Editing Minnesota Vikings (section)

====2001–2005====
In [[2001 NFL season|2001]], after a disappointing 5–11 season, the Vikings bought out the contract of [[Dennis Green]], despite his successful coaching tenure with the team. [[Mike Tice]] coached the final game of 2001, losing to the [[2001 Baltimore Ravens season|Ravens]] 19–3.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 4, 2002 |title=Green, Vikings agree to buyout |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/print?id=1305597&type=news |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211204805/http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=1305597&type=news |archive-date=December 11, 2008 |access-date=December 24, 2011 |website=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Tice was named the permanent coach after the season, but he would not lead the Vikings back to the playoffs until 2004.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mike Tice Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/TiceMi0.htm |access-date=August 29, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> In 2002, as part of the league's realignment with the addition of the [[Houston Texans]], the Vikings and their other traditional NFC Central rivals became part of the newly formed [[NFC North]].<ref name="u551">{{cite web | title=When the NFL added two divisions -- and weakened the AFC West | website=NBC Sports | date=May 22, 2014 | url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/when-the-nfl-added-two-divisions-and-weakened-the-afc-west | access-date=August 29, 2024}}</ref>

During the [[2003 NFL season|2003 season]], the Vikings came close to getting into the playoffs. However, the [[2003 Arizona Cardinals season|Arizona Cardinals]] completed a game-winning touchdown on 4th-and-28 with 0:00 left, knocking the Vikings out of the playoffs.<ref name="o682">{{cite web | last=Patrick | first=Adam | title=20 years ago, Nate Poole shattered the playoff hopes of the Minnesota Vikings | website=The Viking Age | date=December 28, 2023 | url=https://thevikingage.com/posts/20-years-nate-poole-minnesota-vikings-arizona-cardinals | access-date=August 29, 2024}}</ref> The moment of Arizona's touchdown was actually the first moment the entire season in which the Vikings hadn't led their division. The Vikings became the second team in football history to miss the playoffs after getting off to a 6–0 start, following the [[1978 Washington Redskins]].<ref name="z250">{{cite web | agency=Associated Press| title=Vikings' Collapse Is Now Complete | website=Los Angeles Times | date=December 29, 2003 | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-dec-29-sp-cardinals29-story.html | access-date=August 29, 2024}}</ref>

In [[2004 NFL season|2004]], [[Daunte Culpepper]] amassed MVP-like statistics, throwing for 4,717 passing yards (leading the NFL), 39 passing touchdowns (a Viking record), and 5,123 total yards (an NFL record).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nfl.com/player/daunteculpepper/2500249/profile |title=Players: Daunte Culpepper |website=NFL.com |access-date=December 24, 2011 |archive-date=December 24, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111224194725/http://www.nfl.com/player/daunteculpepper/2500249/profile |url-status=live }}</ref> In the wild card game, the Vikings [[2004–05 NFL playoffs#NFC: Minnesota Vikings 31, Green Bay Packers 17|defeated]] the rival [[2004 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]] at Lambeau Field in their first-ever playoff meeting, 31–17.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.profootballreference.com/teams/min2004.htm |title=2004 Minnesota Vikings Statistics & Players |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |access-date=December 24, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060521062333/http://www.profootballreference.com/teams/min2004.htm |archive-date=May 21, 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In doing so, the Vikings became the second team in NFL history to have a .500 record (8–8) in the regular season and win a playoff game (The [[2004 St. Louis Rams season|St. Louis Rams]] did the same thing only a day earlier). In the divisional round, the Vikings [[2004–05 NFL playoffs#NFC: Philadelphia Eagles 27, Minnesota Vikings 14|were defeated]] by the eventual NFC champion [[2004 Philadelphia Eagles season|Philadelphia Eagles]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 16, 2005 |title=Eagles outplay self-destructing Vikings |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=250116021 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524122646/http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=250116021 |archive-date=May 24, 2011 |access-date=December 24, 2011 |website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

On March 2, 2005, Vikings wide receiver Randy Moss was traded to the Oakland Raiders for linebacker [[Napoleon Harris]] and the Raiders' first-round draft pick. After struggling to a disappointing 2–5 start to the [[2005 NFL season|2005 season]], Vikings lost quarterback Daunte Culpepper to a season-ending knee injury.<ref name="z295">{{cite web | title=Culpepper out for year | website=Spokesman.com | date=November 1, 2005 | url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2005/nov/01/culpepper-out-for-year/ | access-date=August 29, 2024}}</ref> This injury was a very significant part to this Minnesota Vikings team due to the fact they also lost Moss. The dynamic duo from years earlier was now gone and a new leader would eventually emerge. The Vikings finished the 2005 season with a 9–7 record.<ref name="g178">{{cite web |title=2005 Minnesota Vikings Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |date=September 11, 2005 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/min/2005.htm |access-date=August 6, 2024 }}</ref>

In October, 17 team members were part of a party of about 90 that went out on a pleasure cruise on local [[Lake Minnetonka]]. The incident [[Minnesota Vikings boat party scandal|erupted into scandal]] when media reported that a number of the players had performed sex acts and that [[prostitutes]] had been flown in. Four players were ultimately charged with misdemeanors related to the party.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 19, 2005 |title=Report: Wilf delivers profanity-laced address to Vikings |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=2198052&CMP=OTC-DT9705204233 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130731093303/http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2198052&CMP=OTC-DT9705204233 |archive-date=July 31, 2013 |access-date=September 3, 2012 |website=[[ESPN.com]]}}</ref>

Mike Tice was fired by owner [[Zygi Wilf]] after the 2005 season and was replaced by [[Brad Childress]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 2, 2006 |title=Tice out: Vikings fire head coach after 9–7 campaign |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=2277493 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109190235/http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2277493 |archive-date=November 9, 2012 |access-date=September 3, 2012 |website=[[ESPN.com]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref>