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1970 Minnesota Vikings season
NFL team season
NFL team season
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| team | Minnesota Vikings |
| year | 1970 |
| record | 12–2 |
| division_place | 1st NFC Central |
| coach | Bud Grant |
| general manager | Jim Finks |
| stadium | Metropolitan Stadium |
| playoffs | Lost [Divisional Playoffs](1970-71-nfl-playoffs) |
| (vs. [49ers](1970-san-francisco-49ers-season)) 14–17 | |
| pro bowlers | K Fred Cox |
| DE Carl Eller | |
| SS Karl Kassulke | |
| DT Gary Larsen | |
| RB Dave Osborn | |
| DT Alan Page | |
| WR Gene Washington | |
| AP All-pros | DE Carl Eller (1st team) |
| DT Alan Page (1st team) | |
| uniform | File:Vikings1970-74.png |
| shortnavlink | Vikings seasons |
(vs. 49ers) 14–17 DE Carl Eller SS Karl Kassulke DT Gary Larsen RB Dave Osborn DT Alan Page WR Gene Washington | AP All-pros = DE Carl Eller (1st team) DT Alan Page (1st team) The 1970 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 10th in the National Football League and the first season following the AFL–NFL merger. In their fourth year under head coach Bud Grant, they finished with a 12–2 record and won the first ever NFC Central title before losing to the San Francisco 49ers 17–14 at home in the NFC Divisional Playoff game. The Vikings' defense became the second defense in the history of the NFL to lead the league in fewest points allowed and fewest total yards allowed for two consecutive seasons.
Offseason
1970 draft
Main article: 1970 NFL draft
| Minnesota Vikings | year=1970 | border=2}}" | 1970 Minnesota Vikings Draft | Minnesota Vikings | year=1970 | border=2}}" | Draft order | Minnesota Vikings | year=1970 | border=2}}" | Player name | Minnesota Vikings | year=1970 | border=2}}" | Position | Minnesota Vikings | year=1970 | border=2}}" | College | Minnesota Vikings | year=1970 | border=2}}" | Notes | Minnesota Vikings | year=1970 | border=2}}" | Round | Minnesota Vikings | year=1970 | border=2}}" | Selection | 1 | 25 | 2 | 51 | 3 | 77 | 4 | 103 | 5 | 129 | 6 | 155 | 7 | 181 | 8 | 207 | 9 | 233 | 10 | 259 | 11 | 285 | 12 | 311 | 13 | 337 | 14 | 363 | 15 | 389 | 16 | 415 | 17 | 441 | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Ward | Offensive tackle | [Oklahoma State](1969-oklahoma-state-cowboys-football-team) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bill Cappleman | Quarterback | [Florida State](1969-florida-state-seminoles-football-team) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chuck Burgoon | Linebacker | North Park | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Traded to the [New Orleans Saints](1970-new-orleans-saints-season)*** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Greg Jones | Running back | [UCLA](1969-ucla-bruins-football-team) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Traded to the [Pittsburgh Steelers](1970-pittsburgh-steelers-season)*** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hap Farber | Linebacker | [Ole Miss](1969-ole-miss-rebels-football-team) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mike Carroll | Guard | [Missouri](1969-missouri-tigers-football-team) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| George Morrow | Defensive end | [Ole Miss](1969-ole-miss-rebels-football-team) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stu Voigt | Tight end | [Wisconsin](1969-wisconsin-badgers-football-team) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Godfrey Zaunbrecher | Center | [LSU](1969-lsu-tigers-football-team) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| James Holland | Defensive back | [Jackson State](1969-jackson-state-tigers-football-team) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Robert Pearce | Defensive back | Stephen F. Austin | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tommy Spinks | Wide receiver | [Louisiana Tech](1969-louisiana-tech-bulldogs-football-team) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bennie Francis | Defensive end | Chadron State | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bruce Cerone | Wide receiver | Emporia State | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Brian Healy | Defensive back | [Michigan](1969-michigan-wolverines-football-team) |
Notes
Roster
Preseason
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 8 | [New Orleans Saints](1970-new-orleans-saints-season) | **L** 13–14 | 0–1 | Fawcett Stadium (Canton, OH) | 17,932 | |||||||
| August 15 | [Pittsburgh Steelers](1970-pittsburgh-steelers-season) | **L** 13–20 | 0–2 | Metropolitan Stadium | 45,591 | |||||||
| August 22 | at [Houston Oilers](1970-houston-oilers-season) | **W** 14–7 | 1–2 | Astrodome | 44,563 | |||||||
| August 30 | [New York Jets](1970-new-york-jets-season) | **W** 52–21 | 2–2 | Metropolitan Stadium | 47,900 | |||||||
| September 5 | at [Cleveland Browns](1970-cleveland-browns-season) | **W** 24–21 | 3–2 | Cleveland Stadium | 83,043 | |||||||
