1976 Minnesota Vikings season

Offseason

1976 draft

Main article: 1976 NFL draft

Notes

1976 expansion draft

Main article: 1976 NFL expansion draft

Personnel

Staff

• Principal owner/president – Max Winter

• Chairman/treasurer – H. P. Skoglund

• General manager – Mike Lynn

• Coordinator–administration – Harley Peterson

• Coordinator–football operations – Jerry Reichow

• Director of player personnel – Frank Gilliam

• Head coach – Bud Grant

• Offensive coordinator – Jerry Burns

• Offensive line – John Michels

• Offensive backfield – Bus Mertes

• Defensive coordinator – Neill Armstrong

• Defensive line – Buddy Ryan

• Linebackers – Jack Nelson

Roster

Preseason

Regular season

Schedule

Game summaries

Week 1: at New Orleans Saints

First quarter

• MIN – Brent McClanahan 1-yard run (kick failed). Vikings 6–0.
• MIN – Chuck Foreman 2-yard run (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 13–0. Second quarter
• NO – Rich Szaro 45-yard field goal. Vikings 13–3.
• MIN – Brent McClanahan 5-yard run (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 20–3.
• MIN – Fred Cox 24-yard field goal. Vikings 23–3.
• MIN – Sammy White 47-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 30–3. Third quarter
• MIN – Chuck Foreman 6-yard run (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 37–3.
• NO – Tony Galbreath 1-yard run (kick failed). Vikings 37–9. Fourth quarter
• MIN – Fred Cox 35-yard field goal. Vikings 40–9.

Week 2: vs. Los Angeles Rams

First quarter

• No scoring plays. Second quarter
• MIN – Fred Cox 33-yard field goal. Vikings 3–0. Third quarter
• No scoring plays. Fourth quarter
• MIN – Sammy White 56-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 10–0.
• LAR – Tom Dempsey 42-yard field goal. Vikings 10–3.
• LAR – Jim Bertelsen 1-yard run (Tom Dempsey kick). Tied 10–10.

Week 3: at Detroit Lions

First quarter

• No scoring plays. Second quarter
• No scoring plays. Third quarter
• MIN – Fred Cox 49-yard field goal. Vikings 3–0.
• DET – Errol Mann 49-yard field goal. Tied 3–3. Fourth quarter
• MIN – Chuck Foreman 5-yard run (Cox kick). Vikings 10–3.
• DET – Charlie Sanders 1-yard pass from Greg Landry (kick failed). Vikings 10–9.

Week 4: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

First quarter

• PIT – Bennie Cunningham 1-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (kick failed). Steelers 6–0. Second quarter
• MIN – Chuck Foreman 8-yard run (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 7–6. Third quarter
• No scoring plays. Fourth quarter
• MIN – Chuck Foreman 4-yard run (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 14–6.
• MIN – Fred Cox 43-yard field goal. Vikings 17–6.

Week 5: vs. Chicago Bears

First quarter

• MIN – Chuck Foreman 5-yard run (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 7–0. Second quarter
• MIN – Fred Cox 29-yard field goal. Vikings 10–0.
• MIN – Chuck Foreman 1-yard run (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 17–0. Third quarter
• CHI – Walter Payton 13-yard run (Bob Thomas kick). Vikings 17–7.
• CHI – Walter Payton 11-yard run (kick failed). Vikings 17–13. Fourth quarter
• MIN – Fred Cox 39-yard field goal. Vikings 20–13.
• CHI – Roland Harper 7-yard run (kick failed). Vikings 20–19.

Week 6: vs. New York Giants

First quarter

• MIN – Fred Cox 23-yard field goal. Vikings 3–0.
• MIN – Nate Allen 28-yard blocked punt return (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 10–0. Second quarter
• NYG – Doug Kotar 3-yard run (Joe Danelo kick). Vikings 10–7.
• MIN – Chuck Foreman 41-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 17–7. Third quarter
• No scoring plays. Fourth quarter
• MIN – Brent McClanahan 3-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 24–7.

Week 7: at Philadelphia Eagles

First quarter

• No scoring plays. Second quarter
• PHI – Horst Muhlmann 19-yard field goal. Eagles 3–0.
• PHI – Harold Carmichael 3-yard pass from Mike Boryla (kick failed). Eagles 9–0.
• MIN – Ahmad Rashad 5-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick). Eagles 9–7. Third quarter
• MIN – Fred Cox 32-yard field goal. Vikings 10–9.
• MIN – Sammy White 35-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 17–9. Fourth quarter
• PHI – Horst Muhlmann 21-yard field goal. Vikings 17–12.
• MIN – Chuck Foreman 32-yard run (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 24–12.
• MIN – Chuck Foreman 2-yard run (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 31–12.

