1974 Minnesota Vikings season

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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

1974 was the 14th year of season play for the Minnesota Vikings and the 55th regular season of 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. However, 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.[1]

Offseason

1974 Draft

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Main article: 1974 NFL 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 Gobel 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[2]

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
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

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
Third quarter
  • None.
Fourth quarter
  • DET – Errol Mann 40-yard field goal. Vikings 7–6.
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers

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
Second quarter
Third quarter
  • MIN – Fred Cox 32-yard field goal. Vikings 11–0.
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers

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
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
Top rushers
Top receivers

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
Top rushers
Top receivers

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
Top rushers
Top receivers

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
Third quarter
  • None.
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers

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
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

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
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
Top rushers
Top receivers

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
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers

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
Top rushers
Top receivers

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
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

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
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

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
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

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

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

Game information
Second Quarter
Fourth Quarter

Super Bowl IX

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Main article: 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
Third Quarter
Fourth Quarter

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

Awards, records, and honors

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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. ↑ The Denver Broncos would lose consecutive Super Bowls in 1986 and 1987, and the Buffalo Bills would lose four in a row, in 1990, 1991, 1992, and 1993.
  2. ↑ http://www.jt-sw.com/football/pro/results.nsf/Teams/1974-min
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