1974 Minnesota Vikings season

Offseason

1974 draft

Main article: 1974 NFL draft

Notes

Roster

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Preseason

Regular season

Schedule

Game summaries

Week 1: at Green Bay Packers

First quarter

• MIN – Fred Cox 20-yard field goal. Vikings 3–0. Second quarter
• GB – Chester Marcol 19-yard field goal. Tie 3–3.
• GB – John Brockington 5-yard run (Chester Marcol kick). Packers 10–3.
• MIN – Chuck Foreman 18-yard run (Fred Cox kick). Tie 10–10. Third quarter
• MIN – Chuck Foreman 1-yard run (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 17–10.
• MIN – Chuck Foreman 3-yard run (kick failed). Vikings 23–10. Fourth quarter
• MIN – Fred Cox 21-yard field goal. Vikings 26–10.
• GB – Steve Odom 18-yard run (Chester Marcol kick). Vikings 26–17.
• MIN – Amos Martin 15-yard fumble return (kick failed). Vikings 32–17. Top passers
• MIN – Fran Tarkenton – 14/23, 116 yards, INT
• GB – Jerry Tagge – 9/20, 102 yards, 3 INT Top rushers
• MIN – Chuck Foreman – 22 rushes, 67 yards, 3 TD
• GB – John Brockington – 18 rushes, 53 yards, TD Top receivers
• MIN – Chuck Foreman – 5 receptions, 32 yards
• GB – Barry Smith – 2 receptions, 29 yards

Week 2: at Detroit Lions

First quarter

• No scoring plays. Second quarter
• DET – Errol Mann 29-yard field goal. Lions 3–0.
• MIN – Chuck Foreman 11-yard run (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 7–3. Third quarter
• No scoring plays. Fourth quarter
• DET – Errol Mann 40-yard field goal. Vikings 7–6. Top passers
• MIN – Fran Tarkenton – 12/24, 142 yards
• DET – Bill Munson – 12/18, 56 yards Top rushers
• MIN – Chuck Foreman – 13 rushes, 83 yards, TD
• DET – Altie Taylor – 16 rushes, 57 yards Top receivers
• MIN – John Gilliam – 4 receptions, 87 yards
• DET – Steve Owens – 5 receptions, 29 yards

Week 3: vs. Chicago Bears

First quarter

• MIN – Wally Hilgenberg tackled Bob Parsons in the end zone for a safety. Vikings 2–0. Second quarter
• MIN – Stu Voigt 11-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (kick failed). Vikings 8–0. Third quarter
• MIN – Fred Cox 32-yard field goal. Vikings 11–0. Fourth quarter
• CHI – Gary Huff 3-yard run (Mirro Roder kick). Vikings 11–7. Top passers
• CHI – Gary Huff – 16/27, 171 yards, 2 INT
• MIN – Fran Tarkenton – 16/25, 165 yards, TD, 2 INT Top rushers
• CHI – Ken Grandberry – 19 rushes, 76 yards
• MIN – Chuck Foreman – 16 rushes, 74 yards Top receivers
• CHI – Charlie Wade – 6 receptions, 112 yards
• MIN – Stu Voigt – 5 receptions, 50 yards, TD

Week 4: at Dallas Cowboys

First quarter

• DAL – Golden Richards 58-yard pass from Roger Staubach (Efren Herrera kick). Cowboys 7–0.
• MIN – Fred Cox 46-yard field goal. Cowboys 7–3. Second quarter
• MIN – Chuck Foreman 66-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 10–7.
• MIN – Fred Cox 30-yard field goal. Vikings 13–7. Third quarter
• MIN – Chuck Foreman 13-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 20–7. Fourth quarter
• DAL – Walt Garrison 5-yard pass from Roger Staubach (Efren Herrera kick). Vikings 20–14.
• DAL – Calvin Hill 6-yard run (Efren Herrera kick). Cowboys 21–20.
• MIN – Fred Cox 27-yard field goal. Vikings 23–21. Top passers
• MIN – Fran Tarkenton – 17/27, 283 yards, 2 TD
• DAL – Roger Staubach – 9/20, 144 yards, 2 TD, 4 INT Top rushers
• MIN – Chuck Foreman – 23 rushes, 72 yards
• DAL – Calvin Hill – 21 rushes, 95 yards, TD Top receivers
• MIN – Chuck Foreman – 5 receptions, 131 yards, 2 TD
• DAL – Golden Richards – 1 reception, 58 yards, TD

