew Radovich, C John Sullivan, FB Naufahu Tahi, and others helped brighten the day for kids at the University of Minnesota Children s Hospital, Fairview. The visit was made in conjunction with the Vikings Children s Fund. Since its inception in 1978, the VCF has donated more than $4.5 million to the University of Minnesota Department of Pediatrics to support research fi ghting childhood diseases. HENDERSON BROTHERS TAKE PART IN NFL DAY AT THE MOVIES On Tuesday, September 16, the Vikings and LBs E.J. and Erin Henderson invited local youth from the GameSpeed Academy, along with children from United Way youth programming, to a free screening of the new Universal Pictures fi lm THE EXPRESS, based on the true story of Ernie Davis, the fi rst African American to win the Heisman Trophy. Prior to the fi lm screening Vikings players spoke with the kids about the values and positive messages they can take away from the movie and apply to their own lives. The Minnesota Vikings are one of 27 teams taking part in NFL Day at the Movies from September 9 through September 30. BUSINESS VENTURES Outside of Winter Park, several Vikings players dedicate a signifi cant amount of free time operating their own entrepreneurial ventures. * Matt Birk opened Matty B s, a supper club in native St. Paul in the spring of 2006, and Matty B s Urban Bar and Grill in Minneapolis in the fall of * Vinny Ciurciu started a sportswear company, Anger Sports, with his brother that specializes in workout and casual clothes. * Bobby Wade owns a visual marketing company, Free Mind, that specializes in promotional items. * Pat Williams owns an automobile detailing company, Automotive Concepts, in the Twin Cities. WEEK 3 -- PANTHERS AT VIKINGS -- 16

18 VIKINGS EXTRA POINTS QUICK HITS Franchise Founded: January 28, 1960 First Head Coach: Norm Van Brocklin First Regular Season Game: 9/17/61 - Vikings 37, Chicago Bears 13 First Playoff Game: 12/22/68 - Vikings 14, Baltimore Colts 24 First Super Bowl: Super Bowl IV (1/11/70) Vikings 7, Chiefs 23 Playoff Appearances/Games: 25/42 Super Bowl Appearances: 4 - Super Bowl IV, VIII, IX, and XI All-Time Record (Reg. Season and Postseason): All-Time Home Record: All-Time Away Record: Home Stadiums: Metropolitan Stadium ( ) HHH Metrodome (1982-present) Stadium Info: Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Capacity: 64,121 Address: th Avenue S., Minneapolis, MN Playing Surface: FieldTurf Training Facilities: Winter Park Address: 9520 Viking Drive, Eden Prairie, MN Training Camp: Minnesota State University-Mankato Address: 700 Ellis Avenue, Mankato, MN Owner/Chairman: Zygi Wilf Owner/President: Mark Wilf STADIUM UPDATE As committed as the Vikings are to bringing a Super Bowl championship to the fans and to the state, the franchise is equally devoted to securing a long-term home for the team in Minnesota. The Vikings are one of the few NFL franchises without a stadium solution but remain determined to collaborate with the State Legislature, the Governor and local leaders to resolve this issue. With the team s Metrodome lease set to expire in 2011 and costs increasing $50 million with each year of delay, 2009 is the critical year to preserve the long-term viability of the Vikings in Minnesota. Working with the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission (MSFC), the Vikings are moving forward on a public-private partnership that will open a new, multi-purpose stadium on the current Metrodome site in the year The two sides will present this stadium development plan to the 2009 Legislature for consideration. The joint proposal will include specifi c stadium design and program elements, a fi nance plan and principles of agreement on how the new facility will be operated and governed, all crucial topics for state leaders to analyze as they work to reach a stadium solution in The economic development proposal will include three critical elements that go beyond hosting Vikings home games: A retractable-roof stadium that will give Minnesotans a state-of-theart venue to be used year-round for high school and amateur sports, trade shows, community and cultural events, as well as national and international happenings. A Winter Garden light rail train station that will serve as a connecting point for the future Central Corridor light rail line and the existing Hiawatha line. This gathering place is integral to the Vikings vision of the overall development and will host indoor/outdoor activities for transit riders, neighborhood residents, downtown workers and stadium attendees. A privately-fi nanced redevelopment of the Downtown East area that will include offi ce buildings, residences, shops and restaurants. This exciting project will create jobs, boost the economy and bring a renewed energy to this area of Minneapolis. VIKINGS YEAR-BY-YEAR Year Preseason Regular Season Playoffs (SB loss) (SB loss) (SB loss) (SB loss) Totals (.594) (.541) (.429) VIKINGS ALL-TIME COACHES Years Head Coach Total Games Regular Season (%) Playoffs (%) Overall (%) Norm Van Brocklin (.369) (.000) (.369) , Bud Grant (.618) (.454) (.607) Les Steckel (.188) (.000) (.188) Jerry Burns (.547) (.500) (.544) Dennis Green (.610) (.250) (.591) Mike Tice (.492) (.500) (.493) Brad Childress (.412) (.000) (.412) WEEK 3 -- PANTHERS AT VIKINGS -- 17

19 MEDIA INFORMATION Bob Hagan, Director of Public Relations Tom West, Assistant Director of Public Relations Jeff Anderson, Manager of Public Affairs Evan Koch, Public Relations Assistant Tom Halkin, Public Relations Intern Pat Ottum, Public Relations Intern The typical Vikings weekly media schedule during the season is below: Monday 12:35 p.m. - Coach Childress Press Conference 2:30-3:15 p.m. - Open Locker Room Tuesday Players Day Off - No Media Access Wednesday 11:35 a.m. - Coach Childress Press Conference 11:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. - Open Locker Room 1:30-3:30 p.m. - Practice* Thursday 11:35 a.m. - Coordinators Bevell/Frazier/Ferraro Available 11:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. - Open Locker Room 1:30-3:30 p.m. - Practice* Friday 11:45 a.m. - 12:50 p.m. - Practice* 12:50 p.m. - Coach Childress Press Conference 12:50 p.m. - 1:35 p.m. - Open Locker Room Saturday No Media Access VIKINGS PR STAFF CREDENTIAL REQUESTS Credential requests are honored for accredited media on specifi c assignments and must be made through the Vikings PR department. Credentials will not be issued to writers or photographers working on a free-lance basis unless the request is made by a recognized publication or news entity. Season-long credentials are issued in July; game-bygame credentials must be requested at least one week prior to each home game. WEEKLY MEDIA SCHEDULE ASSISTANT COACH AVAILABILITY All position coach interviews must be scheduled through the PR department a day in advance and cleared by Head Coach Brad Childress. Position coaches are available for questions on specifi c players and the position group but coordinators will always serve as the primary spokesmen in their areas. METRODOME GAME DAY INFO * The media will call window/media check-in is located at Gate D. A security representative will check bags before allowing entrance into the stadium. Main Press Box * The main press box is located in sections Upon entering the concourse, take a right. Seating charts are located in the press box and wireless internet is available. * A pregame meal will be served in the press box and a halftime meal will be served in the Vikings Lounge directly across the concourse through the glass doors. Meal tickets for halftime will be distributed near the end of the 2nd quarter. * Vikings PR representatives Bob Hagan and Tom West are located in seats 87 and 88. Visiting team PR representatives are located in seats For fi eld access, follow the stairs at the back of the press box all the way down to fi eld level. Auxiliary Press Box * The auxiliary press box is located in sections Upon entering the concourse, take a left. Seating charts are located in the press box. * Pregame and halftime meals will be served in the press box. * Vikings PR representatives Jeff Anderson or Evan Koch is located in seat 58. *For fi eld access, follow the stairs at the back of the press box all the way down to fi eld level. Photographers Workroom * The photographers workroom is located on the fi eld directly behind the south goal post (closest to the photo check-in tunnel). Upon entering the concourse, take a right and go to the elevator directly across from the main press box and take it to fi eld level or continue through the concourse to the overhead sign that reads Field Access and follow the stairwell down. TV Camera Holding Area * The video waiting area for TV camera operators is located in the back of the fi eld entrance tunnel behind the check-in table. Follow the same procedures as photographers to get to the fi eld. Sunday Post-Game - Coach Childress Press Conference Post-Game - Open Locker Room * Practice is open to media through indivicual drills COACH CHILDRESS PRESS CONFERENCES Head Coach Brad Childress will be available in the fi eldhouse or on the outdoor practice fi eld on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays during the regular season. COORDINATOR AVAILABILITY Offensive Coordinator Darrell Bevell, Defensive Coordinator Leslie Frazier, and Special Teams Coordinator Paul Ferraro will be available every Thursday during the regular season. All other interview requests for the coordinators should be directed to a member of the PR staff. WEEK 3 -- PANTHERS AT VIKINGS VIKINGS ON THE WEB The Minnesota Vikings offi cial website, which can be viewed at provides Vikings fans with everything they need to follow their favorite team. Vikings.com is one of the league s most traffi cked sites and is the only place on the web that provides complete video and audio of all Vikings press conferences. Additionally, the website provides unique and exclusive written and video content that can only be found on Vikings.com. Vikings media members can fi nd stats, press releases, weekly game releases and updated rosters under the press tab.

