1974 Minnesota Vikings season

1974 Minnesota Vikings season
Head coach	Bud Grant
Home field	Metropolitan Stadium
Results
Record	10–4
Division place	1st NFC Central
Playoff finish	Won Divisional Playoffs (Cardinals) 30–14 Won Conference Championship (Rams) 14–10 Lost Super Bowl IX (Steelers) 16–6

The 1974 Minnesota Vikings season was the franchise's 14th season in the National Football League. The Vikings won the NFC Central as they finished with a record of 10 wins and 4 losses. The Vikings defeated the St. Louis Cardinals, 30–14 in the NFC divisional playoff game, and the Los Angeles Rams, 14–10 to win their second consecutive NFC championship. Both games were at home. The Vikings lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl IX, 16–6 at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, becoming the first team to lose consecutive Super Bowls.

Offseason

1974 Draft

=Pro Bowler

1974 Minnesota Vikings Draft
Draft order			Player name	Position	College	Notes
Round	Choice	Overall
1	17	17	Fred McNeill	Linebacker	UCLA	from Falcons^[a]
	25	25	Steve Riley	Defensive Tackle	USC
2	3	29	John Holland	Wide Receiver	Tennessee State	from Chargers^[b]
	25	51	Matt Blair	Linebacker	Iowa State
3	12	64	Steve Craig	Tight End	Northwestern	from Packers via Chargers^[b]
	25	77	Scott Anderson	Center	Missouri
4	8	86	Mike Townsend	Defensive Back	Notre Dame	from Saints^[c]
	25	103	Traded to the Cincinnati Bengals^[d]
5	16	120	Jim Ferguson	Defensive Back	Stanford	from Broncos^[e]
	24	128	Traded to the Philadelphia Eagles^[h]			from Rams^[g]
	25	129	Traded to the Baltimore Colts^[f]
6	25	155	Mark Kellar	Running Back	Northern Illinois
7	25	181	Fred Tabron	Running Back	Southwest Missouri State
8	25	207	Berl Simmons	Kicker	Texas Christian
9	24	232	Sam McCullum	Wide Receiver	Montana State
10	25	259	Barry Reed	Running Back	Peru State
11	25	285	Dave Boone	Defensive End	Eastern Michigan
12	25	311	Randy Polti	Defensive Back	Stanford
13	25	337	Gary Keller	Defensive Tackle	Utah
14	25	363	Alan Dixon	Running Back	Harding
15	25	389	Kurt Wachtler	Defensive Tackle	St. John's
16	25	415	John Goebel	Running Back	St. Thomas
17	25	441	Earl Garrett	Defensive Back	Boston State

^{^[a]} Atlanta traded their 1st round selection (17th overall) and QB Bob Berry to Minnesota for QB Bob Lee and LB Lonnie Warwick.

^{^[b]} San Diego traded their 2nd round selection (29th overall) and a 3rd round selection (64th overall) to Minnesota for LB Carl Gersbach and RB Clinton Jones.

^{^[c]} New Orleans traded their 4th round selection (86th overall) and 1973 6th round selection to Minnesota for TE Bob Brown.

^{^[d]} Minnesota traded their 4th round selection (103rd overall) to Cincinnati for OG Steve Lawson.

^{^[e]} Denver traded their 5th round selection (120th overall) and WR Rod Sherman to Minnesota for WR Gene Washington.

^{^[f]} Minnesota traded their 5th round selection (129th overall) to Baltimore for DB Charlie Stukes on July 23, 1973.

^{^[g]} Los Angeles traded their 5th round selection (128th overall) to Minnesota for DB Charlie Stukes on August 28, 1973.

^{^[h]} Minnesota traded this 5th round selection (128th overall) to Philadelphia for LB Ron Porter.

Regular season

Schedule^[1]

Game	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Game site	Attendance
1	September 15	at Green Bay Packers	W 32–17	1–0	Lambeau Field	56,267
2	September 22	at Detroit Lions	W 7–6	2–0	Tiger Stadium	49,703
3	September 29	Chicago Bears	W 11–7	3–0	Metropolitan Stadium	46,217
4	October 6	at Dallas Cowboys	W 23–21	4–0	Texas Stadium	57,847
5	October 13	Houston Oilers	W 51–10	5–0	Metropolitan Stadium	48,006
6	October 20	Detroit Lions	L 16–20	5–1	Metropolitan Stadium	47,807
7	October 27	New England Patriots	L 14–17	5–2	Metropolitan Stadium	48,177
8	November 3	at Chicago Bears	W 17–0	6–2	Soldier Field	33,343
9	November 11	at St. Louis Cardinals	W 28–24	7–2	Civic Center Busch Memorial Stadium	50,183
10	November 17	Green Bay Packers	L 7–19	7–3	Metropolitan Stadium	47,924
11	November 24	at Los Angeles Rams	L 17–20	7–4	Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum	90,266
12	December 1	New Orleans Saints	W 29–9	8–4	Metropolitan Stadium	44,202
13	December 7	Atlanta Falcons	W 23–10	9–4	Metropolitan Stadium	47,105
14	December 14	at Kansas City Chiefs	W 35–15	10–4	Arrowhead Stadium	35,480

