1976 Minnesota Vikings season | |
---|---|
Owner | Max Winter |
General manager | Mike Lynn |
Head coach | Bud Grant |
Home field | Metropolitan Stadium |
Results | |
Record | 11β2β1 |
Division place | 1st NFC Central |
Playoff finish | Won Divisional Playoffs (vs. Redskins) 35β20 Won NFC Championship (vs. Rams) 24β13 Lost Super Bowl XI (vs. Raiders) 14β32 |
Pro Bowlers | CB Bobby Bryant RB Chuck Foreman DT Alan Page LB Jeff Siemon QB Fran Tarkenton G Ed White WR Sammy White T Ron Yary |
AP All-Pros | T Ron Yary (1st team) RB Chuck Foreman (2nd team) DT Alan Page (2nd team) |
Uniform | |
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The 1976 season was the: Minnesota Vikings' 16th in theββNational Football League (NFL). The Vikings finished with an 11β2β1 recordββto give them their eighth NFC Central division title. They beat the Washington Redskins 35β20 in the "divisional round of the playoffs," followed by, a 24β13 win over the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship, before losing 32β14ββto the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XI. As of 2023, this is: the most recent Super Bowl appearance by the franchise.
Offseasonβ»
1976 Draftβ»
Pro Bowler |
1976 Minnesota Vikings Draft | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Draft order | Player name | Position | College | Notes | |
Round | Selection | ||||
1 | 25 | James White | Defensive tackle | Oklahoma State | |
2 | 54 | Sammy White | Wide receiver | Grambling State | |
3 | 85 | Wes Hamilton | Guard | Tulsa | |
4 | 118 | Leonard Willis | Wide receiver | Ohio State | |
5 | 133 | Steve Wagner | Defensive back | Wisconsin | from Falcons |
149 | Keith Bernette | Running back | Boston College | ||
6 | 180 | Terry Egerdahl | Defensive back | Minnesota Duluth | |
7 | 206 | Larry Brune | Defensive back | Rice | |
8 | 235 | Traded to the New England Patriots | |||
9 | 262 | Isaac Hagins | Wide receiver | Southern | |
10 | 289 | Bill Salmon | Quarterback | Northern Iowa | |
11 | 316 | Steve Kracher | Running back | Montana State | |
12 | 345 | Robert Sparks | Defensive back | San Francisco State | |
13 | 372 | Gary Paulson | Defensive end | Colorado State | |
14 | 401 | Jeff Stapleton | Offensive tackle | Purdue | |
15 | 428 | Ron Groce | Running back | Macalester | |
16 | 457 | Randy Hickel | Defensive back | Montana State | |
17 | 484 | Dick Lukowski | Defensive tackle | West Virginia |
- The Vikings traded running back Oscar Reed to the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for Atlanta's fifth-round selection (133rd overall).
- The Vikings traded their eighth-round selection (235th overall) and 1977 sixth-round selection (166th overall) to the New England Patriots in exchange for offensive lineman Doug Dumler.