20 FROM THE HEAD COACH MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2008 Head Coach Brad Childress Alright guys lets start with injuries here; really nothing new on that front. I think we got out of that (game) decently. There are a couple of guys banged up. I ll probably save that for Wednesday and let you know exactly where those guys are at. But the guys that we went into it with, like I said (made it out okay). Artis (Hicks) looked liked he made it through that thing (and) was decent here this morning. Adrian (Peterson) is fine. Sidney (Rice) we are taking a look at. He had a little struggle there late in the game, but he managed to finish, and Ellis Wyms had a concussion late in that game. Again, hopefully those things clear before we get to Tuesday. Just getting back to yesterday s game for a second, obviously no one is happy that we are sitting here at 0-2 right now. That s a good football team, a 13-3 football team. They understand how to close things out and how to win. Fifteen points obviously wasn t enough. We need to score more than that. It comes down to a handful of plays. You never know what those plays are going to be at the time, whether it s a drop in the end zone, a field goal, a two-point conversion, a late throw in the game, a missed throw. You never know which plays those are. So we are going back to do all the things we can to improve this team. Are the guys frustrated? Are they angry? Are they upset? I m sure all of the above. But the great thing about their attitude in the locker room is they want to be better. And probably the toughest thing, the hardest thing to teach a team, is how to step on somebody s neck and finish them when they are down and don t give a sucker an even break. It s not something that comes innately. That s something that you have to learn and learn how to enjoy yourself when you get into the locker room and make sure you understand what it takes to finish somebody off. So we are getting there. We are not there yet but we are getting there. Q: Is it one thing? Is it just finishing? Or is it a number of little things? A: You always want to try to stick it in a certain box, but I mentioned four areas there that might have been a key play, a big play, a bomb, obviously to be able to catch a ball when you re in the end zone. There is plenty to go around there. So is it a lot of little things? Yeah, it s a lot of little things. But it s always the little things that add up to the big things. So everybody s got a backyard that they got to clean up and that is my job to make sure I get in those people s backyards and identify those things and identify our things and clean those things up. Q: Are you worried about a locker room fracture? A: I m not concerned about that because, like I said, I like our football team. Are there bound to be frustrations? I m sure there are. That s part of football. When your emotions are high - after a football game there are going to be emotions like that; I would worry if it wasn t like that. But fracture is a little bit strong. Are people irritated? Do they not want to lose? Absolutely, they don t want to lose. Q: Looking back should there have been some more opportunities to stretch the field early, or is there some concern with Tarvaris that that is not possible? A: Well it is something that you don t share before a game, what your game plan is, but it s spelled out to our team as early as Wednesday when they came back. It was that we wanted to chew the clock. Leslie (Frazier) has great insight into how you beat that football team. And what (the Colts) believe largely came true with exception of the opportunity to score seven points there. They believe they can hold you to threes and they are going to go down and get sevens. And pretty soon it is going to play to their team where they can rush the passer, which they are set up to do, because you re so far behind you have to throw the football. Our philosophy was this, had we won the coin toss, like I told you yesterday, we were going to take the football. Obviously they won the toss and took the football. The referee asked me before the game, Just so we were clear because sometimes guys get confused with this being able to defer, are you going to take the football? Do you not want the football? What we wanted to do was we wanted to be able to get on the fi eld and chew clock and keep their offense off the football fi eld. To a large degree we were successful at that, being able to run the football. Unfortunately those threes cropped up and you want sevens. We had an opportunity there, like I keep mentioning, we felt like we had a good play call. But your question about throwing the ball down the fi eld, you want to do it when you want to be able to do it. We felt like the best way to for us to able to move the football with 12s and 13s and 10s and nines, was being able to man-handle that front and we had our way with that and those things are explosive plays as well when they have a chance to come out the other end. But that is how we wanted to be able to play that football game, not play to their pass rush abilities. Q: Right before Ryan Longwell s missed field goal, on third down you just ran the ball right up the middle. Why was that? A: You know what it was, the play right before that they gave a front where Adrian was about this far from jumping out of it. I think it may have gone for, if I m not mistaken it went for nine, 10, 11. Well maybe I guess it couldn t have, it was third-and-fi ve, but it was this far from jumping out the back end. And actually what happened on it was Bobby Wade went down and got a great block on the safety and knocked him into Adrian s feet there, or that has a chance to come out. So I didn t think that they could hold up with the formation that we were in. We were in two tight ends and two backs and I thought (Naufahu Tahi) took a good look at it (but) it ended up not being enough there. Of course Ryan had made four fi eld goals at the time, fi ve, so I liked him to be able to make that one. Q: What was supposed to happen on the play in the fourth quarter when you guys were backed up against you own end zone, on third down with Tarvaris Jackson rolling out to his right? Was he supposed to throw to Tahi leaking out of the backfield? Was he supposed to run or was there another option downfield? A: Here s what was going on there. They had three timeouts at the beginning of that series, so it was very important to me, number one, that I get them to use their timeouts. Obviously the optimum would be to get a fi rst down and have them to use their timeouts. But you know that they are going to burn them one after another after another. What we wanted to be able to do was run the ball twice there and then on the third down play we bootleg him. We lost the contain that we had had Tarvaris on the edge with most of the day. He got pressed a little bit. Tahi was underneath that thing and I m trying to remember who was over the top, but there was a route coming from the backside that was over the top of that thing. So he got pressed and it was good that he got that completion because the clock continues to run and they have to burn a timeout. At that point in time we were going to punt the football back to them and they were going to start back where they started with 30 seconds and no timeouts or whatever it was. Q: Was the first option for him to be able to run or was the ideal play to hit that guy down the field? A: No, it was layered like we layer most of them on those bootlegs. He is looking up high (then) at the down low. (It s the) same type of thing type of thing I believe that he overthrew Bobby Wade on when he had Bobby going to the corner. There is a corner, then there is a guy in the fl at, then he has the ability to run. WEEK 3 -- PANTHERS AT VIKINGS -- 19

21 FROM THE HEAD COACH Q: Did Tahi miss that linebacker? A: He didn t. He was actually coming from the backside of the play. So we were faking run towards him and he was kind of submarining if you will, coming back behind the line of scrimmage. It s what we call an under. Q: The crowd started booing Tarvaris Jackson, and once that gets started it is very fashionable. Are you worried about how that will affect him? A: Usually it s the same thing with the coach. It s fashionable, you know. You have to be able to have thick skin. That s what goes with that quarterback position. If you feel like you scuffed one or you didn t do something right, then you re going to get those boos. You know that when you pick up the ball and start playing quarterback. Q: Even if it is the first time in his career the crowd has reacted this way? How do you stem that? A: I guess I don t listen. You might be able to conjecture over all of your years on how you stem that tide. I have my ideas of how you stem it. Everybody plays better. Q: Can you talk about how big plays affect your defense? A: You never want big plays on defense. Obviously I thought that they did a great job of pressuring (Peyton Manning), hitting him and sacking him. It s very diffi cult to be able to do against that guy. Obviously it takes some of the luster out of what you re doing. You re coaching against those big plays, and there s not a defense in America that wants to have big plays on them. Q: Are there things you can do to get Bernard Berrian more involved? A: I need to do a better job of factoring him in and getting him more looks. The fact is that he had a couple of looks, whether they were front side of back side location looks, and we weren t able to get the ball to him. We obviously have to do a better job of getting the ball to our wide receivers. Even though the game plan was, as I spelled it out to you, somewhere you re going to need to throw it to your wideouts. Whether it s short or whether it s long, you have to get the ball to those guys. Q: Do you decide those things during practice or during the game? A: It would be as you go through the game plan. Again, you can have the best intentions of wanting to throw it to Bernard Berrian, but if he s covered or they roll coverage to him then we ll be mad at (Jackson) if he throws it to Bernard Berrian and he has three people standing on top of him. Q: Are your receivers winning the battles on the outside? A: At different times they are. We ve been back behind a couple of people, including Green Bay last week. Unfortunately we were behind them here down that right sideline, and I guess they called that an unintentional trip, or what have you. We had a decent chance. Tarvaris gave him a chance to put a hand on the ball but he lost his balance and tripped. They re winning most of them. Q: Is Tarvaris as decisive at this point in his career as you d like him to be? A: I just think it s an evolution. Confi dence breeds confi dence. If you play well, you think you can play better. It s kind of a chase-your-tail kind of thing. I m sure he wishes that he had some of those throws back. I thought he did a decent job of protecting the football. Obviously it was beyond his control when (Dwight) Freeney got to him from the back side. I just think that everybody plays better around the quarterback when the quarterback plays better. Q: Some of his throws looked badly off the mark. Is that a case of him thinking too much? A: No, I think one of them he tried to throw too hard. I think he tried to gas it. Anybody who has picked up any type of ball and thrown it as fast as you can throw it, unless you re playing Major League Baseball, it s very hard to command a football when you throw it that hard. Sometimes it doesn t require putting that much gas on it. Q: Are you able to pick up on anything from Carolina? A: They ve won a couple of games at the end, obviously. I saw the San Diego play where they had a veteran quarterback who pumped it, re-gripped it and threw it to the back of the end zone and they won that game. I haven t been able to see the Chicago game, but I know that it was right down to the wire, which most of these are going to do. When I talk about closing people out and winning, last week we had a chance to come up the fi eld and win the game. This week we re trying to hold them off to have a chance to win the game. We need to be able to close them out both ways. Q: There is a public perception that you have personally attached yourself to Tarvaris Jackson. Is that why you are sticking with him? A: I m always looking at what s giving us the best opportunity to win. If it s Tarvaris, it s Tarvaris. If it s Gus Frerotte, it s Gus Frerotte. If it s J.D. Booty, it s J.D. Booty. As I look through the thing and analyze it, I know I was asked the question yesterday, Is that the quarterback at the end of the week? Is that the guy that s going to be the quarterback? It s something that is ongoing. You don t crown a guy king, and then the king doesn t have any clothes on and you say, Hey he s still the king. You just need to make sure that you re doing the right thing. We re chewing on a bunch of things right now and making sure that he s the best guy for us to go forward. Q: What needs to happen before you sit down and realistically think about making a quarterback change? A: I just think that it s more subjective than anything else. I get together with my coaches and sit down to look at the situations we ve been through, then I sit and grade the fi lm. They sit and grade the fi lm; I sit and watch it with them and we have a staff meeting to talk about how everybody plays. We ll have a few more meetings this afternoon, one of which is coming up here with the players. That s something we ll fall back into, obviously, before we get going on Wednesday. Q: Why do you think his progress hasn t shown yet this season? A: I think that he has shown progress. I don t think that there s any question that he s shown progress. Has it manifested itself in terms of wins? No. Has he been able to throw more accurately? I mean he makes some throws where you say, That s an unbelievable throw that he just stuck in there. He threw a couple of beautiful slant passes yesterday that were tough throws, tough tries. One of them was defended, I think, going from our left to our right. He had a couple of beautiful throws there. I thought the throw down the fi eld on the go ball was a nice throw. We re just making sure that he s confi dent. There s an old saying, Make sure you don t lose confi dence or it will be unanimous. Q: Is his leash shorter this year because he is more experienced? A: I don t think it s any shorter. Again, it s what gives you the best opportunity to win and gives our team the best opportunity to win. That s something that I m always looking at, to put ourselves in that best position. WEEK 3 -- PANTHERS AT VIKINGS -- 20