Game summaries

Week 1: at Green Bay Packers

Week 1: Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers – Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
Vikings	3	7	13	9	32
Packers	0	10	0	7	17

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

• Date: September 15
• Game time: 1:00 p.m. CDT
• Game weather: 60 °F (16 °C), Wind 16 mph
• Game attendance: 56,267
• Pro-Football-Reference.com

Game information

First quarter MIN – Fred Cox 20-yard field goal. Vikings 3–0. Second quarter GB – Chester Marcol 19-yard field goal. Tied 3–3. GB – John Brockington 5-yard run (Chester Marcol kick). Packers 10–3. MIN – Chuck Foreman 18-yard run (Fred Cox kick). Tied 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 GB – Jerry Tagge – 9/20, 102 yards 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 rec, 32 yards GB – Barry Smith – 2 rec, 29 yards

Week 2: at Detroit Lions

Week 2: Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions – Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
Vikings	0	7	0	0	7
Lions	0	3	0	3	6

at Tiger Stadium, Detroit, Michigan

• Date: September 22
• Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
• Game weather: 48 °F (9 °C), Wind 15 mph
• Game attendance: 49,703
• Pro-Football-Reference.com

Game information

First quarter None. 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 None. 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 rec, 87 yards DET – Steve Owens – 5 rec, 29 yards

Week 3: vs. Chicago Bears

Week 3: Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
Bears	0	0	0	7	7
Vikings	2	6	3	0	11

at Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota

• Date: September 29
• Game time: 1:00 p.m. CDT
• Game weather: 47 °F (8 °C), Wind 11 mph
• Game attendance: 46,217
• Pro-Football-Reference.com

Game information

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 MIN – Fran Tarkenton – 16/25, 165 yards, TD Top rushers CHI – Ken Grandberry – 19 rushes, 76 yards MIN – Chuck Foreman – 16 rushes, 74 yards Top receivers CHI – Charlie Wade – 6 rec, 112 yards MIN – Stu Voigt – 5 rec, 50 yards, TD

Week 4: at Dallas Cowboys

Week 4: Minnesota Vikings at Dallas Cowboys – Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
Vikings	3	10	7	3	23
Cowboys	7	0	0	14	21

at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas

• Date: October 6
• Game time: 3:00 p.m. CST
• Game weather: 75 °F (24 °C), Wind 12 mph
• Game attendance: 57,847
• Pro-Football-Reference.com

Game information

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 Top rushers MIN – Chuck Foreman – 23 rushes, 72 yards DAL – Calvin Hill – 21 rushes, 95 yards, TD Top receivers MIN – Chuck Foreman – 5 rec, 131 yards, 2 TD DAL – Golden Richards – 1 rec, 58 yards, TD

Week 5: vs. Houston Oilers

Week 5: Houston Oilers at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
Oilers	3	0	7	0	10
Vikings	16	14	7	14	51

at Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota

• Date: October 13
• Game time: 1:00 p.m. CDT
• Game weather: 46 °F (8 °C), Wind 9 mph
• Game attendance: 48,006
• Pro-Football-Reference.com

Game information

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 Tartenton (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 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 rec, 52 yards MIN – John Gilliam – 2 rec, 102 yards, TD

Week 6: vs. Detroit Lions

Week 6: Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
Lions	0	6	7	7	20
Vikings	0	3	13	0	16

at Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota

• Date: October 20
• Game time: 1:00 p.m. CDT
• Game weather: 38 °F (3 °C), Wind 10 mph
• Game attendance: 47,807
• Pro-Football-Reference.com

Game information

First quarter None. 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 Top rushers DET – Steve Owens – 13 rushes, 59 yards MIN – Dave Osborn – 14 rushes, 96 yards Top receivers DET – Ron Jessie – 10 rec, 116 yards MIN – Jim Lash – 4 rec, 89 yards

Week 7: vs. New England Patriots

Week 7: New England Patriots at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
Patriots	3	7	0	7	17
Vikings	0	0	0	14	14

at Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota

• Date: October 27
• Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
• Game weather: 54 °F (12 °C), Wind 10 mph
• Game attendance: 48,177
• Pro-Football-Reference.com

Game information

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 None. 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 MIN – Fran Tarkenton – 19/39, 281 yards Top rushers NE – Sam Cunningham – 22 rushes, 129 yards MIN – Chuck Foreman – 17 rushes, 68 yards, TD Top receivers NE – Reggie Rucker – 3 rec, 61 yards MIN – John Gilliam – 5 rec, 117 yards