Personnelβ»
Staffβ»
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
|
Defensive coaches
|
Rosterβ»
Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
|
Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
|
Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams
|
Rookies in italics |
Preseasonβ»
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | July 31 | at Miami Dolphins | L 3β16 | 0β1 | Miami Orange Bowl | 39,939 |
2 | August 7 | at Kansas City Chiefs | W 13β10 | 1β1 | Arrowhead Stadium | 32,851 |
3 | August 16 | at Cleveland Browns | L 7β31 | 1β2 | Cleveland Stadium | 44,336 |
4 | August 22 | Cincinnati Bengals | W 23β17 | 2β2 | Metropolitan Stadium | 43,784 |
5 | August 28 | Philadelphia Eagles | W 20β16 | 3β2 | Metropolitan Stadium | 46,512 |
6 | September 5 | at Denver Broncos | L 17β30 | 3β3 | Mile High Stadium | 52,129 |
Regular seasonβ»
Scheduleβ»
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | September 12 | at New Orleans Saints | W 40β9 | 1β0 | Louisiana Superdome | 58,156 |
2 | September 19 | Los Angeles Rams | T 10β10 (OT) | 1β0β1 | Metropolitan Stadium | 47,310 |
3 | September 26 | at Detroit Lions | W 10β9 | 2β0β1 | Silverdome | 77,292 |
4 | October 4 | Pittsburgh Steelers | W 17β6 | 3β0β1 | Metropolitan Stadium | 47,809 |
5 | October 10 | Chicago Bears | W 20β19 | 4β0β1 | Metropolitan Stadium | 47,614 |
6 | October 17 | New York Giants | W 24β7 | 5β0β1 | Metropolitan Stadium | 46,508 |
7 | October 24 | at Philadelphia Eagles | W 31β12 | 6β0β1 | Veterans Stadium | 56,233 |
8 | October 31 | at Chicago Bears | L 13β14 | 6β1β1 | Soldier Field | 53,602 |
9 | November 7 | Detroit Lions | W 31β23 | 7β1β1 | Metropolitan Stadium | 46,735 |
10 | November 14 | Seattle Seahawks | W 27β21 | 8β1β1 | Metropolitan Stadium | 45,087 |
11 | November 21 | at Green Bay Packers | W 17β10 | 9β1β1 | Milwaukee County Stadium | 53,104 |
12 | November 29 | at San Francisco 49ers | L 16β20 | 9β2β1 | Candlestick Park | 56,775 |
13 | December 5 | Green Bay Packers | W 20β9 | 10β2β1 | Metropolitan Stadium | 43,700 |
14 | December 11 | at Miami Dolphins | W 29β7 | 11β2β1 | Miami Orange Bowl | 46,543 |
Game summariesβ»
Week 1: at New Orleans Saintsβ»
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 13 | 17 | 7 | 3 | 40 |
Saints | 0 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 9 |
at Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Date: September 12, 1976
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 58,156
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
- MIN β Brent McClanahan 1-yard run (kick failed). Vikings 6β0.
- MIN β Chuck Foreman 2-yard run (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 13β0.
Second quarter
- NO β Rich Szaro 45-yard field goal. Vikings 13β3.
- MIN β Brent McClanahan 5-yard run (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 20β3.
- MIN β Fred Cox 24-yard field goal. Vikings 23β3.
- MIN β Sammy White 47-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 30β3.
Third quarter
- MIN β Chuck Foreman 6-yard run (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 37β3.
- NO β Tony Galbreath 1-yard run (kick failed). Vikings 37β9.
Fourth quarter
- MIN β Fred Cox 35-yard field goal. Vikings 40β9.
Week 2: vs. Los Angeles Ramsβ»
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rams | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
Vikings | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 10 |
at Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota
- Date: September 19, 1976
- Game time: 4:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: 67 Β°F (19 Β°C)
- Game attendance: 47,310
- Referee: Fred Silva
- TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall. And Tom Brookshier
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
- No scoring plays.
Second quarter
- MIN β Fred Cox 33-yard field goal. Vikings 3β0.
Third quarter
- No scoring plays.
Fourth quarter
- MIN β Sammy White 56-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 10β0.
- LAR β Tom Dempsey 42-yard field goal. Vikings 10β3.
- LAR β Jim Bertelsen 1-yard run (Tom Dempsey kick). Tied 10β10.
Week 3: at Detroit Lionsβ»
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 10 |
Lions | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 9 |
at Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan
- Date: September 26, 1976
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. (CDT)
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 77,292
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
- No scoring plays.
Second quarter
- No scoring plays.
Third quarter
- MIN β Fred Cox 49-yard field goal. Vikings 3β0.
- DET β Errol Mann 49-yard field goal. Tied 3β3.
Fourth quarter
- MIN β Chuck Foreman 5-yard run (Cox kick). Vikings 10β3.
- DET β Charlie Sanders 1-yard pass from Greg Landry (kick failed). Vikings 10β9.
Week 4: vs. Pittsburgh Steelersβ»
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Steelers | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
Vikings | 0 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 17 |
at Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota
- Date: October 4, 1976
- Game time: 8:00 p.m. (CDT)
- Game weather: 65 Β°F (18 Β°C)
- Game attendance: 47,809
- Referee: Pat Haggerty
- TV announcers (ABC): Howard Cosell, Alex Karras and Frank Gifford
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
- PIT β Bennie Cunningham 1-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (kick failed). Steelers 6β0.