22 TM VIKINGS VITALS Offensive and Defensive Statistics Rosters and Depth Chart Participation Chart How The Vikings Were Built Roster Moves Game-By-Game Statistics The Last Time

23 WON 0, LOST 1 9/8 L at Green Bay 71,004 (SO) 9/14 L Indianapolis 63,585 (SO) Minn. Opp. Total First Downs Rushing Passing Penalty rd Down: Made/Att...9/29 10/25 3rd Down: Pct th Down: Made/Att....2/2 0/0 4th Down: Pct Possession Avg...32:17 27:43 Total Net Yards Avg. Per Game Total Plays Avg. Per Play Net Yards Rushing Avg. Per Game Total Rushes Net Yards Passing Avg. Per Game Sacked/Yards Lost...4/21 2/15 Gross Yards Passing Att./Completions...59/30 64/44 Completion Pct Had Intercepted Punts/Average...11/ /44.5 Net Punting Avg Penalties/Yards...11/47 17/163 Fumbles/Ball Lost...2/1 2/0 Touchdowns Rushing Passing Returns Score by Periods OT T VIKINGS Opponents Scoring Ru Re Rt 1 pt. 2 pt. FG S T Longwell /1-7/8-22 Peterson Rice VIKINGS /1 0/1 7/8-34 Opponents /4 1/1 2/4-42 Field Goals Longwell..0/0 3/3 1/1 2/3 1/1 VIKINGS...0/0 1/1 1/1 0/0 0/0 Opponents...0/0 0/0 0/2 2/2 0/0 Vikings: (37, 27) (45, 27, 53, 46, 28, 48N) Opponents: (42, 33B) (30N, 47) VIKINGS 2008 STATISTICS Rushing Att. Yds Avg Long TD Peterson Jackson Taylor Allison VIKINGS Opponents Receiving No. Yds Avg Long TD Peterson Shiancoe Taylor Mills Wade Berrian Allison Rice t 1 Tahi Kleinsasser Tapeh VIKINGS Opponents Interceptions No. Yds Avg Long TD Winfield Gordon VIKINGS Opponents Opp. Fum. Rec No. Yds Avg Long TD VIKINGS Opponents Punting No. Yds Avg Net TB In20 Lg B Kluwe VIKINGS Opponents Punt Returns No. FC Yds Avg Long TD Allison Gordon VIKINGS Opponents t 1 Kickoff Returns No. Yds Avg Long TD Taylor Allison VIKINGS Opponents Passing Att. Cmp. Yards Pct. Yd/Att TD TD% Int. Int% Lg Sack/Lost Rating Jackson / VIKINGS / Opponents /

24 VIKINGS 2008 DEFENSIVE STATISTICS NAME SOLO ASST. TOTAL SACKS INT PD TFL FF FR QB HURR. Henderson, E.J Williams, Kevin Greenway, Chad Winfield, Antoine Griffin, Cedric Edwards, Ray Allen, Jared Williams, Pat Sharper, Darren Johnson, Tyrell Leber, Ben Gordon, Charles Evans, Fred Sapp, Benny Shiancoe, Visanthe Ellis Wyms TOTALS SPECIAL TEAMS INTERCEPTIONS NAME SOLO ASST. TOTAL FF/FR BK Name No.-Yds Winfield, Antoine /0 0 Antoine Winfield 1-1 Ciurciu, Vinny /0 0 Charles Gordon 1-0 Herron, David /0 0 Totals 2-1 Gordon, Charles /0 0 Mills, Garrett /0 0 Johnson, Tyrell /0 0 PASSES DEFENSED Leber, Ben /0 0 NAME PD Greenway, Chad /0 0 Chad Greenway 2 Abdullah, Husain /0 0 Antoine Winfield 2 Tahi, Naufahu /0 0 Fred Evans 1 Loeffler, Cullen /0 0 Ben Leber 1 Griffin, Cedric /0 1 E.J. Henderson 1 Totals /0 4 Kevin Williams Cedric Griffin 1 1 Ray Edwards 1 SACKS Pat Williams 1 NAME SACKS Jared Allen 1 Jared Allen 1.0 Totals 12 E.J. Henderson 1.0 Totals 2.0 QB HURRIES NAME QBH TACKLES FOR LOSS Ray Edwards 6 NAME TFL Jared Allen 5 E.J. Henderson 2 Kevin Williams 5 Chad Greenway 2 Ellis Wyms 2 Jared Allen 1 Fred Evans 2 Fred Evans 1 Totals 20 Cedric Griffin 1 Ray Edwards 1 Ben Leber 1 Kevin Williams 1 Pat Williams 1 Totals 11

25 MINNESOTA VIKINGS 2008 ALPHABETICAL ROSTER Updated: September 15, Participation No. Name Pos Ht Wt Age Birthdate Exp College HS Hometown Acquired G S DNP IA 39 Abdullah, Husain S /27/85 R Washington State Pomona, CA FA ' Allen, Jared DE /3/82 5 Idaho State Los Gatos, CA T (KC) ' Allison, Aundrae WR /25/84 2 East Carolina Kannapolis, NC D5 ' Berrian, Bernard WR /27/80 5 Fresno State Winton, CA UFA (Chi) ' Birk, Matt C /23/76 11 Harvard St. Paul, MN D6 ' Booty, John David QB /3/85 R Southern California Shreveport, LA D5a ' Ciurciu, Vinny LB /2/80 6 Boston College Paramus, NJ UFA (Car) ' Cook, Ryan T /8/83 3 New Mexico Albuquerque, NM D2b ' Dugan, Jeff FB /8/81 5 Maryland Pittsburgh, PA D7 ' Edwards, Ray DE /1/85 3 Purdue Cincinnati, OH D4 ' Evans, Fred DT /6/83 3 Texas St.-San Marcos Morgan Park, IL FA ' Ferguson, Robert WR /17/79 8 Texas A&M Houston, TX FA ' Frampton, Eric S /6/84 2 Washington State San Jose, CA W (Det) ' Frerotte, Gus QB /31/71 15 Tulsa Ford City, PA FA ' Gordon, Charles CB /18/84 3 Kansas Santa Monica, CA FA ' Greenway, Chad LB /12/83 3 Iowa Mt. Vernon, SD D1 ' Griffin, Cedric CB /11/82 3 Texas San Antonio, TX D2a ' Grigsby, Otis DE /19/80 2 Kentucky Converse, TX PS (Car) ' Guion, Letroy DT /21/87 R Florida State Starke, FL D5b ' Henderson, E.J. LB /3/80 6 Maryland Aberdeen, MD D2 ' Henderson, Erin LB /1/86 R Maryland Aberdeen, MD FA ' Herrera, Anthony G /14/80 5 Tennessee Naples, FL FA ' Herron, David LB /17/84 1 Michigan State Warren, OH FA ' Hicks, Artis G /28/78 7 Memphis Jackson, TN T (Phi) ' Hicks, Maurice RB /22/78 5 North Carolina A&T Emporia, VA UFA (SF) ' Hutchinson, Steve G /1/77 8 Michigan Ft. Lauderdale, FL RFA (Sea) ' Jackson, Tarvaris QB /21/83 3 Alabama State Montgomery, AL D2c ' Johnson, Marcus T /1/81 4 Mississippi Coffeeville, MS D2 ' Johnson, Tyrell S /19/85 R Arkansas State Rison, AR D2 ' Kleinsasser, Jim TE /31/77 10 North Dakota Carrington, ND D2 ' Kluwe, Chris P /24/81 4 UCLA Los Alamitos, CA W (Sea) ' Leber, Ben LB /7/78 7 Kansas State Vermillion, SD UFA (SD) ' Loeffler, Cullen LS /27/81 5 Texas Ingram, TX FA ' Longwell, Ryan K /16/74 12 California Bend, OR UFA (GB) ' McCauley, Marcus CB /3/83 2 Fresno State Sacramento, CA D3 ' Mills, Garrett TE /12/83 3 Tulsa Jenks, OK W (NE) ' Peterson, Adrian RB /21/85 2 Oklahoma Palestine, TX D1 ' Radovich, Drew T /20/85 R Southern California Mission Viejo, CA FA ' Rice, Sidney WR /1/86 2 South Carolina Gaffney, SC D2 ' Robison, Brian DE /27/83 2 Texas Splendora, TX D4 ' Sapp, Benny CB /20/81 5 Northern Iowa Ft. Lauderdale, FL UFA (KC) ' Sharper, Darren S /3/75 12 William & Mary Richmond, VA FA ' Shiancoe, Visanthe TE /18/80 6 Morgan State Laurel, MD UFA (NYG) ' Sullivan, John C /8/85 R Notre Dame Old Greenwich, CT D6a ' Tahi, Naufahu FB /30/81 3 BYU West Valley City, UT PS (Cin) ' Tapeh, Thomas FB /28/80 5 Minnesota St. Paul, MN UFA (Phi) ' Taylor, Chester RB /22/79 7 Toledo River Rouge, MI UFA (Balt) ' Wade, Bobby WR /25/81 6 Arizona Phoenix, AZ UFA (Tenn) ' Williams, Kevin DT /16/80 6 Oklahoma State Fordyce, AR D1 ' Williams, Madieu S /18/81 5 Maryland Lanham, MD UFA (Cin) ' Williams, Pat DT /24/72 12 Texas A&M Monroe, LA UFA (Buf) ' Winfield, Antoine CB /24/77 10 Ohio State Akron, OH UFA (Buf) ' Wyms, Ellis DT /12/79 8 Mississippi State Indianola, MS UFA (Sea) ' PRACTICE SQUAD 61 Burnett, Martail DE /10/85 R Utah Los Angeles, CA FA ' Clark, Chris T /1/85 R Southern Mississippi New Orleans, LA FA ' Daniels, Brian G /31/84 1 Colorado Denver, CO FA ' Johnson, Jaymar WR /10/84 R Jackson State Gary, IN D6b ' Mattran, Tim C /23/84 R Stanford Chaska, MN FA ' Reynaud, Darius WR /29/85 R West Virginia Boutte, LA FA ' Walker, Marcus CB /23/86 R Oklahoma Waco, TX FA ' Young, Albert RB /25/85 R Iowa Moorestown, NJ FA ' INJURED RESERVE 71 Allen, Kenderick DT /14/78 5 Louisiana State Bogalusa, LA FA ' Boulware, Michae S /17/81 5 Florida State Columbia, SC UFA (Hou) ' Farwell, Heath LB /31/81 4 San Diego State Corona, CA FA ' Mitchell, Jayme DE /15/84 3 Mississippi Jackson, MS FA ' RESERVE/NON-FOOTBALL ILLNESS 95 Udeze, Kenechi DE /5/83 5 Southern California Los Angeles, CA D1 ' RESERVE/SUSPENDED 74 McKinnie, Bryant T /23/79 7 Miami Woodbury, NJ D1 ' MINNESOTA VIKINGS COACHING STAFF Head Coach: Brad Childress Assistants: Leslie Frazier (Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator), Darrell Bevell (Offensive Coordinator), Paul Ferraro (Special Teams Coordinator), Juney Barnett (Assistant Strength and Conditioning), Eric Bieniemy (Running Backs), Brendan Daly (Defensive Assistant/Defensive Line), Karl Dunbar (Defensive Line), Ryan Ficken (Quality Control-Offense/Running Backs), Jim Hueber (Assistant Offensive Line), Jeff Imamura (Quality Control-Defense/Linebackers), Jimmie Johnson (Tight Ends), Tom Kanavy (Strength and Conditioning), Derek Mason (Assistant Defensive Backs), Pat Morris (Offensive Line), Brian Murphy (Assistant Special Teams), Chad O'Shea (Offensive Assistant/Wide Receivers), Fred Pagac (Linebackers), Kevin Rogers (Quarterbacks), Ryan Silverfield (Offensive/Defensive Assistant), Kevin Stefanski (Assistant to Head Coach), George Stewart (Wide Receivers), Martin Streight (Assistant Strength and Conditioning), Joe Woods (Defensive Backs) Active Roster Total - 53