Week 5: vs. Houston Oilers

First quarter

• MIN – John Gilliam 80-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 7–0.
• HOU – Skip Butler 29-yard field goal. Vikings 7–3.
• MIN – Fred Cox 42-yard field goal. Vikings 10–3.
• MIN – Stu Voigt 10-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (kick failed). Vikings 16–3. Second quarter
• MIN – Ed Marinaro 1-yard run (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 23–3.
• MIN – Chuck Foreman 6-yard run (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 30–3. Third quarter
• HOU – Vic Washington 2-yard run (Skip Butler kick). Vikings 30–10.
• MIN – Chuck Foreman 24-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 37–10. Fourth quarter
• MIN – Steve Craig 10-yard pass from Bob Berry (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 44–10.
• MIN – Sam McCullum 20-yard pass from Bob Berry (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 51–10. Top passers
• HOU – Dan Pastorini – 16/32, 167 yards, 4 INT
• MIN – Fran Tarkenton – 18/24, 274 yards, 3 TD Top rushers
• HOU – Willie Rodgers – 11 rushes, 42 yards
• MIN – Chuck Foreman – 16 rushes, 61 yards, TD Top receivers
• HOU – Billy Johnson – 3 receptions, 52 yards
• MIN – John Gilliam – 2 receptions, 102 yards, TD

Week 6: vs. Detroit Lions

First quarter

• No scoring plays. Second quarter
• MIN – Fred Cox 23-yard field goal. Vikings 3–0.
• DET – Errol Mann 36-yard field goal. Tied 3–3.
• DET – Errol Mann 27-yard field goal. Lions 6–3. Third quarter
• MIN – Chuck Foreman 1-yard run (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 10–6.
• DET – Altie Taylor 1-yard run (Errol Mann kick). Lions 13–10.
• MIN – Chuck Foreman 9-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (kick failed). Vikings 16–13. Fourth quarter
• DET – Altie Taylor 8-yard run (Errol Mann kick). Lions 20–16. Top passers
• DET – Bill Munson – 22/32, 276 yards
• MIN – Fran Tarkenton – 18/30, 229 yards, TD, INT Top rushers
• DET – Steve Owens – 13 rushes, 59 yards
• MIN – Dave Osborn – 14 rushes, 96 yards Top receivers
• DET – Ron Jessie – 10 receptions, 116 yards
• MIN – Jim Lash – 4 receptions, 89 yards

Week 7: vs. New England Patriots

First quarter

• NE – John Smith 37-yard field goal. Patriots 3–0. Second quarter
• NE – Steve Schubert 21-yard pass from Jim Plunkett (John Smith kick). Patriots 10–0. Third quarter
• No scoring plays. Fourth quarter
• MIN – Chuck Foreman 2-yard run (Fred Cox kick). Patriots 10–7.
• MIN – Fran Tarkenton 3-yard run (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 14–10.
• NE – Bob Windsor 10-yard pass from Jim Plunkett (John Smith kick). Patriots 17–14. Top passers
• NE – Jim Plunkett – 15/28, 238 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
• MIN – Fran Tarkenton – 19/39, 281 yards, 3 INT Top rushers
• NE – Sam Cunningham – 22 rushes, 129 yards
• MIN – Chuck Foreman – 17 rushes, 68 yards, TD Top receivers
• NE – Reggie Rucker – 3 receptions, 61 yards
• MIN – John Gilliam – 5 receptions, 117 yards

Week 8: at Chicago Bears

First quarter

• MIN – Fred Cox 23-yard field goal. Vikings 3–0. Second quarter
• No scoring plays. Third quarter
• MIN – John Gilliam 35-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 10–0. Fourth quarter
• MIN – Stu Voigt 4-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 17–0. Top passers
• MIN – Fran Tarkenton – 9/18, 80 yards, 2 TD, INT
• CHI – Gary Huff – 11/24, 74 yards, INT Top rushers
• MIN – Dave Osborn – 24 rushes, 98 yards
• CHI – Carl Garrett – 4 rushes, 23 yards Top receivers
• MIN – John Gilliam – 1 reception, 35 yards, TD
• CHI – Jim Kelly – 2 receptions, 38 yards

