Minnesota Vikings • 1974 Highlights

the Vikings 1974 season opened in Green Bay where coach Bud Grant saw his team demonstrate early strength in every area the offense was key by 1973 Rookie of the Year Chuck Foreman who began his season with three touchdowns against the archrival Packers the defense was up to its old tricks with four turnovers two of them interceptions by cornerback make right and the special teams came up with big plays to the Vikings got off to a rousing start by beating Green Bay for the 11th time in 13 tries 32 to 17 the second week found the Vikings in Detroit where the Minnesota defense played what Bud Grant called one of the best games it has ever played while the defense was holding the Lions to just nine first downs and no touchdowns Fran Tarkenton and the offense did all the rest that was needed to produce a seven six victory Minnesota's 13th straight over Detroit the seasons third week brought the Vikings home opener and their third consecutive Central Division opponent the Chicago Bears again Fran Tarkenton and the offense did just enough and this time the key man was tight ends to voice the Vikings 111 to 7 and Fran Tarkenton passed another milestone in his amazing career week 4 brought a rematch of the previous year's NFC Championship game in Dallas and the Cowboys took an early lead with the first touchdown pass of the season against the Vikings Fran Tarkenton fought fire with fire and once again the man of the hour was number 44 Chuck Foreman as was becoming his custom chuck foreman led the Vikings in both rushing and receiving and against Dallas accounted for more than 200 yards and two more touchdowns it was almost not enough but let's hear how Joe McConnell of the Vikings radio network reported it well here we go cross will home for the 17 the 27 yard attempt Fred Cox's field goal of just one second left gave the Vikings their fourth straight victory and then it was back home for one of the greatest offensive shows of the NFL season against the Houston Oilers Chuck Foreman scored two more touchdowns Fran Tarkenton hit on 18 of 24 passes and three touchdowns including one of 80 yards to John Gilliam as the Vikings rolled up more than 500 yards of total offense and the most points of the entire NFL season Minnesota crushed Houston 51 to 10 and after five straight victories it looked as though the division title might be wrapped up even before Viking weather arrived and who wouldn't be welcome after you've beaten them 13 straight times in the first meeting Chuck Foreman had scored the game's only touchdown and now in the rematch Foreman scored two more touchdowns to bring his league-leading total to ten in the first six games this time the frustrated Lions came roaring back and defeated the Vikings for the first time in 14 tries 20 to 16 next up were the surprising new england patriots who like the Vikings were 5 and 1 and just coming off their first loss of the season Jim flock had done the Patriots to attend nothing halftime lead Fran Tarkenton brought the Vikings back with two fourth-quarter touchdowns in a 14-10 lead which held up until the game's final second after two straight defeats it was on to Chicago for the rematch with the Bears Fran Tarkenton threw for two touchdowns despite rain and the worst wind conditions he had seen in six or seven seasons the defense came up with another great game and earned a well-deserved shutout as the Vikings rolled past the Bears for the 10th time in their last 12 tries 17 to nothing week 9 found the Vikings in st. Louis for a Monday night encounter with the league's hottest team the Cardinals and Jim Hart the NFC's hottest passer st. Louis led at the half 1714 but three turnovers set up the Minnesota ground game and that was the difference between the two highest-scoring teams in the conference the top rushing quarterback in pro football history delivered the clinching touchdown in the 28 to 24 victory and after nine weeks the Vikings led the central division by three full games but his but grant warned it was still no time to relax in the rematch with Green Bay John Hagel was a new threat for the Packers but the game's first touchdown came on a fourth-quarter Fran Tarkenton to chuck Foreman touchdown pass with just three and a half minutes to play John Hagel beat a Viking blitz and MacArthur Lane delivered the crushing blow for the Packers pro-football has no fiercer rivalry than that between Green Bay and Minnesota who series was now dead even with 14 victories apiece the next week in Los Angeles the NFL's largest crowd in 15 years saw the Vikings go for their 6th straight over the defense minded ran the leader in both rushing and receiving was again chuck foreman who scored his 15th touchdown in the season's 11th game but it all ended with James Harris completing 10 straight passes and the Vikings lost their fourth and six games 20 to 17 or but grants Vikings it was time for the final push from the most specialized of the special team members through the entire 47 man roster all season long the kicks of Fred Cox and Mike I shied were covered by a band of dedicated zealots whose goal was all-out team football with little or no regard for personal safety for years the Vikings have been known for their tenacious defense in 1974 they may have given up some yards between the goal lines but they also permitted only 21 touchdown the fewest in the entire NFL Minnesota's defense is a big play defense and big plays begin with pressure from the front for always a Viking strong point former guard and linebacker duck shuttle moon gave added strength to the defensive line while young hustlers like Dave Boone number 71 joined in with the old pros