26 MINNESOTA VIKINGS 2008 NUMERICAL ROSTER Updated: September 15, Participation No. Name Pos Ht Wt Age Birthdate Exp College HS Hometown Acquired G S DNP IA 4 Booty, John David QB /3/85 R Southern California Shreveport, LA D5a ' Kluwe, Chris P /24/81 4 UCLA Los Alamitos, CA W (Sea) ' Jackson, Tarvaris QB /21/83 3 Alabama State Montgomery, AL D2c ' Longwell, Ryan K /16/74 12 California Bend, OR UFA (GB) ' Frerotte, Gus QB /31/71 15 Tulsa Ford City, PA FA ' Rice, Sidney WR /1/86 2 South Carolina Gaffney, SC D2 ' Wade, Bobby WR /25/81 6 Arizona Phoenix, AZ UFA (Tenn) ' Williams, Madieu S /18/81 5 Maryland Lanham, MD UFA (Cin) ' McCauley, Marcus CB /3/83 2 Fresno State Sacramento, CA D3 ' Sapp, Benny CB /20/81 5 Northern Iowa Ft. Lauderdale, FL UFA (KC) ' Griffin, Cedric CB /11/82 3 Texas San Antonio, TX D2a ' Johnson, Tyrell S /19/85 R Arkansas State Rison, AR D2 ' Winfield, Antoine CB /24/77 10 Ohio State Akron, OH UFA (Buf) ' Peterson, Adrian RB /21/85 2 Oklahoma Palestine, TX D1 ' Taylor, Chester RB /22/79 7 Toledo River Rouge, MI UFA (Balt) ' Frampton, Eric S /6/84 2 Washington State San Jose, CA W (Det) ' Tahi, Naufahu FB /30/81 3 BYU West Valley City, UT PS (Cin) ' Abdullah, Husain S /27/85 R Washington State Pomona, CA FA ' Kleinsasser, Jim TE /31/77 10 North Dakota Carrington, ND D2 ' Gordon, Charles CB /18/84 3 Kansas Santa Monica, CA FA ' Sharper, Darren S /3/75 12 William & Mary Richmond, VA FA ' Hicks, Maurice RB /22/78 5 North Carolina A&T Emporia, VA UFA (SF) ' Tapeh, Thomas FB /28/80 5 Minnesota St. Paul, MN UFA (Phi) ' Mills, Garrett TE /12/83 3 Tulsa Jenks, OK W (NE) ' Loeffler, Cullen LS /27/81 5 Texas Ingram, TX FA ' Henderson, Erin LB /1/86 R Maryland Aberdeen, MD FA ' Leber, Ben LB /7/78 7 Kansas State Vermillion, SD UFA (SD) ' Greenway, Chad LB /12/83 3 Iowa Mt. Vernon, SD D1 ' Ciurciu, Vinny LB /2/80 6 Boston College Paramus, NJ UFA (Car) ' Henderson, E.J. LB /3/80 6 Maryland Aberdeen, MD D2 ' Herron, David LB /17/84 1 Michigan State Warren, OH FA ' Radovich, Drew T /20/85 R Southern California Mission Viejo, CA FA ' Cook, Ryan T /8/83 3 New Mexico Albuquerque, NM D2b ' Herrera, Anthony G /14/80 5 Tennessee Naples, FL FA ' Sullivan, John C /8/85 R Notre Dame Old Greenwich, CT D6a ' Allen, Jared DE /3/82 5 Idaho State Los Gatos, CA T (KC) ' Johnson, Marcus T /1/81 4 Mississippi Coffeeville, MS D2 ' Grigsby, Otis DE /19/80 2 Kentucky Converse, TX PS (Car) ' Hutchinson, Steve G /1/77 8 Michigan Ft. Lauderdale, FL RFA (Sea) ' Birk, Matt C /23/76 11 Harvard St. Paul, MN D6 ' Hicks, Artis G /28/78 7 Memphis Jackson, TN T (Phi) ' Shiancoe, Visanthe TE /18/80 6 Morgan State Laurel, MD UFA (NYG) ' Dugan, Jeff FB /8/81 5 Maryland Pittsburgh, PA D7 ' Allison, Aundrae WR /25/84 2 East Carolina Kannapolis, NC D5 ' Berrian, Bernard WR /27/80 5 Fresno State Winton, CA UFA (Chi) ' Ferguson, Robert WR /17/79 8 Texas A&M Houston, TX FA ' Evans, Fred DT /6/83 3 Texas St.-San Marcos Morgan Park, IL FA ' Edwards, Ray DE /1/85 3 Purdue Cincinnati, OH D4 ' Williams, Kevin DT /16/80 6 Oklahoma State Fordyce, AR D1 ' Williams, Pat DT /24/72 12 Texas A&M Monroe, LA UFA (Buf) ' Robison, Brian DE /27/83 2 Texas Splendora, TX D4 ' Wyms, Ellis DT /12/79 8 Mississippi State Indianola, MS UFA (Sea) ' Guion, Letroy DT /21/87 R Florida State Starke, FL D5b ' PRACTICE SQUAD 11 Johnson, Jaymar WR /10/84 R Jackson State Gary, IN D6b ' Walker, Marcus CB /23/86 R Oklahoma Waco, TX FA ' Young, Albert RB /25/85 R Iowa Moorestown, NJ FA ' Burnett, Martail DE /10/85 R Utah Los Angeles, CA FA ' Daniels, Brian G /31/84 1 Colorado Denver, CO FA ' Mattran, Tim C /23/84 R Stanford Chaska, MN FA ' Clark, Chris T /1/85 R Southern Mississippi New Orleans, LA FA ' Reynaud, Darius WR /29/85 R West Virginia Boutte, LA FA ' INJURED RESERVE 27 Boulware, Michae S /17/81 5 Florida State Columbia, SC UFA (Hou) ' Farwell, Heath LB /31/81 4 San Diego State Corona, CA FA ' Allen, Kenderick DT /14/78 5 Louisiana State Bogalusa, LA FA ' Mitchell, Jayme DE /15/84 3 Mississippi Jackson, MS FA ' RESERVE/NON-FOOTBALL ILLNESS 95 Udeze, Kenechi DE /5/83 5 Southern California Los Angeles, CA D1 ' RESERVE/SUSPENDED 74 McKinnie, Bryant T /23/79 7 Miami Woodbury, NJ D1 ' MINNESOTA VIKINGS COACHING STAFF Head Coach: Brad Childress Assistants: Leslie Frazier (Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator), Darrell Bevell (Offensive Coordinator), Paul Ferraro (Special Teams Coordinator), Juney Barnett (Assistant Strength and Conditioning), Eric Bieniemy (Running Backs), Brendan Daly (Defensive Assistant/Defensive Line), Karl Dunbar (Defensive Line), Ryan Ficken (Quality Control-Offense/Running Backs), Jim Hueber (Assistant Offensive Line), Jeff Imamura (Quality Control-Defense/Linebackers), Jimmie Johnson (Tight Ends), Tom Kanavy (Strength and Conditioning), Derek Mason (Assistant Defensive Backs), Pat Morris (Offensive Line), Brian Murphy (Assistant Special Teams), Chad O'Shea (Offensive Assistant/Wide Receivers), Fred Pagac (Linebackers), Kevin Rogers (Quarterbacks), Ryan Silverfield (Offensive/Defensive Assistant), Kevin Stefanski (Assistan to Head Coach), George Stewart (Wide Receivers), Martin Streight (Assistant Strength and Conditioning), Joe Woods (Defensive Backs) Active Roster Total - 53