Week 9: at St. Louis Cardinals

First quarter

• MIN – Dave Osborn 1-yard run (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 7–0.
• STL – J. V. Cain 40-yard pass from Jim Hart (Jim Bakken kick). Tied 7–7.
• MIN – John Gilliam 10-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 14–7. Second quarter
• STL – Jim Bakken 46-yard field goal. Vikings 14–10.
• STL – Earl Thomas 12-yard pass from Jim Hart (Jim Bakken kick). Cardinals 17–14. Third quarter
• MIN – Chuck Foreman 13-yard run (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 21–17. Fourth quarter
• MIN – Fran Tarkenton 11-yard run (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 28–17.
• STL – Jim Hart 4-yard run (Jim Bakken kick). Vikings 28–24. Top passers
• MIN – Fran Tarkenton – 14/29, 137 yards, TD, INT
• STL – Jim Hart – 28/43, 353 yards, 2 TD, INT Top rushers
• MIN – Dave Osborn – 23 rushes, 98 yards, TD
• STL – Jim Otis – 14 rushes, 50 yards Top receivers
• MIN – Dave Osborn – 7 receptions, 71 yards
• STL – Mel Gray – 6 receptions, 91 yards

Week 10: vs. Green Bay Packers

First quarter

• No scoring plays. Second quarter
• GB – Chester Marcol 28-yard field goal. Packers 3–0.
• GB – Chester Marcol 31-yard field goal. Packers 6–0. Third quarter
• GB – Chester Marcol 19-yard field goal. Packers 9–0. Fourth quarter
• GB – Chester Marcol 18-yard field goal. Packers 12–0.
• MIN – Chuck Foreman 24-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick). Packers 12–7.
• GB – MacArthur Lane 68-yard pass from John Hadl (Chester Marcol kick). Packers 19–7. Top passers
• GB – John Hadl – 10/19, 199 yards, TD
• MIN – Fran Tarkenton – 15/31, 222 yards, TD, INT Top rushers
• GB – John Brockington – 32 rushes, 137 yards
• MIN – Chuck Foreman – 10 rushes, 39 yards Top receivers
• GB – MacArthur Lane – 1 reception, 68 yards, TD
• MIN – Jim Lash – 6 receptions, 136 yards

Week 11: at Los Angeles Rams

First quarter

• No scoring plays. Second quarter
• MIN – Fred Cox 36-yard field goal. Vikings 3–0.
• MIN – Chuck Foreman 1-yard run (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 10–0.
• LA – James Harris 1-yard run (kick failed). Vikings 10–6.
• MIN – Chuck Foreman 12-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 17–6. Third quarter
• No scoring plays. Fourth quarter
• LA – James Harris 1-yard run (David Ray kick). Vikings 17–13.
• LA – Jack Snow 8-yard pass from James Harris (David Ray kick). Rams 20–17. Top passers
• MIN – Fran Tarkenton – 19/35, 217 yards, TD, INT
• LA – James Harris – 24/37, 249 yards, TD Top rushers
• MIN – Chuck Foreman – 12 rushes, 49 yards, TD
• LA – Lawrence McCutcheon – 15 rushes, 64 yards Top receivers
• MIN – Chuck Foreman – 9 receptions, 88 yards, TD
• LA – Jack Snow – 7 receptions, 91 yards, TD

Week 12: vs. New Orleans Saints

First quarter

• MIN – Dave Osborn 2-yard run (kick failed). Vikings 6–0.
• NO – Bill McClard 27-yard field goal. Vikings 6–3. Second quarter
• NO – Alvin Maxson 1-yard run (kick failed). Saints 9–6.
• MIN – Stu Voigt 4-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (conversion failed). Vikings 12–9. Third quarter
• MIN – Fred Cox 25-yard field goal. Vikings 15–9. Fourth quarter
• MIN – John Gilliam 13-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 22–9.
• MIN – John Gilliam 22-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 29–9. Top passers
• NO – Archie Manning – 9/18, 100 yards
• MIN – Fran Tarkenton – 20/29, 317 yards, 3 TD Top rushers
• NO – Alvin Maxson – 18 rushes, 98 yards, TD
• MIN – Chuck Foreman – 19 rushes, 54 yards Top receivers
• NO – Bob Newland – 2 receptions, 51 yards
• MIN – Jim Lash – 3 receptions, 112 yards

