The NFC Divisional Playoff game on December 22, 1973 featured the Minnesota Vikings, first place finishers in the NFC Central at 12-2, hosting the Washington Redskins, who placed second in the NFC East with a 10-4 record and qualified for the postseason as a Wild Card entry.
The Vikings were in their seventh season under Head Coach
Bud Grant and back in the postseason after a one-year hiatus in 1972. Prior to
that they had won four straight division titles, but lost their last two
Divisional round games. QB Fran Tarkenton (pictured above), an original Viking, returned to the
club in ’72 and was making his first postseason appearance in his 13th
year as a pro. Tarkenton was talented and known for his scrambling style, but
still had something to prove to critics who questioned his ability to come up a
winner in big games. WR John Gilliam was a fine receiver and the addition of
rookie FB Chuck Foreman helped both the running and passing attack. The tough
defense remained the key to the team’s success, in particular the line with
ends Carl Eller and Jim Marshall and tackles Alan Page and Gary Larsen.
The Redskins, coached by George Allen, were the defending
NFC Champions and still a very strong, veteran-laden club. Gritty QB Bill
Kilmer directed an offense that included the running of HB Larry Brown and a
strong receiving corps with wide receivers Charley Taylor and Roy Jefferson and
TE Jerry Smith. The defense was strong and adept at pressuring opposing
quarterbacks. While Washington was also known for the quality of its special
teams play, PK Curt Knight caused concern with his erratic tendencies. In
addition, Kilmer had been hospitalized during the previous week due to a
stomach disorder.
There were 45,475 fans in attendance at Metropolitan
Stadium on a day with temperatures in the twenties and a seven mph wind. The
field had been cleared of snow and dyed green to hide the wear. Minnesota came
out throwing, but a Fran Tarkenton bomb to an open John Gilliam just grazed the
receiver’s finger tips, which was the closest the Vikings came to pulling off a
big play in the early going. The Redskins missed a scoring opportunity in the
first quarter when they drove from their 14 into Minnesota territory but Curt
Knight failed on a 17-yard field goal attempt.
Later in the period, Knight again missed a field goal
attempt, coming up short from 49 yards. The Vikings were stymied on offense and
didn’t register a first down until two minutes into the second quarter, but
they finally came up with a big play when Tarkenton completed a pass to HB
Oscar Reed for a gain of 50 yards and that set up a 19-yard field goal by Fred
Cox.
With 3:30 remaining in the first half, the Redskins got a
break when CB Bobby Bryant fumbled a punt and HB Bob Brunet recovered for
Washington at the Minnesota 21. Three plays later, which included a pass from
Bill Kilmer to Charley Taylor for 17 yards, Larry Brown (pictured at left) ran for a three-yard
touchdown. Knight added the extra point for a 7-3 lead.
The Vikings advanced into field goal position as
Tarkenton completed passes to WR Carroll Dale and Chuck Foreman, but an
interception inside the ten yard line snuffed out the threat and the score
remained unchanged at the half.
During halftime, Minnesota DE Carl Eller delivered an
emotional speech to his teammates, who had played without apparent emotion
during the first half, saying that they had come “too damn far” and were
“embarrassing ourselves”. To accent the point, he proceeded to break apart the
team’s blackboard. The tirade made an impression and the Vikings showed more
fire in the second half.
Early in the third quarter, Reed, taking advantage of the
defense’s keying on Chuck Foreman, broke six tackles on a 46-yard carry that
set up a two-yard TD run by FB Bill Brown. Cox added the point after and the
home team was ahead by 10-7.
Meanwhile, the Redskins were now without CB Pat Fischer,
who suffered cracked ribs in the second quarter and was unable to continue. He
was replaced by DB Speedy Duncan, also experienced but typically a kick
returner who was more comfortable at safety.
Washington managed to tie the score before the period was
over with Curt Knight’s 52-yard field goal that matched the then-league playoff
record. Knight kicked another field goal, from 42 yards, on the first play of
the fourth quarter, and the visitors held a 13-10 edge.
The Vikings proceeded to advance 71 yards in eight plays
concluding with a Tarkenton pass to Gilliam, who beat Duncan for a 28-yard
touchdown. Cox converted and Minnesota was back in the lead by 17-13. On
Washington’s next offensive play, CB Nate Wright intercepted a Kilmer pass and
returned it 26 yards to the Redskins’ eight. Two plays later, it was Tarkenton
to Gilliam again for a TD, this time from six yards out and after the nimble
quarterback scrambled out of trouble, running to his left and then right before
finding the receiver open in the right corner of the end zone. Cox added the
point after and, in the space of 1:05, the Vikings had scored twice to take a
24-13 lead.
The Redskins managed to get on the board again following DB
Ken Stone’s block of a Mike Eischeid punt. Kilmer passed to WR Roy Jefferson
for a 28-yard touchdown with 5:28 left to play and Knight converted to close
the margin to four points.
The Vikings were able to use up four minutes on a series
that concluded with Cox kicking a 30-yard field goal. Washington fought back in
the remaining time as Kilmer completed three passes, but the drive came to an
end at the Minnesota 42 on a fourth down incompletion. Minnesota won by a final
score of 27-20.
The statistics were fairly even. The Vikings led in total
yards (359 to 314) while Washington had the edge in first downs (18 to 17).
Each team turned the ball over twice. The game was almost penalty-free, with
Minnesota drawing the only two flags at a minimal cost of nine yards.
Fran Tarkenton completed 16 of 28 passes for 222 yards
with two touchdowns and one interception, and was at his best as the Vikings
took command in the second half, when he hit on eight of ten throws and both
TDs. John Gilliam had just two catches for 36 yards, but they accounted for
both touchdowns. Oscar Reed (pictured below) rushed for 95 yards on 17 carries and caught 5
passes for 76 more yards. Chuck Foreman contributed 40 yards on 11 attempts and
had three pass receptions for 23 yards.
For the Redskins, Bill Kilmer was successful on 13 of 24
throws for 159 yards and a TD along with an interception. Larry Brown, who was playing
with injured ribs, gained 115 yards on 29 rushing attempts and scored a
touchdown. Roy Jefferson caught 6 passes for 84 yards and a TD and Charley
Taylor contributed four receptions for 56 yards.
“Sometimes they’re not concentrating on me,” explained
Oscar Reed, who received a game ball for his performance. “Since early in the
season they’ve been keying on Chuck Foreman. I’m not the world’s greatest pass
catcher or runner, but given a little room, I’ll use what I’ve got.”
The Vikings went on to defeat Dallas for the NFC
Championship before losing to Miami in the Super Bowl. Washington came back in
1974 to again go 10-4 and reach the playoffs as a Wild Card. The Redskins lost
in the Divisional round, this time to the Rams.