27 MINNESOTA VIKINGS 2008 ROSTER-BY-POSITION Updated: September 15, Participation OFFENSE (25): Darrell Bevell Quarterbacks (3): Kevin Rogers/Ryan Silverfield No. Name Pos Ht Wt Age Birthdate Exp College Hometown How Acq G S DNP IA 4 Booty, John David QB /3/85 R Southern California Shreveport, LA D5a ' Frerotte, Gus QB /31/71 15 Tulsa Ford City, PA FA ' Jackson, Tarvaris QB /21/83 3 Alabama State Montgomery, AL D2c ' Running Backs (6): Eric Bieniemy/Ryan Ficken No. Name Pos Ht Wt Age Birthdate Exp College Hometown How Acq G S DNP IA 83 Dugan, Jeff FB /8/81 5 Maryland Pittsburgh, PA D7 ' Hicks, Maurice RB /22/78 5 North Carolina A&T Emporia, VA UFA (SF) ' Peterson, Adrian RB /21/85 2 Oklahoma Palestine, TX D1 ' Tahi, Naufahu FB /30/81 3 BYU West Valley City, UT PS (Cin) ' Tapeh, Thomas FB /28/80 5 Minnesota St. Paul, MN UFA (Phi) ' Taylor, Chester RB /22/79 7 Toledo River Rouge, MI UFA (Balt) ' Wide Receivers (5): George Stewart/Chad O'Shea No. Name Pos Ht Wt Age Birthdate Exp College Hometown How Acq G S DNP IA 84 Allison, Aundrae WR /25/84 2 East Carolina Kannapolis, NC D5 ' Berrian, Bernard WR /27/80 5 Fresno State Winton, CA UFA (Chi) ' Ferguson, Robert WR /17/79 8 Texas A&M Houston, TX FA ' Rice, Sidney WR /1/86 2 South Carolina Gaffney, SC D2 ' Wade, Bobby WR /25/81 6 Arizona Phoenix, AZ UFA (Tenn) ' Tight Ends (3): Jimmie Johnson No. Name Pos Ht Wt Age Birthdate Exp College Hometown How Acq G S DNP IA 40 Kleinsasser, Jim TE /31/77 10 North Dakota Carrington, ND D2 ' Mills, Garrett TE /12/83 3 Tulsa Jenks, OK W (NE) ' Shiancoe, Visanthe TE /18/80 6 Morgan State Laurel, MD UFA (NYG) ' Offensive Line (8): Pat Morris/Jim Hueber No. Name Pos Ht Wt Age Birthdate Exp College Hometown How Acq G S DNP IA 78 Birk, Matt C /23/76 11 Harvard St. Paul, MN D6 ' Cook, Ryan T /8/83 3 New Mexico Albuquerque, NM D2b ' Herrera, Anthony G /14/80 5 Tennessee Naples, FL FA ' Hicks, Artis G /28/78 7 Memphis Jackson, TN T (Phi) ' Hutchinson, Steve G /1/77 8 Michigan Ft. Lauderdale, FL RFA (Sea) ' Johnson, Marcus T /1/81 4 Mississippi Coffeeville, MS D2 ' Radovich, Drew T /20/85 R Southern California Mission Viejo, CA FA ' Sullivan, John C /8/85 R Notre Dame Old Greenwich, CT D6a ' DEFENSE (25): Leslie Frazier Defensive Line (9): Karl Dunbar/Brendan Daly No. Name Pos Ht Wt Age Birthdate Exp College Hometown How Acq G S DNP IA 69 Allen, Jared DE /3/82 5 Idaho State Los Gatos, CA T (KC) ' Edwards, Ray DE /1/85 3 Purdue Cincinnati, OH D4 ' Evans, Fred DT /6/83 3 Texas St.-San Marcos Morgan Park, IL FA ' Grigsby, Otis DE /19/80 2 Kentucky Converse, TX PS (Car) ' Guion, Letroy DT /21/87 R Florida State Starke, FL D5b ' Robison, Brian DE /27/83 2 Texas Splendora, TX D4 ' Williams, Kevin DT /16/80 6 Oklahoma State Fordyce, AR D1 ' Williams, Pat DT /24/72 12 Texas A&M Monroe, LA UFA (Buf) ' Wyms, Ellis DT /12/79 8 Mississippi State Indianola, MS UFA (Sea) ' Linebackers (6): Fred Pagac/Jeff Imamura No. Name Pos Ht Wt Age Birthdate Exp College Hometown How Acq G S DNP IA 54 Ciurciu, Vinny LB /2/80 6 Boston College Paramus, NJ UFA (Car) ' Greenway, Chad LB /12/83 3 Iowa Mt. Vernon, SD D1 ' Henderson, E.J. LB /3/80 6 Maryland Aberdeen, MD D2 ' Henderson, Erin LB /1/86 R Maryland Aberdeen, MD FA ' Herron, David LB /17/84 1 Michigan State Warren, OH FA ' Leber, Ben LB /7/78 7 Kansas State Vermillion, SD UFA (SD) ' Defensive Backs (10): Joe Woods/Derek Mason No. Name Pos Ht Wt Age Birthdate Exp College Hometown How Acq G S DNP IA 39 Abdullah, Husain S /27/85 R Washington State Pomona, CA FA ' Frampton, Eric S /6/84 2 Washington State San Jose, CA W (Det) ' Gordon, Charles CB /18/84 3 Kansas Santa Monica, CA FA ' Griffin, Cedric CB /11/82 3 Texas San Antonio, TX D2a ' Johnson, Tyrell S /19/85 R Arkansas State Rison, AR D2 ' McCauley, Marcus CB /3/83 2 Fresno State Sacramento, CA D3 ' Sapp, Benny CB /20/81 5 Northern Iowa Ft. Lauderdale, FL UFA (KC) ' Sharper, Darren S /3/75 12 William & Mary Richmond, VA FA ' Williams, Madieu S /18/81 5 Maryland Lanham, MD UFA (Cin) ' Winfield, Antoine CB /24/77 10 Ohio State Akron, OH UFA (Buf) ' SPECIAL TEAMS (3): Paul Ferraro Specialists (3): Paul Ferraro/Brian Murphy No. Name Pos Ht Wt Age Birthdate Exp College Hometown How Acq G S DNP IA 5 Kluwe, Chris P /24/81 4 UCLA Los Alamitos, CA W (Sea) ' Loeffler, Cullen LS /27/81 5 Texas Ingram, TX FA ' Longwell, Ryan K /16/74 12 California Bend, OR UFA (GB) ' Active Roster Total - 53

28 Updated: September 15, 2008 MINNESOTA VIKINGS 2008 ROSTER BY EXPERIENCE 15th Year (1) 6th Year (5) 3rd Year (9) Rookie (7) Gus Frerotte Vinny Ciurciu Ryan Cook Husain Abdullah E.J. Henderson Ray Edwards John David Booty 12th Year (3) Visanthe Shiancoe Fred Evans Letroy Guion Ryan Longwell Bobby Wade Charles Gordon Erin Henderson Darren Sharper Kevin Williams Chad Greenway Tyrell Johnson Pat Williams Cedric Griffin Drew Radovich 5th Year (9) Tarvaris Jackson John Sullivan 11th Year (1) Jared Allen Garrett Mills Matt Birk Bernard Berrian Naufahu Tahi Jeff Dugan 10th Year (2) Anthony Herrera 2nd Year (7) Jim Kleinsasser Maurice Hicks Aundrae Allison Antoine Winfield Cullen Loeffler Eric Frampton Benny Sapp Otis Grigsby 8th Year (3) Thomas Tapeh Marcus McCauley Robert Ferguson Madieu Williams Adrian Peterson Steve Hutchinson Sidney Rice Ellis Wyms 4th Year (2) Brian Robison Marcus Johnson 7th Year (3) Chris Kluwe 1st Year (1) Artis Hicks David Herron Ben Leber Chester Taylor MINNESOTA VIKINGS 2008 ROSTER BY ROUND [Overall Selection In Brackets] 1st Round (5) [7] Adrian Peterson (07), [9] Kevin Williams (03), [17] Steve Hutchinson (01-Sea.), [17] Chad Greenway (06), [23] Antoine Winfield (99-Buf.). 2nd Round (11) [40] E.J. Henderson (03), [41] Robert Ferguson (01-GB), [43] Tyrell Johnson (08), [44] Jim Kleinsasser (99), [44] Sidney Rice (07), [48] Cedric Griffin (06), [49] Marcus Johnson (05), [51] Ryan Cook (06), [56] Madieu Williams (04-Cin.), [60] Darren Sharper (97-GB), [64] Tarvaris Jackson (06). 3rd Round (4) [71] Ben Leber (02-SD), [72] Marcus McCauley (07), [78] Bernard Berrian (04-Chi.), [91] Visanthe Shiancoe (02-NYG). 4th Round (4) [102] Brian Robison (07), [106] Garrett Mills (06-NE), [126] Jared Allen (04-KC), [127] Ray Edwards (06). 5th Round (6) [137] John David Booty (08), [139] Bobby Wade (03-Chi.), [146] Aundrae Allison (07), [152] Letroy Guion (08), [162] Thomas Tapeh (04-Phi.), [165] Eric Frampton (07-Det.). 6th Round (4) [173]-Matt Birk (98), [183] Ellis Wyms (01-TB), [187] John Sullivan (08), [207] Chester Taylor (02-Balt.) 7th Round (3) [197] Gus Frerotte (94-Wash.), [212] Fred Evans (06-Mia.), [220] Jeff Dugan (04) Active Roster Total - 53 Undrafted (16) Ryan Longwell (97-SF), Pat Williams (97-Buf.), Artis Hicks (02-Phi.), Maurice Hicks (02-Chi.), Vinny Ciurciu (03-Car.), Otis Grigsby (03-Mia.), Anthony Herrera (04), Cullen Loeffler (04), Benny Sapp (04-KC), Chris Kluwe (05-Sea), Charles Gordon (06), Naufahu Tahi (06-Cin.), David Herron (07), Husain Abdullah (08), Erin Henderson (08), Drew Radovich (08). Active Roster Total - 53

29 WR: 87 Bernard Berrian 89 Robert Ferguson LT: 79 Artis Hicks 60 Drew Radovich LG: 76 Steve Hutchinson 79 Artis Hicks C: 78 Matt Birk 65 John Sullivan RG 64 Anthony Herrera 79 Artis Hicks RT: 62 Ryan Cook 72 Marcus Johnson TE: 81 Visanthe Shiancoe 40 Jim Kleinsasser 45 Garrett Mills WR: 18 Sidney Rice 19 Bobby Wade 84 Aundrae Allison QB: 7 Tarvaris Jackson 12 Gus Frerotte 4 John David Booty FB: 44 Thomas Tapeh 83 Jeff Dugan 38 Naufahu Tahi HB: 28 Adrian Peterson 29 Chester Taylor 43 Maurice Hicks LE: 91 Ray Edwards 73 Otis Grigsby NT: 94 Pat Williams 90 Fred Evans UT: 93 Kevin Williams 97 Ellis Wyms 98 Letroy Guion RE: 69 Jared Allen 96 Brian Robison SLB: 52 Chad Greenway 50 Erin Henderson MLB: 56 E.J. Henderson 58 David Herron WLB: 51 Ben Leber 54 Vinny Ciurciu LCB: 26 Antoine Winfield 21 Marcus McCauley RCB: 23 Cedric Griffin 41 Charles Gordon 22 Benny Sapp SS: 42 Darren Sharper 39 Husain Abdullah FS: 25 Tyrell Johnson 37 Eric Frampton 20 (Madieu Williams) CIAL TEAMS MINNESOTA VIKINGS 2008 UNOFFICIAL DEPTH CHART P: 5 Chris Kluwe K: 8 Ryan Longwell LS: 46 Cullen Loeffler H: 5 Chris Kluwe KR: 43 Maurice Hicks 84 Aundrae Allison PR: 84 Aundrae Allison 41 Charles Gordon Updated: September 15, 2008 OFFENSE DEFENSE SPECIAL TEAMS Rookie Players Underlined Injured Players in Parentheses Husain Abdullah - WHO-sane ab-dul-la Bernard Berrian - bare-e-an Vinny Ciurciu - chur-choo Jeff Dugan - DOO-gan Gus Frerotte - FUR-ott Letroy Guion - LA-troy GUY-on Otis Grigsby - grigs-bee Anthony Herrera - HA-rare-ah Tarvaris Jackson - ta-var-is Tyrell Johnson - TIE-rell Jim Kleinsasser - KLINE-sauce-er 2008 VIKINGS PRONUNCIATION GUIDE Chris Kluwe - CLUE-ee Ben Leber - LEE-ber Cullen Loeffler - LEFF-ler Brian Robison - ROB-ah-sin Visanthe Shiancoe - vi-sahn-tay SHANK-oh Naufahu Tahi - nah-fah-who TAH-hee Thomas Tapeh - ta-pay Madieu Williams - muh-dee-you Antoine Winfield - an-twan Ellis Wyms - wims Coaches Eric Bieniemy - bee-en-uh-me Tom Kanavy - ka-nay-vee Fred Pagac - PUG-itch

30 MINNESOTA VIKINGS 2008 PARTICIPATION CHART Date 9/8 9/14 9/21 9/28 10/6 10/12 10/19 11/2 11/9 11/16 11/23 11/30 12/7 12/14 12/21 12/ Career GB Ind NO Chi Hou Jac Atl NYG GP GS DNP IA GP GS Abdullah, Husain P P Allen, Jared S S Allen, Kenderick IR IR Allison, Aundrae P P Berrian, Bernard S S Birk, Matt S S Booty, John David I I Boulware, Michael IR IR Burnett, Martail N PS Ciurciu, Vinny P P Clark, Chris N PS Cook, Ryan S S Daniels, Brian PS PS Douzable, Leger PS N Dugan, Jeff I I Edwards, Ray S S Evans, Fred P P Farwell, Heath IR IR Ferguson, Robert P P Frampton, Eric P P Frerotte, Gus DNP DNP Gordon, Charles S P Greenway, Chad S S Griffin, Cedric S S Grigsby, Otis P P Guion, Letroy I I Henderson, E.J. S S Henderson, Erin I I Herrera, Anthony S S Herron, David P P Hicks, Artis S S Hicks, Maurice I I Hutchinson, Steve S S Jackson, Tarvaris S S Johnson, Jaymar PS PS Johnson, Marcus P P Johnson, Tyrell S S Kleinsasser, Jim P P Kluwe, Chris P P Leber, Ben P S Loeffler, Cullen P P Longwell, Ryan P P Mattran, Tim PS PS McCauley, Marcus I I McKinnie, Bryant SUS SUS Mills, Garrett P P Mitchell, Jayme IR IR Peterson, Adrian S S Radovich, Drew I I Reynaud, Darius PS PS Rice, Sidney S S Robison, Brian P P Sapp, Benny P P Sharper, Darren S S Shiancoe, Visanthe P S Shotwell, Kyle PS N Sullivan, John P P Tahi, Naufahu P P Tapeh, Thomas S P Taylor, Chester P P Udeze, Kenechi NFI NFI Wade, Bobby P P Walker, Marcus PS PS Williams, Kevin S S Williams, Madieu I I Williams, Pat S S Winfield, Antoine S S Wyms, Ellis P P Young, Albert PS PS P-played; S-started; DNP-did not play; IR-injured reserve; N-not with club; I-inactive; NFI-non-football illness; PS-Practice Squad; SUS-Reserve/Suspended

31 HOW THE 2008 MINNESOTA VIKINGS WERE BUILT YEAR DRAFT TRADES FREE AGENCY/WAIVERS 1998 C Matt Birk (6) 1999 TE Jim Kleinsasser (2) 2003 DT Kevin Williams (1) LB E.J. Henderson (2) 2004 FB Jeff Dugan (7) G Anthony Herrera * LS Cullen Loeffler * CB Antoine Winfield ** 2005 T Marcus Johnson (2) P Chris Kluwe (W-Sea) S Darren Sharper ** DT Pat Williams ** 2006 LB Chad Greenway (1) G Artis Hicks (Phi) CB Charles Gordon * CB Cedric Griffin (2a) G Steve Hutchinson ** T Ryan Cook (2b) LB Ben Leber ** QB Tarvaris Jackson (2c) K Ryan Longwell ** DE Ray Edwards (4) FB Naufahu Tahi (PS-Cin) RB Chester Taylor ** 2007 RB Adrian Peterson (1) LB Vinny Ciurciu ** WR Sidney Rice (2) DT Fred Evans ** CB Marcus McCauley (3) WR Robert Ferguson ** DE Brian Robison (4) S Eric Frampton (W-Det) WR Aundrae Allison (5) DE Otis Grigsby (PS-Car) LB David Herron * TE Garrett Mills (W-NE) TE Visanthe Shiancoe ** WR Bobby Wade ** 2008 S Tyrell Johnson (2) DE Jared Allen (KC) S Husain Abdullah * QB John David Booty (5a) WR Bernard Berrian ** DT Letroy Guion (5b) QB Gus Frerotte ** C John Sullivan (6a) LB Erin Henderson * RB Maurice Hicks ** T Drew Radovich * CB Benny Sapp ** FB Thomas Tapeh ** S Madieu Williams ** DT Ellis Wyms ** * ROOKIE FREE AGENT PRIOR TO JOINING VIKINGS ** NFL VETERAN OR HAD BEEN IN OTHER NFL CAMPS PRIOR TO JOINING VIKINGS # PLAYER WAS DRAFTED BY THE VIKINGS AND RETURNED VIA TRADE, WAIVERS OR FREE AGENCY

32 MINNESOTA VIKINGS 2008 ROSTER MOVES DATE POSITION PLAYER TRANSACTION September 10 T CLARK, Chris Signed to Practice Squad September 9 DE BURNETT, Martail Signed to Practice Squad September 9 DT DOUZABLE, Leger Released from Practice Squad September 9 LB SHOTWELL, Kyle Released from Practice Squad September 4 LB SHOTWELL, Kyle Signed to Practice Squad September 4 DE BURNETT, Martail Released from Practice Squad September 2 C JONES, Mike Waived/Injury Settlement August 30 DE BURNETT, Martail Signed to Practice Squad August 30 G DANIELS, Brian Signed to Practice Squad August 30 DT DOUZABLE, Leger Signed to Practice Squad August 30 WR JOHNSON, Jaymar Signed to Practice Squad August 30 C MATTRAN, Tim Signed to Practice Squad August 30 WR REYNAUD, Darius Signed to Practice Squad August 30 CB WALKER, Marcus Signed to Practice Squad August 30 RB YOUNG, Albert Signed to Practice Squad August 29 LB ALEXANDER, Rufus Waived August 29 QB BOLLINGER, Brooks Waived August 29 S BOULWARE, Michael Placed on Injured Reserve August 29 DE BURNETT, Martail Waived August 29 G DANIELS, Brian Waived August 29 DE DOUZABLE, Leger Waived August 29 K HAUSCHKA, Steven Waived August 29 T JOHNSON, Chase Waived August 29 WR JOHNSON, Jaymar Waived August 29 TE JONES, Braden Waived August 29 WR JONES, Nate Waived August 29 LB LEMAN, J Waived August 29 C MATTRAN, Tim Waived August 29 CB McCANN, Dee Waived August 29 C MOZES, Dan Waived August 29 WR NANCE, Martin Waived August 29 DE NORWELL, Chris Waived August 29 WR REYNAUD, Darius Waived August 29 CB SUMRALL, Brandon Waived August 29 CB WALKER, Marcus Waived August 29 RB YOUNG, Albert Waived August 29 T McKINNIE, Bryant Placed on Reserve/Suspended August 25 WR DAVIS, Daniel Waived August 25 T DUMFORD, Sean Waived August 25 T PASTEUR, Brock Waived August 25 LB POPE, Derrick Released August 18 DT ALLEN, Kendrick Placed on Injured Reserve August 12 LB FARWELL, Heath Placed on Injured Reserve August 12 C JONES, Mike Placed on Injured Reserve August 12 DE MITCHELL, Jayme Placed on Injured Reserve August 11 T DUMFORD, Sean Signed August 11 DE NORWELL, Chris Signed August 11 T PASTEUR, Brock Signed August 11 LB FARWELL, Heath Waived/Injured August 11 G JONES, Mike Waived/Injured August 11 DE MITCHELL, Jayme Waived/Injured July 23 QB BOOTY, John David Signed July 23 S JOHNSON, Tyrell Signed July 23 C SULLIVAN, John Signed July 22 DT GUION, Letroy Signed July 22 WR JOHNSON, Jaymar Signed July 1 QB WRIGHT, Kyle Waived June 27 DB GRIFFIN, Marcus Waived

