Vikings Flashback: Minnesota beats Dolphins in Cris Carter’s return

The last time the Minnesota Vikings got a win over the Miami Dolphins was all the way back in the 2002 season against a familiar wide receiver.

The Minnesota Vikings and the Miami Dolphins will face off on Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium. Both teams are in the playoff hunt and a loss for either would be devastating.

The Vikings will be attempting to beat the Dolphins for the first time since 2002. That matchup also featured the return of legendary Minnesota wide receiver Cris Carter, who spent a part of the 2002 season with Miami.

Carter was actually retired during the beginning of 2002 and working as an analyst for HBO until the Dolphins signed him during the middle of the year.

Against Miami in Week 16, Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper completed 20 of his 29 passes for 244 yards and two interceptions. Culpepper also rushed for 67 yards on 10 carries.

Minnesota receiver Randy Moss finished with seven receptions for 110 yards and he even found time to throw a 13-yard touchdown to D’Wayne Bates. Speaking of Bates, he chipped in with seven catches for 79 yards and that touchdown from Moss.

For the Dolphins, quarterback Jay Fiedler completed 15 of 21 passes for 177 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Miami wide receiver Chris Chambers had two receptions for 68 yards and a score. And Dolphins pass rushers Jason Taylor and Adewale Ogunleye each had 1.5 sacks.

Check this out, Vikings kicker Gary Anderson actually made a 53-yard field goal with 17 seconds remaining to win the win the game.

“Everyone said he didn’t have the leg,” Minnesota center Matt Birk said following Anderson’s made kick, “but he showed he had it, boy.”

The 43-year old kicker last made a field goal from 50 yards or more in 1998. That kick was also from 53 yards away. Since that game, Anderson had not even attempted a kick from 53 yards out until the matchup with Miami.

Thanks to their kicker’s clutch field goal, the Vikings won 20-17 to improve their record to 5-10 on the season. Minnesota ended up finishing with a 6-10 record in 2002 during Mike Tice’s first season as the team’s head coach.

Facing his old team, Carter only had one catch for 15 yards in his return to the place he used to call home for the previous 12 seasons.

When facing the Dolphins, the Vikings are 4-8 all-time and have lost their past three meetings.

Prediction: Vikings win 24-13