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
1974 Draft
^[a] The Vikings traded QB 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] The Vikings traded LB 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] The Vikings traded TE Bob Brown to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for New Orleans' fourth-round selection (86th overall) and 1973 sixth-round selection.
^[d] The Vikings traded their fourth-round selection (103rd overall) to the Cincinnati Bengals in exchange for OG Steve Lawson .
^[e] The Vikings traded WR Gene Washington to the Denver Broncos in exchange for Denver's fifth-round selection (120th overall) and WR Rod Sherman .
^[f] The Vikings traded their fifth-round selection (129th overall) to the Baltimore Colts in exchange for DB Charlie Stukes .
^[g] The Vikings traded DB Charlie Stukes to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for Los Angeles' fifth-round selection (128th overall).
^[h] The Vikings traded the fifth-round selection they received from the Los Angeles Rams (128th overall) to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for LB Ron Porter .
Roster
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
Regular season
Schedule
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
Week 1: at Green Bay Packers
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
Week 2: Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions – Game summary
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
Vikings
0
7
0 0 7
Lions
0
3
0 3 6
at Tiger Stadium , Detroit, Michigan
Date : September 22Game time : 12:00 p.m. CDTGame weather : 48 °F (9 °C), Wind 15 mphGame attendance : 49,703Pro-Football-Reference.com
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
Week 3: Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
Bears
0
0
0 7 7
Vikings
2
6
3 0 11
at Metropolitan Stadium , Bloomington, Minnesota
Date : September 29Game time : 1:00 p.m. CDTGame weather : 47 °F (8 °C), Wind 11 mphGame attendance : 46,217Pro-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
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
Vikings
3
10
7 3 23
Cowboys
7
0
0 14 21
at Texas Stadium , Irving, Texas
Date : October 6Game time : 3:00 p.m. CDTGame weather : 75 °F (24 °C), Wind 12 mphGame attendance : 57,847Pro-Football-Reference.com
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
Week 5: Houston Oilers at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
Oilers
3
0
7 0 10
Vikings
16
14
7 14 51
at Metropolitan Stadium , Bloomington, Minnesota
Date : October 13Game time : 1:00 p.m. CDTGame weather : 46 °F (8 °C), Wind 9 mphGame attendance : 48,006Pro-Football-Reference.com
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
HOU – Willie Rodgers – 11 rushes, 42 yards
MIN – Chuck Foreman – 16 rushes, 61 yards, TD
Top receivers
Week 6: vs. Detroit Lions
Week 6: Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
Lions
0
6
7 7 20
Vikings
0
3
13 0 16
at Metropolitan Stadium , Bloomington, Minnesota
Date : October 20Game time : 1:00 p.m. CDTGame weather : 38 °F (3 °C), Wind 10 mphGame attendance : 47,807Pro-Football-Reference.com
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
Week 7: New England Patriots at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
Patriots
3
7
0 7 17
Vikings
0
0
0 14 14
at Metropolitan Stadium , Bloomington, Minnesota
Date : October 27Game time : 1:00 p.m. CSTGame weather : 54 °F (12 °C), Wind 10 mphGame attendance : 48,177Pro-Football-Reference.com
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 8: at Chicago Bears
Week 8: Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
Vikings
3
0
7 7 17
Bears
0
0
0 0 0
at Soldier Field , Chicago, Illinois
Date : November 3Game time : 1:00 p.m. CSTGame weather : 52 °F (11 °C), Wind 13 mphGame attendance : 33,343Pro-Football-Reference.com
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
Week 9: Minnesota Vikings at St. Louis Cardinals – Game summary
Period
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 11Game time : 8:00 p.m. CSTGame weather : 50 °F (10 °C), Wind 12 mphGame attendance : 50,183Pro-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
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
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
Packers
0
6
3 10 19
Vikings
0
0
0 7 7
at Metropolitan Stadium , Bloomington, Minnesota
Date : November 17Game time : 1:00 p.m. CSTGame weather : 33 °F (1 °C), Wind 8 mphGame attendance : 47,924Pro-Football-Reference.com
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
Week 11: Minnesota Vikings at Los Angeles Rams – Game summary
Period
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 24Game time : 3:00 p.m. CSTGame weather : 65 °F (18 °C), Wind 8 mphGame attendance : 90,266Pro-Football-Reference.com
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
Week 12: New Orleans Saints at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
Saints
3
6
0 0 9
Vikings
6
6
3 14 29
at Metropolitan Stadium , Bloomington, Minnesota
Date : December 1Game time : 1:00 p.m. CSTGame weather : 25 °F (−4 °C), Wind 11 mphGame attendance : 44,202Pro-Football-Reference.com
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
Week 13: Atlanta Falcons at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Period
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 7Game time : 12:00 p.m. CSTGame weather : 28 °F (−2 °C), Wind 10 mphGame attendance : 47,105Pro-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
Period
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 14Game time : 2:45 p.m. CSTGame weather : 35 °F (2 °C), Wind 13 mphGame attendance : 35,480Pro-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
Playoffs
Schedule
Game summaries
NFC Divisional Playoff: vs. St. Louis Cardinals
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
Top rushers
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
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
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
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
Top rushers
Top receivers
Statistics
Team leaders
League rankings
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
^ "1974 Minnesota Vikings (NFL) - Pro Football Archives".
^ "1974 Minnesota Vikings".
^ "Chicago Tribune - Historical Newspapers".
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