Week 13: vs. Atlanta Falcons

First quarter

• MIN – Dave Osborn 10-yard run (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 7–0. Second quarter
• ATL – Art Malone 1-yard run (Nick Mike-Mayer kick). Tied 7–7.
• MIN – Fred Cox 21-yard field goal. Vikings 10–7. Third quarter
• MIN – Dave Osborn 5-yard run (kick failed). Vikings 16–7. Fourth quarter
• ATL – Nick Mike-Mayer 36-yard field goal. Vikings 16–10.
• MIN – Stu Voigt 10-yard pass from Bob Berry (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 23–10. Top passers
• ATL – Kim McQuilken – 11/25, 125 yards, 2 INT
• MIN – Bob Berry – 14/22, 114 yards, TD, INT Top rushers
• ATL – Art Malone – 10 rushes, 54 yards, TD
• MIN – Dave Osborn – 24 rushes, 96 yards, 2 TD Top receivers
• ATL – Ken Burrow – 3 receptions, 50 yards
• MIN – Dave Osborn – 6 receptions, 39 yards

Week 14: at Kansas City Chiefs

First quarter

• KC – Jan Stenerud 37-yard field goal. Chiefs 3–0. Second quarter
• KC – Jan Stenerud 32-yard field goal. Chiefs 6–0.
• MIN – Sam McCullum 34-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 7–6.
• MIN – Sam McCullum 10-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 14–6.
• KC – Emmitt Thomas 73-yard interception return (kick failed). Vikings 14–12. Third quarter
• MIN – Ed Marinaro 7-yard pass from Bob Berry (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 21–12. Fourth quarter
• KC – Jan Stenerud 29-yard field goal. Vikings 21–15.
• MIN – Oscar Reed 3-yard pass from Bob Berry (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 28–15.
• MIN – Brent McClanahan 6-yard run (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 35–15. Top passers
• MIN – Fran Tarkenton – 8/17, 135 yards, 2 TD, INT
• KC – Len Dawson – 9/16, 124 yards, INT Top rushers
• MIN – Oscar Reed – 15 rushes, 57 yards
• KC – Cleo Miller – 12 rushes, 45 yards Top receivers
• MIN – Sam McCullum – 6 receptions, 118 yards, 2 TD
• KC – Elmo Wright – 3 receptions, 75 yards

Standings

Playoffs

Schedule

Game summaries

NFC Divisional Playoff: vs. St. Louis Cardinals

First quarter

• No scoring plays. Second quarter
• STL – Earl Thomas 13-yard pass from Jim Hart (Jim Bakken kick). Cardinals 7–0.
• MIN – John Gilliam 16-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick). 'Tied 7–7. Third quarter
• MIN – Fred Cox 37-yard field goal. Vikings 10–7.
• MIN – Nate Wright 20-yard fumble return (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 17–7.
• MIN – John Gilliam 38-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (kick failed). Vikings 23–7. Fourth quarter
• MIN – Chuck Foreman 4-yard run (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 30–7.
• STL – Terry Metcalf 11-yard run (Jim Bakken kick). Vikings 30–14. Top passers
• STL – Jim Hart – 18/40, 200 yards, TD, INT
• MIN – Fran Tarkenton – 13/23, 169 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Top rushers
• STL – Terry Metcalf – 15 rushes, 55 yards, TD
• MIN – Chuck Foreman – 23 rushes, 114 yards, TD Top receivers
• STL – Mel Gray – 5 receptions, 77 yards
• MIN – Chuck Foreman – 5 receptions, 54 yards Aided by the Cardinals' turnovers, the Vikings scored 16 points in less than 7 minutes in the third quarter. On their first possession of the game, St. Louis drove to the Vikings 35-yard line, but lost the ball on a failed 4th-and-1 conversion attempt. St. Louis eventually got onto the scoreboard first with quarterback Jim Hart's 13-yard touchdown pass to receiver Earl Thomas, but Minnesota countered when quarterback Fran Tarkenton completed a 16-yard touchdown pass to John Gilliam. The 7–7 tie would last till the end of the half. The Cardinals had a chance to take the lead with a 56-yard drive to the Vikings 6-yard line, but Jim Bakken missed a 23-yard field goal attempt as time expired.