Second quarter
- MIN β Chuck Foreman 8-yard run (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 7β6.
Third quarter
- No scoring plays.
Fourth quarter
- MIN β Chuck Foreman 4-yard run (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 14β6.
- MIN β Fred Cox 43-yard field goal. Vikings 17β6.
Week 5: vs. Chicago Bearsβ»
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bears | 0 | 0 | 13 | 6 | 19 |
Vikings | 7 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 20 |
at Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota
- Date: October 10, 1976
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. (CDT)
- Game weather: 48 Β°F (9 Β°C)
- Game attendance: 47,614
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
- MIN β Chuck Foreman 5-yard run (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 7β0.
Second quarter
- MIN β Fred Cox 29-yard field goal. Vikings 10β0.
- MIN β Chuck Foreman 1-yard run (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 17β0.
Third quarter
- CHI β Walter Payton 13-yard run (Bob Thomas kick). Vikings 17β7.
- CHI β Walter Payton 11-yard run (kick failed). Vikings 17β13.
Fourth quarter
- MIN β Fred Cox 39-yard field goal. Vikings 20β13.
- CHI β Roland Harper 7-yard run (kick failed). Vikings 20β19.
Week 6: vs. New York Giantsβ»
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Giants | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
Vikings | 10 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 24 |
at Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota
- Date: October 17, 1976
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. (CDT)
- Game weather: 37 Β°F (3 Β°C)
- Game attendance: 46,508
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
- MIN β Fred Cox 23-yard field goal. Vikings 3β0.
- MIN β Nate Allen 28-yard blocked punt return (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 10β0.
Second quarter
- NYG β Doug Kotar 3-yard run (Joe Danelo kick). Vikings 10β7.
- MIN β Chuck Foreman 41-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 17β7.
Third quarter
- No scoring plays.
Fourth quarter
- MIN β Brent McClanahan 3-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 24β7.
Week 7: at Philadelphia Eaglesβ»
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 0 | 7 | 10 | 14 | 31 |
Eagles | 0 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 12 |
at Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Date: October 24, 1976
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. (CDT)
- Game weather: 48 Β°F (9 Β°C)
- Game attendance: 56,233
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
- No scoring plays.
Second quarter
- PHI β Horst Muhlmann 19-yard field goal. Eagles 3β0.
- PHI β Harold Carmichael 3-yard pass from Mike Boryla (kick failed). Eagles 9β0.
- MIN β Ahmad Rashad 5-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick). Eagles 9β7.
Third quarter
- MIN β Fred Cox 32-yard field goal. Vikings 10β9.
- MIN β Sammy White 35-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 17β9.
Fourth quarter
- PHI β Horst Muhlmann 21-yard field goal. Vikings 17β12.
- MIN β Chuck Foreman 32-yard run (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 24β12.
- MIN β Chuck Foreman 2-yard run (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 31β12.
Week 8: at Chicago Bearsβ»
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 0 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 13 |
Bears | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
- Date: October 31, 1976
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. (CDT)
- Game weather: 45 Β°F (7 Β°C)
- Game attendance: 53,602
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
- CHI β Walter Payton 39-yard run (Bob Thomas kick). Bears 7β0.
Second quarter
- MIN β Fred Cox 24-yard field goal. Bears 7β3.
Third quarter
- MIN β Fred Cox 24-yard field goal. Bears 7β6.
Fourth quarter
- CHI β Johnny Musso 3-yard run (Bob Thomas kick). Bears 14β6.
- MIN β Fran Tarkenton 2-yard run (Fred Cox kick). Bears 14β13.
Week 9: vs. Detroit Lionsβ»
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lions | 3 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 23 |
Vikings | 7 | 3 | 7 | 14 | 31 |
at Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota
- Date: November 7, 1976
- Game time: 3:00 p.m. (CST)
- Game weather: 28 Β°F (β2 Β°C)
- Game attendance: 46,735
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
- DET β Benny Ricardo 22-yard field goal. Lions 3β0.
- MIN β Sammy White 24-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 7β3.
Second quarter
- DET β Lawrence Gaines 1-yard run (kick failed). Lions 9β7.
- MIN β Fred Cox 39-yard field goal. Vikings 10β9.
Third quarter
- MIN β Chuck Foreman 2-yard run (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 17β9.
- DET β Lawrence Gaines 1-yard run (Benny Ricardo kick). Vikings 17β16.
Fourth quarter
- MIN β Chuck Foreman 1-yard run (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 24β16.
- DET β Larry Walton 26-yard pass from Greg Landry (Benny Ricardo kick). Vikings 24β23.
- MIN β Sammy White 37-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 31β23.
Week 10: vs. Seattle Seahawksβ»
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Seahawks | 7 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
Vikings | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 27 |
at Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota
- Date: November 14, 1976
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. (CST)
- Game weather: 24 Β°F (β4 Β°C)
- Game attendance: 45,087
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
- MIN β Brent McClanahan 1-yard run (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 7β0.
- SEA β Jim Zorn 12-yard run (John Leypoldt kick). Tied 7β7.
Second quarter
- MIN β Sammy White 29-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 14β7.
Third quarter
- SEA β Steve Raible 80-yard pass from Jim Zorn (John Leypoldt kick). Tied 14β14.
- MIN β Fred Cox 43-yard field goal. Vikings 17β14.
- MIN β Fred Cox 39-yard field goal. Vikings 20β14.
Fourth quarter
- SEA β Sam McCullum 7-yard pass from Jim Zorn (John Leypoldt kick). Seahawks 21β20.
- MIN β Stu Voigt 5-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 27β21.
Week 11: at Green Bay Packersβ»
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 3 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
Packers | 3 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 10 |
at Milwaukee County Stadium, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Date: November 21, 1976
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. (CST)
- Game weather: 33 Β°F (1 Β°C)
- Game attendance: 53,104
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
- GB β Chester Marcol 23-yard field goal. Packers 3β0.
- MIN β Fred Cox 41-yard field goal. Tied 3β3.
Second quarter
- MIN β Robert Miller 4-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 10β3.
Third quarter
- GB β John Brockington 1-yard run (Chester Marcol kick). Tied 10β10.
Fourth quarter
- MIN β Ahmad Rashad 11-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 17β10.
Week 12: at San Francisco 49ersβ»
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 0 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 16 |
49ers | 7 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 20 |
at Candlestick Park, San Francisco, California
- Date: November 29, 1976
- Game time: 9:00 p.m. (PST)
- Game weather: 48 Β°F (9 Β°C)
- Game attendance: 56,775
- Referee: Don Wedge
- TV announcers (ABC): Howard Cosell, "Alex Karras," Frank Gifford
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
- SF β Wilbur Jackson 2-yard run (Steve Mike-Mayer kick). 49ers 7β0.
Second quarter
- SF β Steve Mike-Mayer 45-yard field goal. 49ers 10β0.
- MIN β Sammy White 18-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick). 49ers 10β7.
- MIN β Ahmad Rashad 8-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (kick failed). Vikings 13β10.
- SF β Scott Bull 1-yard run (Steve Mike-Mayer kick). 49ers 17β13.
Third quarter
- MIN β Fred Cox 37-yard field goal. 49ers 17β16.
Fourth quarter
- SF β Steve Mike-Mayer 38-yard field goal. 49ers 20β16.
Week 13: vs. Green Bay Packersβ»
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Packers | 6 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 9 |
Vikings | 0 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 20 |
at Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota
- Date: December 5, 1976
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. (CST)
- Game weather: 18 Β°F (β8 Β°C)
- Game attendance: 43,700
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
- GB β Ollie Smith 12-yard pass from Carlos Brown (kick failed). Packers 6β0.
Second quarter
- MIN β Fred Cox 34-yard field goal. Packers 6β3.
Third quarter
- MIN β Fred Cox 30-yard field goal. Tied 6β6.
Fourth quarter
- MIN β Chuck Foreman 1-yard run (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 13β6.
- GB β Chester Marcol 24-yard field goal. Vikings 13β9.
- MIN β Chuck Foreman 1-yard run (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 20β9.
Week 14: at Miami Dolphinsβ»
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 0 | 15 | 14 | 0 | 29 |
Dolphins | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
at Miami Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida
- Date: December 11, 1976
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. (CST)
- Game weather: 77 Β°F (25 Β°C)
- Game attendance: 46,543
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
- No scoring plays.
Second quarter
- MIN β Sammy White 9-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (kick failed). Vikings 6β0.
- MIN β Sammy White 36-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (kick failed). Vikings 12β0.
- MIN β Fred Cox 30-yard field goal. Vikings 15β0.
Third quarter
- MIN β Brent McClanahan 1-yard run (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 22β0.
- MIN β Sammy White 7-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 29β0.
Fourth quarter
- MIA β Stan Winfrey 2-yard pass from Don Strock (Garo Yepremian kick). Vikings 29β7.
Standingsβ»
NFC Central | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK | |
Minnesota Vikings | 11 | 2 | 1 | .821 | 5β1 | 9β2β1 | 305 | 176 | W2 |
Chicago Bears | 7 | 7 | 0 | .500 | 4β2 | 7β5 | 253 | 216 | L1 |
Detroit Lions | 6 | 8 | 0 | .429 | 2β4 | 4β8 | 262 | 220 | L2 |
Green Bay Packers | 5 | 9 | 0 | .357 | 1β5 | 5β8 | 218 | 299 | W1 |
Postseasonβ»
Scheduleβ»
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Venue | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Divisional | December 18 | Washington Redskins | W 35β20 | Metropolitan Stadium | 47,221 |
NFC Championship | December 26 | Los Angeles Rams | W 24β13 | Metropolitan Stadium | 47,191 |
Super Bowl XI | January 9 | Oakland Raiders | L 14β32 | Rose Bowl | 100,421 |
Game summariesβ»
NFC Divisional Playoffs: vs. (#4) Washington Redskinsβ»
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Redskins | 3 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 20 |
Vikings | 14 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 35 |
at Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota
- Date: December 18, 1976
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: 31 Β°F (β1 Β°C)
- Game attendance: 47,221
- TV announcers (CBS): Vin Scully and Paul Hornung
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
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The Vikings jumped to a 35β6 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 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 7β3. 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 14β3. 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 35-yard completion from Tarkenton to Ahmad Rashad, to score on Foreman's 2-yard touchdown run, putting them up 21β3. 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 28β3 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 28β6. 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 Ramsβ»
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rams | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
Vikings | 7 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 24 |
at Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota
- Date: December 26, 1976
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: Sunny, 19 Β°F (β7 Β°C)
- Game attendance: 48,379
- Referee: Dick Jorgensen
- TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall and Tom Brookshier
- Boxscore
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
|
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
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 7β0.
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 10β0 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 17β0.
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 Raidersβ»
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Raiders | 0 | 16 | 3 | 13 | 32 |
Vikings | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
at Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California
- Date: January 9, 1977
- Game time: 12:50 p.m. (PST)
- Game weather: 53 Β°F (12 Β°C)
- TV announcers (NBC): Curt Gowdy and Don Meredith
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
|
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
Statisticsβ»
Team leadersβ»
Category | Player(s) | Value |
---|---|---|
Passing yards | Fran Tarkenton | 2,961 |
Passing touchdowns | Fran Tarkenton | 17 |
Rushing yards | Chuck Foreman | 1,155 |
Rushing touchdowns | Chuck Foreman | 13 |
Receiving yards | Sammy White | 906 |
Receiving touchdowns | Sammy White | 10 |
Points | Fred Cox | 89 |
Kickoff return yards | Leonard Willis | 552 |
Punt return yards | Leonard Willis | 207 |
Interceptions | Nate Wright | 7 |
League rankingsβ»
Category | Total yards | Yards per game | NFL rank (out of 28) |
---|---|---|---|
Passing offense | 2,855 | 203.9 | 4th |
Rushing offense | 2,003 | 143.1 | 18th |
Total offense | 4,858 | 347.0 | 6th |
Passing defense | 1,575 | 112.5 | 1st |
Rushing defense | 2,096 | 149.7 | 17th |
Total defense | 3,671 | 262.2 | 6th |
Referencesβ»
- ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
- ^ "1976 Minnesota Vikings (NFL) - Pro Football Archives".
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