Week 8: at Chicago Bears

Week 8: Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears – Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
Vikings	3	0	7	7	17
Bears	0	0	0	0	0

at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

• Date: November 3
• Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
• Game weather: 52 °F (11 °C), Wind 13 mph
• Game attendance: 33,343
• Pro-Football-Reference.com

Game information

First quarter MIN – Fred Cox 23-yard field goal. Vikings 3–0. Second quarter None. 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 CHI – Gary Huff – 11/24, 74 yards Top rushers MIN – Dave Osborn – 24 rushes, 98 yards CHI – Carl Garrett – 4 rushes, 23 yards Top receivers MIN – John Gilliam – 1 rec, 35 yards, TD CHI – Jim Kelly – 2 rec, 38 yards

Week 9: at St. Louis Cardinals

Week 9: Minnesota Vikings at St. Louis Cardinals – Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
Vikings	14	0	7	7	28
Cardinals	7	10	0	7	24

at Civic Center Busch Memorial Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri

• Date: Monday, November 11
• Game time: 8:00 p.m. CST
• Game weather: 50 °F (10 °C), Wind 12 mph
• Game attendance: 50,183
• Pro-Football-Reference.com

Game information

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 STL – Jim Hart – 28/43, 353 yards, 2 TD Top rushers MIN – Dave Osborn – 23 rushes, 98 yards, TD STL – Jim Otis – 14 rushes, 50 yards Top receivers MIN – Dave Osborn – 7 rec, 71 yards STL – Mel Gray – 6 rec, 91 yards

Week 10: vs. Green Bay Packers

Week 10: Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
Packers	0	6	3	10	19
Vikings	0	0	0	7	7

at Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota

• Date: November 17
• Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
• Game weather: 33 °F (1 °C), Wind 8 mph
• Game attendance: 47,924
• Pro-Football-Reference.com

Game information

First quarter None. 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 Top rushers GB – John Brockington – 32 rushes, 137 yards MIN – Chuck Foreman – 10 rushes, 39 yards Top receivers GB – MacArthur Lane – 1 rec, 68 yards, TD MIN – Jim Lash – 6 rec, 136 yards

Week 11: at Los Angeles Rams

Week 11: Minnesota Vikings at Los Angeles Rams – Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
Vikings	0	17	0	0	17
Rams	0	6	0	14	20

at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California

• Date: November 24
• Game time: 3:00 p.m. CST
• Game weather: 65 °F (18 °C), Wind 8 mph
• Game attendance: 90,266
• Pro-Football-Reference.com

Game information

First quarter None. 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 None. 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 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 rec, 88 yards, TD LA – Jack Snow – 7 rec, 91 yards, TD

Week 12: vs. New Orleans Saints

Week 12: New Orleans Saints at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
Saints	3	6	0	0	9
Vikings	6	6	3	14	29

at Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota

• Date: December 1
• Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
• Game weather: 25 °F (−4 °C), Wind 11 mph
• Game attendance: 44,202
• Pro-Football-Reference.com

Game information

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 (2-pt 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 rec, 51 yards MIN – Jim Lash – 3 rec, 112 yards

Week 13: vs. Atlanta Falcons

Week 13: Atlanta Falcons at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
Falcons	0	7	0	3	10
Vikings	7	3	6	7	23

at Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota

• Date: Saturday, December 7
• Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
• Game weather: 28 °F (−2 °C), Wind 10 mph
• Game attendance: 47,105
• Pro-Football-Reference.com

Game information

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 MIN – Bob Berry – 14/22, 114 yards, TD 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 rec, 50 yards MIN – Dave Osborn – 6 rec, 39 yards

Week 14: at Kansas City Chiefs

Week 14: Minnesota Vikings at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
Vikings	0	14	7	14	35
Chiefs	3	9	0	3	15

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

• Date: Saturday, December 14
• Game time: 2:45 p.m. CST
• Game weather: 35 °F (2 °C), Wind 13 mph
• Game attendance: 35,480
• Pro-Football-Reference.com

Game information

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 KC – Len Dawson – 9/16, 124 yards Top rushers MIN – Oscar Reed – 15 rushes, 57 yards KC – Cleo Miller – 12 rushes, 45 yards Top receivers MIN – Sam McCullum – 6 rec, 118 yards, 2 TD KC – Elmo Wright – 3 rec, 75 yards

Standings

NFC Central
	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	STK
Minnesota Vikings	10	4	0	.714	4–2	8–3	310	195	W3
Detroit Lions	7	7	0	.500	3–3	6–5	256	270	L1
Green Bay Packers	6	8	0	.429	3–3	4–7	210	206	L3
Chicago Bears	4	10	0	.286	2–4	4–7	152	279	L2