| September 11 | at [Chicago Bears](1970-chicago-bears-season) | **W** 31–30 | 4–2 | Soldier Field | 46,630 |
Regular season
Schedule
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 20 | [Kansas City Chiefs](1970-kansas-city-chiefs-season) | **W** 27–10 | 1–0 | Metropolitan Stadium | 47,900 | |||||||||||||||
| September 27 | [New Orleans Saints](1970-new-orleans-saints-season) | **W** 26–0 | 2–0 | Metropolitan Stadium | 47,900 | |||||||||||||||
| October 4 | at **[Green Bay Packers](1970-green-bay-packers-season)** | **L** 10–13 | 2–1 | Milwaukee County Stadium | 47,967 | |||||||||||||||
| October 11 | at **[Chicago Bears](1970-chicago-bears-season)** | **W** 24–0 | 3–1 | Wrigley Field | 45,485 | |||||||||||||||
| October 18 | [Dallas Cowboys](1970-dallas-cowboys-season) | **W** 54–13 | 4–1 | Metropolitan Stadium | 47,900 | |||||||||||||||
| October 26 | [Los Angeles Rams](1970-los-angeles-rams-season) | **W** 13–3 | 5–1 | Metropolitan Stadium | 47,900 | |||||||||||||||
| November 1 | at **[Detroit Lions](1970-detroit-lions-season)** | **W** 30–17 | 6–1 | Tiger Stadium | 58,210 | |||||||||||||||
| November 8 | at [Washington Redskins](1970-washington-redskins-season) | **W** 19–10 | 7–1 | Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium | 50,415 | |||||||||||||||
| November 15 | **[Detroit Lions](1970-detroit-lions-season)** | **W** 24–20 | 8–1 | Metropolitan Stadium | 47,900 | |||||||||||||||
| November 22 | **[Green Bay Packers](1970-green-bay-packers-season)** | **W** 10–3 | 9–1 | Metropolitan Stadium | 47,900 | |||||||||||||||
| November 29 | at [New York Jets](1970-new-york-jets-season) | **L** 10–20 | 9–2 | Shea Stadium | 62,333 | |||||||||||||||
| December 5 | **[Chicago Bears](1970-chicago-bears-season)** | **W** 16–13 | 10–2 | Metropolitan Stadium | 47,900 | |||||||||||||||
| December 13 | at [Boston Patriots](1970-boston-patriots-season) | **W** 35–14 | 11–2 | Harvard Stadium | 37,819 | |||||||||||||||
| December 20 | at [Atlanta Falcons](1970-atlanta-falcons-season) | **W** 37–7 | 12–2 | Atlanta Stadium | 57,992 |
Game summaries
Week 1: vs Kansas City Chiefs
First quarter
- No scoring plays. Second quarter
- MIN – Fred Cox 20-yard field goal. Vikings 3–0.
- MIN – Roy Winston 36-yard fumble recovery (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 10–0.
- KC – Otis Taylor 59-yard pass from Len Dawson (Jan Stenerud kick). Vikings 10–7.
- MIN – Dave Osborn 1-yard run (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 17–7. Third quarter
- KC – Jan Stenerud 26-yard field goal. Vikings 17–10. Fourth quarter
- MIN – Oscar Reed 1-yard run (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 24–10.
- MIN – Fred Cox 40-yard field goal. Vikings 27–10. Top passers
- KC – Len Dawson – 18/27, 164 yards, TD, 2 INT
- MIN – Gary Cuozzo – 12/20, 100 yards, 2 INT Top rushers
- KC – Wendell Hayes – 7 rushes, 22 yards
- MIN – Bill Brown – 17 rushes, 55 yards Top receivers
- KC – Otis Taylor – 5 receptions, 100 yards, TD
- MIN – John Beasley – 3 receptions, 41 yards
Standings
Postseason
Schedule
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | Divisional |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 27 | **[San Francisco 49ers](1970-san-francisco-49ers-season)** | **L** 14–17 | 0–1 | Metropolitan Stadium | 46,050 |
Statistics
Team leaders
| Minnesota Vikings | year=1970 | border=2}}" | Category | Minnesota Vikings | year=1970 | border=2}}" | Player(s) | Minnesota Vikings | year=1970 | border=2}}" | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passing yards | Gary Cuozzo | 1,720 | |||||||||
| Passing touchdowns | Gary Cuozzo | 7 | |||||||||
| Rushing yards | Dave Osborn | 681 | |||||||||
| Rushing touchdowns | Clint Jones | 9 | |||||||||
| Receiving yards | Gene Washington | 702 | |||||||||
| Receiving touchdowns | Gene Washington | 4 | |||||||||
| Points | Fred Cox | 125 | |||||||||
| Kickoff return yards | Clint Jones | 452 | |||||||||
| Punt return yards | Charlie West | 169 | |||||||||
| Interceptions | Ed Sharockman | 7 |
League rankings
| Minnesota Vikings | year=1970 | border=2}}" | Category | Minnesota Vikings | year=1970 | border=2}}" | Total yards | Minnesota Vikings | year=1970 | border=2}}" | Yards per game | Minnesota Vikings | year=1970 | border=2}}" | NFL rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (out of 26) | Total offense | 3,815 | 272.5 | 19th | Total defense | 2,803 | 200.2 | 1st | |||||||
| Passing offense | 2,181 | 155.8 | 14th | ||||||||||||
| Rushing offense | 1,634 | 116.7 | 14th | ||||||||||||
| Passing defense | 1,438 | 102.7 | 1st | ||||||||||||
| Rushing defense | 1,365 | 97.5 | 5th |
References
References
- The Best Show in Football: The 1946–1955 Cleveland Browns, p. 294, Andy Piascik, Taylor Trade Publishing, 2007, {{ISBN. 978-1-58979-360-6
- "1970 Minnesota Vikings (NFL) - Pro Football Archives".
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