On the third play of the second half, Vikings defensive back Jeff Wright intercepted a pass from Hart and returned it 18 yards to set up Fred Cox's 37-yard field goal, giving his team a 10–7 lead. Exactly 60 seconds later, on the Cardinals' ensuing drive, Terry Metcalf lost a fumble while being leveled by Vikings linemen Alan Page and Carl Eller. Cornerback Nate Wright picked up the loose ball and returned it 20 yards for a touchdown that increased Minnesota's lead to 17–7. A few minutes later, Tarkenton finished off a 16-point quarter with a 38-yard touchdown pass to Gilliam. In the fourth quarter, Vikings running back Chuck Foreman, who finished the game with 114 rushing yards and 5 receptions for 54 yards, recorded a 4-yard touchdown run to give Minnesota a 30–7 lead. By the time Metcalf rushed for an 11-yard fourth-quarter touchdown, the game was already out of reach for the Cardinals.

NFC Championship Game: vs. Los Angeles Rams

First quarter

• No scoring plays. Second quarter
• MIN – Jim Lash 29-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 7–0.
• LA – David Ray 27-yard field goal. Vikings 7–3. Third quarter
• No scoring plays. Fourth quarter
• MIN – Dave Osborn 4-yard run (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 14–3.
• LA – Harold Jackson 44-yard pass from James Harris (David Ray kick). Vikings 14–10. Top passers
• LA – James Harris – 13/23, 248 yards, TD, 2 INT
• MIN – Fran Tarkenton – 10/20, 123 yards, TD, INT Top rushers
• LA – Jim Bertelsen – 14 rushes, 65 yards
• MIN – Chuck Foreman – 22 rushes, 80 yards Top receivers
• LA – Harold Jackson – 3 receptions, 139 yards, TD
• MIN – Stu Voigt – 4 receptions, 43 yards On an unusually balmy day for December in Minnesota, the Vikings were able to hold onto the ball for the final 5:37 of the game to preserve a 14–10 victory. After a scoreless first quarter, Minnesota quarterback Fran Tarkenton threw a 29-yard touchdown to Jim Lash. Rams kicker David Ray later added a 27-yard field goal to cut the lead to 7–3 before halftime. In the third quarter, Los Angeles advanced the ball from their own 1-yard line to the Minnesota 1-yard line. The big play on the drive was a 73-yard pass play to Harold Jackson, who was finally pushed out of bounds at the Vikings 2 by safety Jeff Wright. With the ball inside the one-yard line, Rams guard Tom Mack was controversially called for illegal procedure (replays showed Mack did not move). Moved back to the six-yard line, the Rams were forced to pass for a touchdown on third down but the pass was deflected and Vikings linebacker Wally Hilgenberg intercepted the ball in the end zone for a touchback. Minnesota then went on a 15-play drive that took almost eight minutes off the clock to score on Dave Osborn's 4-yard touchdown run. With 7:15 left to play in the game, the Rams then cut the deficit to 14–10 with Harold Jackson's 44-yard touchdown reception. Then after forcing the Vikings to punt, Los Angeles drove to the Minnesota 45-yard line. But a third down sack forced the Rams to punt again and the Vikings kept the ball to run out the clock.

Super Bowl IX: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Main article: Super Bowl IX

First quarter

• No scoring plays. Second quarter
• PIT – Fran Tarkenton sacked in the end zone by Dwight White for a safety. Steelers 2–0. Third quarter
• PIT – Franco Harris 9-yard run (Roy Gerela kick). Steelers 9–0. Fourth quarter
• MIN – Terry Brown blocked punt recovery in end zone (kick failed). Steelers 9–6.
• PIT – Larry Brown 4-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Roy Gerela kick). Steelers 16–6. Top passers
• PIT – Terry Bradshaw – 9/14, 96 yards, TD
• MIN – Fran Tarkenton – 11/26, 102 yards, 3 INT Top rushers
• PIT – Franco Harris – 34 rushes, 158 yards, TD
• MIN – Chuck Foreman – 12 rushes, 18 yards Top receivers
• PIT – Larry Brown – 3 receptions, 49 yards, TD
• MIN – Chuck Foreman – 5 receptions, 50 yards

Statistics

Team leaders

League rankings

References

References

1. "1974 Minnesota Vikings (NFL) - Pro Football Archives".
2. "1974 Minnesota Vikings".
3. "Chicago Tribune - Historical Newspapers".