33 June 27 DB KEY, Travis Waived June 24 WR SURRENCY, Justin Waived June 24 RB WHITLOCK, Arkee Waived June 10 G JONES, Mike Signed June 10 LB CARTER, Brannon Waived May 27 LB CARTER, Brannon Signed May 27 WR DAVIS, Daniel Signed May 27 DE JAMES, Erasmus Traded to Washington May 20 WR LITTLE, Brent Waived May 2 S ABDULLAH, Husain Signed May 2 DE BURNETT, Martail Signed May 2 DE DOUZABLE, Leger Signed May 2 S GRIFFIN, Marcus Signed May 2 K HAUSCHKA, Steven Signed May 2 LB HENDERSON, Erin Signed May 2 WR JONES, Nate Signed May 2 CB KEY, Travis Signed May 2 LB LEMAN, J Signed May 2 C MATTRAN, Tim Signed May 2 T RADOVICH, Drew Signed May 2 WR REYNAUD, Darius Signed May 2 CB SUMRALL, Brandon Signed May 2 CB WALKER, Marcus Signed May 2 QB WRIGHT, Kyle Signed May 2 RB YOUNG, Albert Signed May 2 DE UDEZE, Kenechi Placed on Reserve/Non-Football Illness April 30 WR FILANI, Joel Waived April 30 LB SARTZ, Dallas Waived April 23 DE ALLEN, Jared Acquired via Trade (Kansas City) April 8 QB FREROTTE, Gus Signed March 25 LB FARWELL, Heath Signed as RFA March 25 CB SAPP, Benny Signed as UFA (Kansas City) March 24 WR FERGUSON, Robert Signed March 20 DT ALLEN, Kendrick Signed March 20 S BOULWARE, Michael Signed as UFA (Houston) March 18 DT WYMS, Ellis Signed as UFA (Seattle) March 17 LB SARTZ, Dallas Signed March 14 LB POPE, Derrick Signed as UFA (Miami) March 4 RB HICKS, Maurice Signed as UFA (San Fransisco) March 3 WR BERRIAN, Bernard Signed as UFA (Chicago) March 1 S WILLIAMS, Madieu Signed as UFA (Cincinnati) February 29 FB TAPEH, Thomas Signed as UFA (Philadelphia) February 29 WR WILLIAMSON, Troy Traded to Jacksonville February 20 S SMITH, Dwight Released January 4 WR LITTLE, Brent Signed January 2 G DANIELS, Brian Signed January 2 WR FILANI, Joel Signed January 2 CB McCANN, Dee Signed January 2 WR NANCE, Martin Signed January 2 WR SURRENCY, Justin Signed January 2 RB WHITLOCK, Arkee Signed

34 2008 GAME-BY-GAME STATISTICS VIKINGS 1st Downs Total Offense INTs By Minnesota Punts Punt Returns Kickoff Returns Pen Fum Scoring T R Pa Pe Yd Ru At Pa Sk/Yd A C I N Yd Lg TD N/Avg N Yd FC Lg TD N Yd Lg TD N/Yd N/LT R P Rt PAT FG / / /24 0/ /1 2/2 0 IND / / /5 2/ /0 5/6 0 CAR TEN _ NO _ DET _ CHI _ HOU _ GB _ TB _ JAX _ CHI _ DET _ ARI _ ATL _ NYG _ Totals / / /29 2/ /1 7/8 0 THIRD DOWN EFFICIENCY 9/8 at Green Bay: % 9/14 Indianapolis: % OPPONENTS 1st Downs Total Offense INTs By Opponents Punts Punt Returns Kickoff Returns Pen Fum Scoring T R Pa Pe Yd Ru At Pa Sk/Yd A C I N Yd Lg TD N/Avg N Yd FC Lg TD N Yd Lg TD N/Yd N/LT R P Rt PAT FG / / /118 2/ /3 1/2 0 IND / / /45 0/ /1 1/2 0 CAR TEN _ NO _ DET _ CHI _ HOU _ GB _ TB _ JAX _ CHI _ DET _ ARI _ ATL _ NYG _ Totals / / /163 2/ /4 2/4 0 THIRD DOWN EFFICIENCY 9/8 at Green Bay: % 9/14 Indianapolis: % SCORING SUMMARY 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH OT TOT. VIKINGS' FG 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH OT TOT. OPP , , 33B IND , 27, 53, 46, 28, 48 WL WR, 47 CAR TEN NO DET CHI HOU GB TB JAX CHI DET ARI ATL NYG Totals

35 RUSHING Adrian Peterson Tarvaris Jackson Chester Taylor Aundrae Allison No. Yds Avg. Lg TD No. Yds Avg. Lg TD No. Yds Avg. Lg TD No. Yds Avg. Lg IND CAR TEN NO DET CHI HOU GB TB JAX CHI DET ARI ATL NYG Totals PASSING Tarvaris Jackson ATT COM YDS PCT TD INT LG SACKS % / IND % / CAR TEN NO DET CHI HOU GB TB JAX CHI DET ARI ATL NYG Totals % /

36 RECEIVING Adrian Peterson Visanthe Shiancoe Chester Taylor Garrett Mills No. Yds Avg. Lg TD No. Yds Avg. Lg TD No. Yds Avg. Lg TD No. Yds Avg. Lg IND CAR TEN NO DET CHI HOU GB TB JAX CHI DET ARI ATL NYG Totals Bobby Wade Bernard Berrian Aundrae Allison Sidney Rice No. Yds Avg. Lg TD No. Yds Avg. Lg TD No. Yds Avg. Lg TD No. Yds Avg. Lg t 1 IND CAR TEN NO DET CHI HOU GB TB JAX CHI DET ARI ATL NYG Totals t 1 Naufahu Tahi Jim Kleinsasser Thomas Tapeh No. Yds Avg. Lg TD No. Yds Avg. Lg TD No. Yds Avg. Lg IND CAR TEN NO DET CHI HOU GB TB JAX CHI DET ARI ATL NYG Totals

37 PUNTING Chris Kluwe No. YDS Avg. TB IN20 LG BL IND CAR TEN NO DET CHI HOU GB TB JAX CHI DET ARI ATL NYG Totals PUNT RETURNS Aundrae Allison Charles Gordon No. Yds Avg. FC LG TD No. Yds Avg. FC LG IND CAR TEN NO DET CHI HOU GB TB JAX CHI DET ARI ATL NYG Totals KICKOFF RETURNS Chester Taylor Aundrae Allison No. Yds Avg. FC LG TD No. Yds Avg. FC LG IND CAR TEN NO DET CHI HOU GB TB JAX CHI DET ARI ATL NYG Totals

38 DEFENSIVE GAME-BY-GAME E.J. Henderson Kevin Williams Chad Greenway Solo Asst Total TFL Sack Hurr. FF FR INT PD Solo Asst Total TFL Sack Hurr. FF FR INT PD Solo Asst Total TFL Sack Hurr. FF FR INT /0 0/ /0 0/ /0 0/0 0 IND /0 0/ /0 0/ /0 0/0 2 CAR TEN NO DET CHI HOU GB TB JAX CHI DET ARI ATL NYG Totals /0 0/ /0 0/ /0 0/0 2 Cedric Griffin Antoine Winfield Ray Edwards Solo Asst Total TFL Sack Hurr. FF FR INT PD Solo Asst Total TFL Sack Hurr. FF FR INT PD Solo Asst Total TFL Sack Hurr. FF FR INT /0 0/ /0 0/ /0 0/0 0 IND /0 0/ /0 1/ /0 0/0 0 CAR TEN NO DET CHI HOU GB TB JAX CHI DET ARI ATL NYG Totals /0 0/ /0 1/ /0 0/0 0 Jared Allen Darren Sharper Pat Williams Solo Asst Total TFL Sack Hurr. FF FR INT PD Solo Asst Total TFL Sack Hurr. FF FR INT PD Solo Asst Total TFL Sack Hurr. FF FR INT /0 0/ /0 0/ /0 0/0 0 IND /0 0/ /0 0/ /0 0/0 CAR TEN NO DET CHI HOU GB TB JAX CHI DET ARI ATL NYG Totals /0 0/ /0 0/ /0 0/0 0 Tyrell Johnson Ben Leber Charles Gordon Solo Asst Total TFL Sack Hurr. FF FR INT PD Solo Asst Total TFL Sack Hurr. FF FR INT PD Solo Asst Total TFL Sack Hurr. FF FR INT /0 0/ /0 0/ /0 0/0 0 IND /0 0/ /0 0/ /0 1/0 1 CAR TEN NO DET CHI HOU GB TB JAX CHI DET ARI ATL NYG Totals /0 0/ /0 0/ /0 1/0 1

39 Fred Evans Benny Sapp Visanthe Shiancoe Solo Asst Total TFL Sack Hurr. FF FR INT PD Solo Asst Total TFL Sack Hurr. FF FR INT PD Solo Asst Total TFL Sack Hurr. FF FR INT /0 0/ /0 0/ /0 0/0 0 IND /0 0/ /0 0/ /0 0/0 0 CAR TEN NO DET CHI HOU GB TB JAX CHI DET ARI ATL NYG Totals / /0 0/ /0 0/0 0 Ellis Wyms Solo Asst Total TFL Sack Hurr. FF FR INT /0 0/0 0 IND /0 0/0 0 CAR TEN NO DET CHI HOU GB TB JAX CHI DET ARI ATL NYG Totals /0 0/0 0 DEFENSIVE GAME-BY-GAME