Week 8: at Chicago Bears

First quarter

• CHI – Walter Payton 39-yard run (Bob Thomas kick). Bears 7–0. Second quarter
• MIN – Fred Cox 24-yard field goal. Bears 7–3. Third quarter
• MIN – Fred Cox 24-yard field goal. Bears 7–6. Fourth quarter
• CHI – Johnny Musso 3-yard run (Bob Thomas kick). Bears 14–6.
• MIN – Fran Tarkenton 2-yard run (Fred Cox kick). Bears 14–13.

Week 9: vs. Detroit Lions

First quarter

• DET – Benny Ricardo 22-yard field goal. Lions 3–0.
• MIN – Sammy White 24-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 7–3. Second quarter
• DET – Lawrence Gaines 1-yard run (kick failed). Lions 9–7.
• MIN – Fred Cox 39-yard field goal. Vikings 10–9. Third quarter
• MIN – Chuck Foreman 2-yard run (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 17–9.
• DET – Lawrence Gaines 1-yard run (Benny Ricardo kick). Vikings 17–16. Fourth quarter
• MIN – Chuck Foreman 1-yard run (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 24–16.
• DET – Larry Walton 26-yard pass from Greg Landry (Benny Ricardo kick). Vikings 24–23.
• MIN – Sammy White 37-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 31–23.

Week 10: vs. Seattle Seahawks

First quarter

• MIN – Brent McClanahan 1-yard run (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 7–0.
• SEA – Jim Zorn 12-yard run (John Leypoldt kick). Tied 7–7. Second quarter
• MIN – Sammy White 29-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 14–7. Third quarter
• SEA – Steve Raible 80-yard pass from Jim Zorn (John Leypoldt kick). Tied 14–14.
• MIN – Fred Cox 43-yard field goal. Vikings 17–14.
• MIN – Fred Cox 39-yard field goal. Vikings 20–14. Fourth quarter
• SEA – Sam McCullum 7-yard pass from Jim Zorn (John Leypoldt kick). Seahawks 21–20.
• MIN – Stu Voigt 5-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 27–21.

Week 11: at Green Bay Packers

First quarter

• GB – Chester Marcol 23-yard field goal. Packers 3–0.
• MIN – Fred Cox 41-yard field goal. Tied 3–3. Second quarter
• MIN – Robert Miller 4-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 10–3. Third quarter
• GB – John Brockington 1-yard run (Chester Marcol kick). Tied 10–10. Fourth quarter
• MIN – Ahmad Rashad 11-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 17–10.

Week 12: at San Francisco 49ers

First quarter

• SF – Wilbur Jackson 2-yard run (Steve Mike-Mayer kick). 49ers 7–0. Second quarter
• SF – Steve Mike-Mayer 45-yard field goal. 49ers 10–0.
• MIN – Sammy White 18-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick). 49ers 10–7.
• MIN – Ahmad Rashad 8-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (kick failed). Vikings 13–10.
• SF – Scott Bull 1-yard run (Steve Mike-Mayer kick). 49ers 17–13. Third quarter
• MIN – Fred Cox 37-yard field goal. 49ers 17–16. Fourth quarter
• SF – Steve Mike-Mayer 38-yard field goal. 49ers 20–16.

Week 13: vs. Green Bay Packers

First quarter

• GB – Ollie Smith 12-yard pass from Carlos Brown (kick failed). Packers 6–0. Second quarter
• MIN – Fred Cox 34-yard field goal. Packers 6–3. Third quarter
• MIN – Fred Cox 30-yard field goal. Tied 6–6. Fourth quarter
• MIN – Chuck Foreman 1-yard run (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 13–6.
• GB – Chester Marcol 24-yard field goal. Vikings 13–9.
• MIN – Chuck Foreman 1-yard run (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 20–9.

Week 14: at Miami Dolphins

First quarter

• No scoring plays. Second quarter
• MIN – Sammy White 9-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (kick failed). Vikings 6–0.
• MIN – Sammy White 36-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (kick failed). Vikings 12–0.
• MIN – Fred Cox 30-yard field goal. Vikings 15–0. Third quarter
• MIN – Brent McClanahan 1-yard run (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 22–0.
• MIN – Sammy White 7-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 29–0. Fourth quarter
• MIA – Stan Winfrey 2-yard pass from Don Strock (Garo Yepremian kick). Vikings 29–7.