veterans like benchwarmer by blurt Simha number 75 and the Minnesota strong man Gary Larson number 77 the consecutive game streak by Wright defensive end Jim Marshall number 70 is the longest ever for a defensive player at left in Carl eller was a Pro Bowl participant for the 6th time as was right tackle Allan page number 88 the Vikings king of quickness the Vikings allowed only eight touchdown passes the fewest Emily and pressure from the line benefited backs like free safety Paul Krauts who's 64 lifetime interceptions ranked third on the all-time list and rookie cornerback Jackie Wallace number 25 strong safety Terry Brown number 24 versatile Jeff Wright number 23 and a team leader with six interceptions Nate Wright number 43 but a good defensive back is not just a ball hawk he's at least equal parts desire along with the ability to get the men in the middle are the linebackers and number 59 Ricky Matt flare played like a future star on the outside Amos Martin number 55 came up with three interceptions but the outside was patrolled primarily by Wally he'll convert number 58 and roy winston number 60 while the middle was the exclusive domain of Jeff seaman number 15 all departments of the Minnesota defense worked together like the components and an intricate machines and despite key injuries the Vikings once again played championship style defense while the defense allowed the fewest touchdowns the offense scored the most in the NFC Fran Tarkenton led the conference in passing yardage thanks in good part to his protectors Ronnie Ray Charles Goodrem Grady alderman ed white am team our milk sundae and Mick tingle Hawks number 83 Stewart was among the most reliable receivers with 32 catches and five touchdown while deep threat John Gilliam made the Pro Bowl for the third time at the other wide receiver spot was unheralded second-year man Jim lash who's go all-out style made him an instant favorite at running back the quick feet of Oscar II gave way to the old pro savvy of Dave Osborne who rolled up more than 700 yards running and receiving and open the way for the fantastic season of number 44 chuck foreman a hundred and ninety nine carries for seven hundred seventy seven yards a club record fifty-three receptions for 586 more yards a league-leading fifteen touchdown Chuck Foreman halfback fullback wingback flanker back and one of the more skillful all-around offensive players in the game with three games to go in the regular season the Minnesota Vikings got together and decided to win all the rest against the New Orleans Saints in week 12 Fran Tarkenton and his receivers put on quite a show twenty completions in 29 tries for more than three hundred yards and three touchdowns hi names - Voight cost seven passes and the wide receivers Jim lash and John Gilliam each accounted for more than a hundred yards as the Vikings rolled over the Saints 29 to nine and once again locked up the championship for the NFC Central Division with a division title clinched but grant chose number 17 Bob berry to start against his former teammates the Atlanta Falcons 10-year veteran Dave Osborne caught and ran for 135 yards and two touchdowns as the Vikings 123 to 10 in the season's final week in Kansas City Bob berry hit on 11 of 12 passes including two touchdowns one of them to number 49 edy Marinero Fran Tarkenton also passed for two scores both the rookie wide receiver Sam McCollum as the Vikings bombed the Chiefs 35 to 15 and finally it was time for the playoffs the first round of the NFC playoffs the central champion Vikings against the Eastern champions st. Louis Cardinals at halftime the score was tied at 7 but in the second half the purple Marauders took over the game within a 60-second span of the third quarter the Viking defense turned the game in Minnesota's favorite an interception by Jeff Wright set up a field goal and then on the next series what looked at first like a simple loss of yardage for the Cardinals turned into the game breaker for Nate Wright and the Viking it was then just a matter of Franchot Canton in the offense putting on the frosting for bud grant and the Vikings the difference between four days before Christmas and four days after Christmas was the difference between a divisional playoff and a conference championship against the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship game Fran Tarkenton and the Vikings drew first blood with a touchdown pass to Jim lash Minnesota led seven to three at the half but in the second half some strange things happen Harold Jackson was on his way to a touchdown when number 23 Jeff Wright shoved him out just inches short of a Minnesota goal line one of the year's most important plays occurred when Alan page spotted movement on the left side of the RAM offensive line the crucial offsides Fennelly against the Rams forced James Harrison to a passing situation on third down and Jackie Wallace managed to deflect the ball to Walley Hill converge instead of the Rams going ahead ten to seven the Vikings took the ball and started back the other way when Dave Osborne culminated the drive by going up and over the Minnesota lead became 14 to 3 and it was then just a matter of time for the biking there are many reasons why the 1974 Minnesota Vikings became one of the very few teams ever to successfully defend the conference championship and those many reasons will live on in the minds and memories of the pro football faithful

Channel: Randy Fast

Views: 55,899

Rating: 4.8608694 out of 5

Keywords: Minnesota Vikings, 1974 Minnesota Vikings, Minnesota Vikings Video, Vintage Minnesota Vikings, Vikings

Id: TsLaLBQswC4

Length: 22min 16sec (1336 seconds)

Published: Mon Jan 25 2016