Playoffs

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Venue	Attendance
NFC Divisional Playoff	December 21, 1974	St. Louis Cardinals	W 30–14	Metropolitan Stadium	48,150
Conference Championship	December 29, 1974	Los Angeles Rams	W 14–10	Metropolitan Stadium	48,444
Super Bowl IX	January 12, 1975	N Pittsburgh Steelers	L 6–16	Tulane Stadium	80,997

NFC Divisional Playoff

St. Louis Cardinals at Minnesota Vikings

	1	2	3	4	Total
Cardinals	0	7	0	7	14
Vikings	0	7	16	7	30

at Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota

• Date: December 21
• Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
• Game weather: 28 °F (−2 °C), flurries
• Game attendance: 48,150
• Referee: Chuck Heberling
• TV announcers (CBS): Brent Musburger, Irv Cross and Johnny Unitas
• Pro-Football-Reference.com

Game information

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) - Tie 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

NFC Championship

Los Angeles Rams at Minnesota Vikings

	1	2	3	4	Total
Rams	0	3	0	7	10
Vikings	0	7	0	7	14

at Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota

• Date: December 29
• Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
• Game weather: 31 °F (−1 °C), sunny
• Game attendance: 48,444
• Referee: Tommy Bell
• TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall, Tom Brookshier and Bart Starr
• Pro-Football-Reference.com

Game information
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 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

Super Bowl IX

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Minnesota Vikings

	1	2	3	4	Total
Steelers	0	2	7	7	16
Vikings	0	0	0	6	6

at Tulane Stadium, New Orleans, Louisiana

• Date: January 12, 1975
• Game time: 2:00 pm CST
• Game weather: Overcast, 51 °F (11 °C), wind 17 mph, relative humidity 72%
• Game attendance: 80,997
• Referee: Bernie Ulman
• TV announcers (NBC): Curt Gowdy, Al DeRogatis, and Don Meredith
• Pro-Football-Reference.com

Game information
Second Quarter PIT – Safety, Dwight White downed Fran Tarkenton in end zone - Steelers 2–0 Third Quarter PIT – Franco Harris 9-yard run (Roy Gerela kick) - Steelers 9–0 Fourth Quarter MIN – Terry Brown recovered blocked punt in end zone (kick failed) - Steelers 9–6 PIT – Larry Brown 4-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Roy Gerela kick) - Steelers 16-6

Final roster

Offense		Defense / Special Teams
Fran Tarkenton QB	Grady Alderman OT	Roy Winston LB	Joe Blahak DB
Bob Berry QB	Ron Yary OT	Amos Martin LB	Terry Brown DB
Bill Brown RB	Steve Riley OT	Fred McNeill LB	Bobby Bryant DB
Chuck Foreman RB	Charlie Goodrum OT	Jeff Siemon LB	Randy Poltl DB
Ed Marinaro RB	Mick Tingelhoff C	Wally Hilgenberg LB	Paul Krause DB
Brent McClanahan RB	Scott Anderson C	Matt Blair LB	Larry Marshall DB
Dave Osborn RB	Steve Lawson OG	Dave Boone DE	Jackie Wallace DB
Oscar Reed RB	Andy Maurer OG	Carl Eller DE	Jeff Wright DB
John Gilliam WR	Milt Sunde OG	Bob Lurtsema DE	Nate Wright DB
John Holland WR	Ed White OG	Jim Marshall DE
Jim Lash WR	Doug Kingsriter TE	Alan Page DT	Mike Eischeid K
Sam McCullum WR	Stu Voigt TE	Gary Larsen DT	Fred Cox K
	Steve Craig TE	Doug Sutherland DT

Statistics

Team leaders

Category	Player(s)	Value
Passing Yards	Fran Tarkenton	2,598
Passing Touchdowns	Fran Tarkenton	17
Rushing Yards	Chuck Foreman	777
Rushing Touchdowns	Chuck Foreman	9
Receiving Yards	Jim Lash	631
Receiving Touchdowns	Chuck Foreman	6
Points	Chuck Foreman	90
Kickoff Return Yards	Brent McClanahan	549
Punt Return Yards	Jackie Wallace	191
Interceptions	Nate Wright	6

League rankings

Category	Total yards	Yards per game	NFL rank (out of 26)
Passing Offense	2,755 Yards	196.8 YPG	2nd
Rushing Offense	1,856 Yards	132.6 YPG	15th
Total Offense	4,611 Yards	329.4 YPG	3rd
Passing Defense	2,302 Yards	164.4 YPG	18th
Rushing Defense	1,605 Yards	114.6 YPG	5th
Total Defense	3,907 Yards	279.1 YPG	10th

References

1. http://www.jt-sw.com/football/pro/results.nsf/Teams/1974-min