1972 Minnesota Vikings season

Offseason

1972 draft

Main article: 1972 NFL draft

Notes

Roster

Preseason

Regular season

Schedule

Game summaries

Week 3: vs. Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins traveled to Metropolitan Stadium in Minnesota for a match against the Vikings in week 3. Miami trailed Minnesota for much of the game. In the first quarter, the Vikings scored a touchdown via a 56-yard pass from quarterback Fran Tarkenton to wide receiver John Gilliam. With no further scoring in the first or second quarters, the Vikings led 7–0 at halftime. As Tarkenton attempted another pass to Gilliam early in the third quarter, cornerback Tim Foley intercepted and returned the ball to Minnesota's 37-yard line. Dolphins kicker Garo Yepremian kicked a 51-yard field goal and later a 42-yard field goal with 5:23 left in the third quarter after Miami re-gained possession. The Vikings then executed an 80-yard, 13-play drive which consumed all time remaining in the third quarter.

As the fourth quarter started, Minnesota scored a touchdown via a 1-yard run by running back Bill Brown, with the score being 14–6. After the Dolphins re-gained possession, Vikings linebacker Roy Winston intercepted Bob Griese. However, the No-Name Defense stopped Minnesota's subsequent drive with two sacks on Tarkenton. Miami's next drive, which included a 22-yard double reverse pass from wide receiver Marlin Briscoe to tight end Jim Mandich, ended with a 51-yard field goal by Yepremian. The Dolphins defense then stalled the Vikings next drive and took possession at the Miami 41-yard line. After 39 seconds, 6 plays, and a penalty for roughing the passer, Miami scored a touchdown – a 3-yard pass from Grise to Mandich. The Dolphins thus took a 16–14 lead. With one minute and twenty-eight seconds left, the Vikings attempted to reach field goal range. With little time left, Tarkenton threw a Hail Mary pass at the Minnesota 28-yard line, but was intercepted by Dolphins defensive back Lloyd Mumphord. Miami won by a score of 16–14, sacking Tarkenton five times, and improved to 3–0.

Week 11: at Pittsburgh Steelers

First quarter

• MIN – Fred Cox 24-yard field goal. Vikings 3–0.
• PIT – Franco Harris 12-yard run (Roy Gerela kick). Steelers 7–0. Second quarter
• No scoring plays. Third quarter
• PIT – Roy Gerela 17-yard field goal. Steelers 10–3. Fourth quarter
• MIN – Stu Voigt 5-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick). Tied 10–10.
• PIT – Terry Bradshaw 1-yard run (kick blocked). Steelers 16–10.
• PIT – Frank Lewis 17-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Roy Gerela kick). Steelers 23–10. Top passers
• MIN – Fran Tarkenton – 24/43, 235 yards, TD, INT
• PIT – Terry Bradshaw – 7/19, 93 yards, TD, INT Top rushers
• MIN – Oscar Reed – 16 rushes, 56 yards
• PIT – Franco Harris – 17 rushes, 128 yards, TD Top receivers
• MIN – Ed Marinaro – 9 receptions, 62 yards
• PIT – Ron Shanklin – 2 receptions, 52 yards Pittsburgh came into the game 5–0 at home for the season, while Minnesota was riding a four-game win streak. It was quite windy in the stadium at gametime, as the ball blew off the tee twice during the opening kickoff. Once it was kicked, the Vikings began with a good return to their own 45-yard line, but went three-and-out. They got the ball back quickly on the Steelers' opening drive, as John Fuqua fumbled the ball on a bad exchange, recovered by Carl Eller at the Pittsburgh 20. The possession led to a 24-yard field goal after Minnesota only gained three yards. The Vikings followed with a low kickoff due to the wind conditions, and Pittsburgh started again from their own 48, but punted without a first down. The Vikings got the game rolling in an unusual way, extending their possession when Ed Marinaro fumbled a catch and teammate John Gilliam ran it across the 50-yard line. Despite a good drive, the Vikings were held scoreless after failing to gain a foot on a fourth down attempt at the 8. The Steelers then punted again, and late in the first quarter got a turnover at the Vikings' 12 when Bill Brown fumbled. Franco Harris scored untouched on the next play.

The Vikings continued their miscues in the second quarter, as their possession stalled with penalties and the snap was bobbled on the punt, although punter Mike Eischeid performed a fantastic improvised punt while scrambling. It began raining at this point, and after a Steelers punt, the Vikings drove all the way to the 4-yard line, only to settle for a bobbled field goal attempt for a turnover. The Steelers gave it back on an interception by Charlie West, but a field goal attempt by the Vikings from 50 missed badly. The half ended with the Steelers holding a 7–3 lead despite the Vikings holding a 140–84 edge in total yards.

The second half started with a Steelers punt, and then a Vikings punt which the Steelers fumbled at their own 47 after a good return. The Vikings recovered and drove to the 7-yard line but, incredibly, they again bobbled a field goal attempt and again failed to gain any points. On the following Steelers possession, they hit on a big play with a swing pass to Ron Shanklin, which went from their own 39 to the Vikings 19 and set up a field goal. The teams each traded punts twice, until the Vikings neared the goal line again on a 63-yard catch-and-run by John Gilliam. They finally found the end zone with the next play on a swing pass to tight end Stu Voigt, tying the score at 10–10 with about nine minutes left in the fourth quarter.

The Steelers quickly responded with a 61-yard Franco Harris run to the 1-yard line, giving Harris 100-plus rushing yards for the fifth consecutive game. The Steelers scored with a QB sneak by Terry Bradshaw on the following play. The extra point was blocked, and the Steelers led 16–10. They quickly got the ball back, taking Minnesota's punt to the Vikings 39, but were held to a missed field goal attempt. The Vikings then took their last meaningful shot, but failed on fourth down at their own 29. The Steelers then sealed the game with a touchdown catch by Frank Lewis, making the final 23–10.

Standings

Awards, records, and honors

All-Pros

First team

• OT Ron Yary (AP)

Second team

• OT Ron Yary (NEA-2, PFWA-2)
• DE Carl Eller (AP-2)
• DT Alan Page (AP-2, NEA-2, PFWA-2)
• S Paul Krause (AP-2)

Pro Bowlers

• WR John Gilliam
• OT Ron Yary
• DT Alan Page
• FS Paul Krause

League leaders

• John Gilliam – Yards per reception (22.0)

Statistics

Team leaders

League rankings

References

References

1. (February 7, 1972). "Scramble Back To The Deep Purple". [[Sports Illustrated]].
2. (April 27, 1972). "Vikes trade Cuozzo". Pittsburgh Press.
3. "1972 Minnesota Vikings (NFL) - Pro Football Archives".
4. "Miami Dolphins at Minnesota Vikings - October 1st, 1972". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
5. Mike Schwebel. (October 2, 1972). "No Names Slay The Big Names". Fort Lauderdale News.
6. 100 Things Dolphins Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die, Armando Salguero, Triumph Books, Chicago, 2020, ISBN 978-1-62937-722-3, p.3
7. Mike Schwebel. (October 2, 1972). "Dolphins Nip Vikings, 16-14, With Late Touchdown Pass". Fort Lauderdale News.