NFL team season
The 1974 season was the Minnesota Vikings ' 14th in the National Football League (NFL). They won the NFC Central with a 10–4 record, before defeating the St. Louis Cardinals 30–14 in the NFC divisional playoff game, followed by a 14–10 win over the Los Angeles Rams to claim their second consecutive NFC championship. The Vikings then lost 16–6 to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl IX at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana , becoming the first team to lose consecutive Super Bowls.
Offseason [ edit ] 1974 Draft [ edit ] ^[a] Bob Lee and LB Lonnie Warwick to the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for Atlanta's first-round selection (17th overall) and QB Bob Berry .^[b] Carl Gersbach and RB Clinton Jones to the San Diego Chargers in exchange for San Diego's second-round selection and the third-round selection they received from the Green Bay Packers (29th and 64th overall).^[c] New Orleans Saints in exchange for New Orleans' fourth-round selection (86th overall) and 1973 sixth-round selection.^[d] Cincinnati Bengals in exchange for OG Steve Lawson .^[e] Gene Washington to the Denver Broncos in exchange for Denver's fifth-round selection (120th overall) and WR Rod Sherman .^[f] Baltimore Colts in exchange for DB Charlie Stukes .^[g] Charlie Stukes to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for Los Angeles' fifth-round selection (128th overall).^[h] Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for LB Ron Porter . 1974 Minnesota Vikings final roster Quarterbacks Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
Offensive linemen Defensive linemen
Linebackers Defensive backs
Special teams
Rookies in italics , 0 practice squad
Preseason [ edit ] Regular season [ edit ] Schedule [ edit ] Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue 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 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 Atlanta Falcons W 23–10 9–4 Metropolitan Stadium 47,105 14 at Kansas City Chiefs W 35–15 10–4 Arrowhead Stadium 35,480
[2]
Game summaries [ edit ] Week 1: at Green Bay Packers [ edit ] Week 1: Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers – Game summary
Period 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 15Game time : 1:00 p.m. CDTGame weather : 60 °F (16 °C)Game attendance : 56,267Box Score
Game information First quarter
MIN – Fred Cox 20-yard field goal. Vikings 3–0. Second quarter
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
Top rushers
Top receivers
MIN – Chuck Foreman – 5 receptions, 32 yards GB – Barry Smith – 2 receptions, 29 yards
Week 2: at Detroit Lions [ edit ] Game information First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
DET – Errol Mann 40-yard field goal. Vikings 7–6. Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 3: vs. Chicago Bears [ edit ] Game information First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
MIN – Fred Cox 32-yard field goal. Vikings 11–0. Fourth quarter
Top passers
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Top receivers
Week 4: at Dallas Cowboys [ edit ] Week 4: Minnesota Vikings at Dallas Cowboys – Game summary
Period 1 2 3 4 Total Vikings 3 10 7 3 23 Cowboys 7 0 0 14 21
at Texas Stadium , Irving, Texas
Game information First quarter
Second quarter
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
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 5: vs. Houston Oilers [ edit ] Game information First quarter
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
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 6: vs. Detroit Lions [ edit ] Game information First quarter
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
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 7: vs. New England Patriots [ edit ] Game information First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
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Top receivers
Week 8: at Chicago Bears [ edit ] Game information First quarter
MIN – Fred Cox 23-yard field goal. Vikings 3–0. Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
MIN – Stu Voigt 4-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 17–0. Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 9: at St. Louis Cardinals [ edit ] Game information First quarter
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
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
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 10: vs. Green Bay Packers [ edit ] Game information First quarter
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
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 11: at Los Angeles Rams [ edit ] Game information First quarter
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
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
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 12: vs. New Orleans Saints [ edit ] Game information First quarter
Second quarter
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
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 13: vs. Atlanta Falcons [ edit ] Game information First quarter
Second quarter
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
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 14: at Kansas City Chiefs [ edit ] Game information First quarter
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
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
Top rushers
Top receivers
Standings [ edit ] Playoffs [ edit ] Schedule [ edit ] Game summaries [ edit ] NFC Divisional Playoff: vs. St. Louis Cardinals [ edit ] Game information First quarter
Second quarter
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
Top passers
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Top receivers
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.[3]
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 [ edit ] Game information First quarter
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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 [ edit ] Super Bowl IX: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Period 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, 1975Game time : 2:00 pm CSTGame weather : Overcast, 51 °F (11 °C)Game attendance : 80,997Referee : Bernie Ulman TV announcers (NBC) : Curt Gowdy, Al DeRogatis, and Don MeredithPro-Football-Reference.com
Game information First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
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Top receivers
Statistics [ edit ] Team leaders [ edit ] League rankings [ edit ] Category Total yards Yards per game NFL rank(out of 26) Passing offense 2,755 196.8 2nd Rushing offense 1,856 132.6 15th Total offense 4,611 329.4 3rd Passing defense 2,302 164.4 18th Rushing defense 1,605 114.6 5th Total defense 3,907 279.1 10th
References [ edit ]
Franchise Stadiums Culture Lore Rivalries Division championships (21) Conference championships (4) League championships (1) Retired numbers Current league affiliations
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