Standings

Postseason

Schedule

Game summaries

NFC Divisional Playoffs: vs. (#4) Washington Redskins

First quarter

• MIN – Stu Voigt 18-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 7–0.
• WAS – Mark Moseley 47-yard field goal. Vikings 7–3.
• MIN – Sammy White 27-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 14–3. Second quarter
• MIN – Chuck Foreman 2-yard run (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 21–3. Third quarter
• MIN – Chuck Foreman 30-yard run (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 28–3.
• WAS – Mark Moseley 35-yard field goal. Vikings 28–6.
• MIN – Sammy White 9-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 35–6. Fourth quarter
• WAS – Frank Grant 12-yard pass from Billy Kilmer (Mark Moseley kick). Vikings 35–13.
• WAS – Roy Jefferson 3-yard pass from Billy Kilmer (Mark Moseley kick). Vikings 35–20. Top passers
• WAS – Billy Kilmer – 26/49, 298 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
• MIN – Fran Tarkenton – 12/21, 170 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT Top rushers
• WAS – Mike Thomas – 11 rushes, 45 yards
• MIN – Chuck Foreman – 20 rushes, 105 yards, 2 TD Top receivers
• WAS – Frank Grant – 6 receptions, 70 yards, TD
• MIN – Sammy White – 4 receptions, 64 yards, 2 TD The Vikings jumped to a 35–6 lead by the end of the third quarter, led by running backs Chuck Foreman and Brent McClanahan who each rushed for more than 100 yards.

McClanahan's career-long 41-yard run on Minnesota's first play of the game set up quarterback Fran Tarkenton's 18-yard touchdown pass to tight end Stu Voigt. Washington defensive back Eddie Brown gave his team some early scoring opportunities with big special teams plays, first returning the kickoff 26 yards to the 38-yard line, and later returning a punt 17 yards to the Vikings 45. But the team was unable to capitalize. All they could do after the kickoff return was go three-and-out, and on the first play after his big punt return, Billy Kilmer threw a pass that was intercepted by Bobby Bryant. Now momentum seemed slipping away, but on the first play after Bryant's pick, Washington took the ball right back with an interception by safety Jake Scott, who returned it 17 yards to the Minnesota 34-yard line. Three plays later, Mark Moseley kicked a 47-yard field goal that cut the Washington deficit to 7–3. Later in the quarter, Minnesota drove 66 yards and scored when Tarkenton threw a 27-yard pass to Sammy White. Safety Ken Houston deflected the ball, but it still bounced to White, who made a diving, juggling catch for a touchdown to put the Vikings up 14–3. By the end of the first quarter, the Vikings had gained 143 yards, while holding Washington to 18 yards and no first downs.

The situation only got worse for Washington in the second quarter. A promising drive for them into Vikings territory ended with no points when Moseley missed a 51-yard field goal attempt. Minnesota then drove 66 yards, featuring a 35-yard completion from Tarkenton to Ahmad Rashad, to score on Foreman's 2-yard touchdown run, putting them up 21–3. The Redskins next drive ended with an interception by Vikings defensive back Nate Wright. On the next play, Houston intercepted the ball from Tarkenton and returned it 8 yards to the Vikings 38. But Washington was unable to move the ball and had to punt. In the final seconds of the half, Washington had a chance for a touchdown with a deep throw from Kilmer to receiver Frank Grant. Grant had broken open in the end zone, but was unable to make the catch and the pass fell incomplete.

Washington had to punt on the first drive of the second half, and Leonard Willis returned it 10 yards to the Vikings 48, where Minnesota proceeded to drive to a 28–3 lead on a 30-yard touchdown burst by Foreman. This time the Redskins were able to respond, converting a 20-yard catch by tight end Jean Fugett, a 20-yard run by Mike Thomas, and a 10-yard reception by fullback John Riggins into a 35-yard Moseley field goal, making the score 28–6. But after this, the Vikings drove 77 yards and scored on a 9-yard pass from Tarkenton to White. By the time Kilmer completed two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter, the game was already out of reach.

NFC Championship: vs. (#3) Los Angeles Rams

First quarter

• MIN – Bobby Bryant 90-yard blocked field goal return (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 7–0. Second quarter
• MIN – Fred Cox 25-yard field goal. Vikings 10–0. Third quarter
• MIN – Chuck Foreman 1-yard run (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 17–0.
• LA – Lawrence McCutcheon 10-yard run (kick failed). Vikings 17–6.
• LA – Harold Jackson 5-yard pass from Pat Haden (Tom Dempsey kick). Vikings 17–13. Fourth quarter
• MIN – Sammy Johnson 12-yard run (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 24–13. Top passers
• LA – Pat Haden – 9/22, 161 yards, TD, 2 INT
• MIN – Fran Tarkenton – 12/27, 143 yards, 1 INT Top rushers
• LA – Lawrence McCutcheon – 26 rushes, 128 yards, TD
• MIN – Chuck Foreman – 15 rushes, 118 yards, TD Top receivers
• LA – Harold Jackson – 4 receptions, 70 yards, TD
• MIN – Chuck Foreman – 5 receptions, 81 yards The Vikings forced a blocked field goal, a blocked punt, and two interceptions en route to the victory over the Rams. On offense, running back Chuck Foreman rushed for 118 yards and a touchdown on just 15 carries while also catching 5 passes for 81 yards.