40 THE LAST TIME 400 YARDS TOTAL OFFENSE By Vikings 443 yards, vs. Detroit, 12/2/07 Playoffs 429 yards, vs. New Orleans, 1/6/01 By Opponents 488 yards, at Green Bay, 11/11/07 Playoffs 518 yards, at N.Y. Giants, 1/14/ YARDS TOTAL OFFENSE By Vikings 528 yards, vs. San Diego, 11/4/07 Playoffs Has never happened By Opponents 504 yards, at Cincinnati, 9/18/05 Playoffs 518 yards, at N.Y. Giants, 1/14/ YARDS PASSING IN A GAME BY A PLAYER By Vikings Daunte Culpepper, 300 yards, vs. New Orleans, 9/25/05 Playoffs Daunte Culpepper, 316 yards, at Philadelphia, 1/16/05 By Opponents Peyton Manning, 311 yards, vs. Indianapolis, 9/14/08 Playoffs Kerry Collins, 381 yards, at N.Y. Giants, 1/14/ YARDS PASSING IN A GAME BY A PLAYER By Vikings Daunte Culpepper, 404 yards, at Detroit, 12/19/04 Playoffs Jeff George, 424 yards, at St. Louis, 1/16/00 By Opponents Matt Leinart, 405 yards, vs. Arizona, 11/26/06 Playoffs Has never happened 4 TOUCHDOWN PASSES IN A GAME BY A PLAYER By Vikings Daunte Culpepper, at Green Bay, 11/14/04 Playoffs Daunte Culpepper, at Green Bay, 1/9/05 By Opponents Tom Brady, vs. New England, 10/30/06 Playoffs Kerry Collins (5), at N.Y. Giants, 1/14/ YARDS RUSHING IN A GAME BY A PLAYER By Vikings Adrian Peterson, 160 yards, vs. Indianapolis, 9/14/08 Playoffs Robert Smith, 140 yards, vs. Dallas, 1/9/00 By Opponents Ryan Grant, 119 yards, at Green Bay, 11/11/07 Playoffs Terry Kirby, 120 yards, at San Francisco, 1/3/ YARDS RUSHING IN A GAME BY A PLAYER By Vikings Adrian Peterson, 296 yards, vs. San Diego, 11/4/07 Playoffs Has never happened By Opponents Walter Payton, 275 yards, at Chicago, 11/20/77 Playoffs Has never happened 3 TOUCHDOWNS RUSHING IN A GAME BY A PLAYER By Vikings Chester Taylor, vs. Oakland, 11/18/07 Playoffs Has never happened By Opponents Steven Jackson, vs. St. Louis, 12/31/06 Playoffs Has never happened 100 YARDS RECEIVING IN A GAME BY A PLAYER By Vikings Troy Williamson, 102 yards, vs. Carolina, 9/17/06 Playoffs Marcus Robinson, 119 yards, at Philadelphia, 1/16/05 By Opponents Anthony Gonzalez, 137 yards, vs. Indianapolis, 9/14/08 Playoffs Ike Hilliard, 155 yards, at N.Y. Giants, 1/14/01 3 TOUCHDOWN CATCHES IN A GAME BY A PLAYER By Vikings Marcus Robinson (15, 15, 2), vs. Cleveland, 11/27/05 Playoffs Has never happened By Opponents Marvin Harrison (4, 15, 18), at Indianapolis, 12/24/00 Playoffs Has never happened 3 TOUCHDOWNS IN A GAME BY A PLAYER By Vikings Chester Taylor, vs. Oakland, 11/18/07 (3 rushing) Playoffs Leroy Hoard, vs. Arizona, 1/10/99 (2 rushing, 1 receiving) By Opponents Marshall Faulk, at St. Louis, 11/30/03 (3 rushing) Playoffs Mario Bates, vs. Arizona, 1/10/99 (3 rushing)

41 4 TOUCHDOWNS IN A GAME BY A PLAYER By Vikings Ahmad Rashad, vs. San Francisco, 9/2/79 (4 receiving) Playoffs Has never happened By Opponents Steven Jackson, vs. St. Louis, 12/31/06 (3 rushing, 1 receiving) Playoffs Has never happened 3 INTERCEPTIONS IN A GAME BY A PLAYER By Vikings Darren Sharper, at N.Y. Giants, 11/13/05 Playoffs Has never happened By Opponents Deltha O Neal, at Cincinnati, 9/18/05 Playoffs Has never happened PUNT RETURNED FOR TD By Vikings Mewelde Moore, 71 yards, vs. New England, 10/30/06 Playoffs Anthony Carter, 84 yards, at New Orleans, 1/3/88 By Opponents Will Blackmon, 76 yards, at Green Bay, 9/8/08 Playoffs Golden Richards, 63 yards, at Dallas, 12/30/73 KICKOFF RETURNED FOR TD By Vikings Aundrae Allison, 104 yards, vs. Detroit, 12/2/07 Playoffs Has never happened By Opponents J.J. Arrington, 99 yards, vs. Arizona, 11/26/06 Playoffs Tony Horne, 95 yards, at St. Louis, 1/16/00 INTERCEPTION RETURNED FOR TD By Vikings Kevin Williams, 18 yards, at San Francisco, 12/9/07 Playoffs Reggie Rutland, 27 yards, at San Francisco, 1/9/88 By Opponents Ron Bartell, 38 yards, vs. St. Louis, 12/31/06 Playoffs Ken Norton Jr., 23 yards, at San Francisco, 1/3/98 FUMBLE RETURNED FOR TD By Vikings Cedric Griffin, 28 yards, at Dallas, 10/21/07 Playoffs Nate Wright, 20 yards, vs. St. Louis, 12/21/74 By Opponents Adrian Wilson, 99 yards, vs. Arizona, 11/26/06 Playoffs Kevin Miniefield, 48 yards, vs. Chicago, 1/1/95 PUNT BLOCKED By Vikings Jim Kleinsasser, vs. Chicago, 1/1/06 Playoffs Scott Studwell, at L.A. Rams, 12/31/78 By Opponents Jamie Duncan, at St. Louis, 11/30/03 Playoffs Spencer Tillman, at San Francisco, 1/6/90 PUNT BLOCKED FOR TD By Vikings Issiac Holt, recovered in end zone, vs. San Francisco, 10/12/86 (Blocked by Gerald Robinson) Playoffs Terry Brown, recovered in end zone, vs. Pittsburgh 1/12/75 (Blocked by Matt Blair) By Opponents Tiger Greene, vs. Green Bay, 36 yards,12/2/90 (Blocked by Greene) Playoffs Doug Rogers recovered blocked kick in end zone, vs. Atlanta, 1/9/83 (Blocked by Paul Davis) PUNT BLOCKED FOR SAFETY By Vikings Mike Merriweather, vs. L.A. Rams, 11/5/89 Playoffs Has never happened By Opponents Kevin Miniefield, vs. Chicago, 10/28/96 Playoffs Has never happened SAFETY SCORED By Vikings Penalty on Daunte Culpepper enforced in end zone, vs. Oakland, 11/18/07 Playoffs Ron Jaworski tackled in end zone by Doug Martin and Matt Blair, at Philadelphia, 1/3/81 By Opponents Penalty on Ryan Cook enforced in end zone, at Denver, 12/30/07 Playoffs Fran Tarkenton tackled in end zone, vs. Pittsburgh, 1/12/75 FIELD GOAL BLOCKED By Vikings Cedric Griffin, at Green Bay, 9/8/08 Playoffs Matt Blair, at Philadelphia, 1/3/81 By Opponents Julius Peppers, vs. Carolina, 9/17/06 Playoffs at Green Bay, 1/9/05

42 BLOCKED FIELD GOAL RETURNED FOR TD By Vikings Has never happened Playoffs Bobby Bryant, 90 yards, vs. L.A. Rams, 12/26/76 By Opponents Patrick Watkins, 68 yards, at Dallas, 10/21/07 Playoffs Has never happened PAT MISSED (1 pt.) By Vikings Ryan Longwell, vs. Chicago, 12/17/07 Playoffs Chuck Nelson, at San Francisco, 1/1/89 By Opponents Jason Hanson (kick aborted), at Detroit, 12/19/04 Playoffs Mike Cofer, at San Francisco, 1/6/90 PAT BLOCKED By Vikings Fernando Smith, at San Francisco, 12/18/95 Playoffs Carl Eller, at Dallas, 1/1/78 By Opponents Jared DeVries, vs. Detroit, 10/8/06 Playoffs Has never happened 50 POINTS SCORED IN GAME By Vikings Minnesota 50, Jacksonville 10, 12/20/98 Playoffs Has never happened By Opponents San Francisco 51, Minnesota 7, 12/8/84 Playoffs Has never happened 40 POINTS SCORED IN GAME By Vikings Minnesota 42, Detroit 10, 12/2/07 Playoffs Minnesota 41, Arizona 21, 1/10/99 By Opponents St. Louis 41, Minnesota 21, 12/31/06 Playoffs N.Y. Giants 41, Minnesota 0, 1/14/01 SHUTOUT SCORED By Vikings Minnesota 13, Detroit 0, 12/5/93 Playoffs Has never happened By Opponents Green Bay 34, Minnesota 0, 11/11/07 Playoffs N.Y. Giants 41, Minnesota 0, 1/14/01 OVERTIME VICTORY By Vikings Minnesota 16, Carolina 13, 9/17/06 Playoffs Has never happened By Opponents Denver 22, Minnesota 19, 12/30/07 Playoffs Atlanta 30, Minnesota 27, 1/17/99 TWO-POINT CONVERSION By Vikings Tarvaris Jackson run, at Denver, 12/30/07 Playoffs Leroy Hoard run, at St. Louis, 1/16/00 By Opponents Dominic Rhodes run, vs. Indianapolis, 9/14/08 Playoffs Has never happened