 In 2000, led by first-year starting quarterback Daunte Culpepper (a 1999 first-round draft pick out of Central Florida), the Vikings had a season in which Robert Smith ran for a team record 1,521 yards with seven touchdowns.The Vikings were 11–2 after Week 14, but slumped briefly, losing their last three to the Rams, Packers and Colts while Culpepper was hampered by injury.They would go on to make the playoffs for the fifth straight year and after easily beating the New Orleans Saints in the divisional game 34–16, the Vikings were humiliated 41–0 by the New York Giants in the NFC Championship, In addition, Robert Smith retired at the end of the year, after playing only eight NFL seasons.