In the first quarter, the Rams got off to a good start as they marched down the field to the Viking 2-yard line. The drive stalled there, and coach Chuck Knox, recalling the NFC championship game in Minnesota two years ago (when the Rams were intercepted in the end zone after driving to the Viking 2-yard line) ordered a field goal attempt. Nate Allen blocked the field goal attempt, and the ball bounced off the ground right into the waiting arms of Bobby Bryant, who returned it 90 yards for a Minnesota touchdown. The first quarter ended with the Rams dominating the stat sheet. They had run 22 plays for 89 yards and 7 first downs, while holding the Vikings to 5 plays, one first down, and 17 yards, but they still trailed 7–0.

In the second quarter, linebacker Matt Blair blocked and recovered a punt on the Rams 10-yard line to set up Fred Cox's 25-yard field goal to give the Vikings a 10–0 lead before halftime. Then in the third period, Foreman rushed 62 yards to the Los Angeles 2-yard line, and scored on a 1-yard touchdown run two plays later to increase the lead 17–0.

The Rams rallied back with two quick touchdowns in the third quarter. After a chance to put the game away was wiped out by Monte Jackson's interception of a Tarkenton pass in the end zone, Pat Haden led the Rams on an 80-yard drive highlighted by a 40-yard pass to Harold Jackson, and culminating in a 10-yard touchdown run by Lawrence McCutcheon. Rams kicker Tom Dempsey missed the extra point. Dempsey had missed nine extra points during the season. Announcers Pat Summerall and Tom Brookshier speculated that Haden was feeling pressure on this drive because Knox had James Harris warming up on the sidelines. On the Vikings' next drive, Fred Dryer hit Fran Tarkenton on a sack, forcing a fumble that was recovered by Jack Youngblood at the Viking 8-yard line. Three plays later, Haden hit Jackson for a 5-yard touchdown pass.

Late in the fourth quarter, the Vikings defense snuffed out two big chances for LA to take the lead. With 7 minutes left, the Rams drove to a third down on the Vikings 33, but Minnesota linebacker Wally Hilgenberg sacked Haden and forced a punt. With 2:40 left in the game, Los Angeles advanced to the Minnesota 39-yard line. On fourth down and needing more than a field goal, Haden thought he had Jackson open deep near the goal line, but Bryant intercepted the pass (his second of the game) rather than batting it down. A few plays later, Tarkenton dumped a short pass off to Foreman, which he turned into a 57-yard gain. Foreman was injured on the play, but backup running back Sammy Johnson scored the clinching touchdown from 12 yards out.

This turned out to be the last playoff game at Metropolitan Stadium. The Vikings played four playoff games between 1977 and 1981, all on the road. Minnesota's next home playoff game came after the strike-shortened 1982 season, the Vikings' first in the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. They would next host an outdoor home playoff game in January 2016.

To date, this is the most recent NFC Championship that the Vikings have won.

Super Bowl XI: vs. (#1) Oakland Raiders

Main article: Super Bowl XI

First quarter

• No scoring plays. Second quarter
• OAK – Errol Mann 24-yard field goal. Raiders 3–0.
• OAK – Dave Casper 1-yard pass from Ken Stabler (Errol Mann kick). Raiders 10–0.
• OAK – Pete Banaszak 1-yard run (kick failed). Raiders 16–0. Third quarter
• OAK – Errol Mann 40-yard field goal. Raiders 19–0.
• MIN – Sammy White 8-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick). Raiders 19–7. Fourth quarter
• OAK – Pete Banaszak 2-yard run (Errol Mann kick). Raiders 26–7.
• OAK – Willie Brown 75-yard interception return (kick failed). Raiders 32–7.
• MIN – Stu Voigt 13-yard pass from Bob Lee (Fred Cox kick). Raiders 32–14. Top passers
• OAK – Ken Stabler – 12/19, 180 yards, TD
• MIN – Fran Tarkenton – 17/35, 205 yards, TD, 2 INT Top rushers
• OAK – Clarence Davis – 16 rushes, 137 yards
• MIN – Chuck Foreman – 17 rushes, 44 yards Top receivers
• OAK – Fred Biletnikoff – 4 receptions, 79 yards
• MIN – Chuck Foreman – 5 receptions, 62 yards

Statistics

Team leaders

League rankings

References

References

1. [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/min/1976.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com]. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
2. "1976 Minnesota Vikings (NFL) - Pro Football Archives".