1985: Campbell Runs for 160 Yards as Saints Defeat Vikings

RB Earl Campbell (pictured at right) was nearing the end of his Hall of Fame NFL career as the New Orleans Saints played the Minnesota Vikings on November 24, 1985. Once the league’s premier running back with the Houston Oilers, he had been dealt to New Orleans midway through the 1984 season, which reunited him with Head Coach O.A. “Bum” Phillips, who had coached Campbell during his best years with the Oilers. It had not brought a turnaround for the worn-down 30-year-old power runner who had last run for a hundred yards in a game during the ’83 season, which was also the last time he reached a thousand yards and gained Pro Bowl recognition.

The Saints were having plenty of other difficulties. After starting out at 3-2, they were in the midst of a six-game-losing streak that had them at 3-8. Ex-USFL star QB Bobby Hebert started for the first time in the previous week’s loss at Green Bay, replacing the mediocre Dave Wilson. The defense, which had been an asset during most of Phillips’ coaching reign, was performing badly.

Minnesota had a 5-6 record, attempting to bounce back after a disastrous 3-13 campaign with Les Steckel as head coach in ’84. His predecessor, Bud Grant, had come out of retirement to try and right the ship.   

There were 54,117 fans in attendance at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. The Vikings had the first possession, went three-and-out, and punted. Earl Campbell carried on each of New Orleans’ first four plays, gaining a total of 29 yards. Faking a pitch to Campbell on the fifth play, Bobby Hebert instead handed off to FB Wayne Wilson, who ran 41 yards down the right sideline for a touchdown. Morten Anderson added the extra point.

WR Buster Rhymes returned the ensuing kickoff 38 yards to the Minnesota 42 and the Vikings struck quickly as, two plays later, QB Tommy Kramer threw to RB Arthur Anderson for a 54-yard TD. Jan Stenerud converted to tie the score at 7-7.

The Saints got good starting field position for their next series thanks to a 45-yard kickoff return by CB Willie Tullis to the Minnesota 46. It was Campbell running three times for 25 yards to start it off. Wilson netted a one-yard loss on two carries and, facing third-and-11, Hebert tossed his first pass of the game to WR Eugene Goodlow for a pickup of 17 yards to the five yard line. Two plays later, Campbell ran for a four-yard touchdown and, adding Andersen’s conversion, the visitors were on top by 14-7.

The Vikings responded strongly as Kramer connected with TE Steve Jordan for 18 yards and RB Ted Brown broke loose for a 21-yard run. But another running play lost yardage and Kramer’s next pass was intercepted by LB Glen Redd, who returned it 25 yards to the Minnesota 38. It was Campbell again carrying the load as the Saints reached the nine yard line at the end of the period and, two plays into the second quarter, Andersen booted a 26-yard field goal to extend the lead to 17-7.

A short Minnesota possession resulted in a punt and the Saints advanced 48 yards in seven plays to score again. Campbell continued to run effectively and a pass interference penalty on CB Carl Lee picked up 34 yards. The drive stalled but Andersen kicked another field goal, this time from 47 yards, to make it a 20-7 game with less than eight minutes to go in the first half.

The teams exchanged punts until, just after the two-minute warning, New Orleans TE Hoby Brenner fumbled when hit by CB Willie Teal after catching a pass for 26 yards to midfield, and Teal recovered. Kramer completed three straight passes, the longest to Rhymes for 27 yards to the New Orleans five. The Vikings couldn’t penetrate the end zone, but Stenerud kicked a 22-yard field goal to narrow the margin to 20-10 at halftime.

The Saints had the ball first in the third quarter and advanced 33 yards in eight plays that culminated in a 45-yard Andersen field goal. New Orleans was up by 23-10. The Vikings punted following their possession and it looked promising for the Saints as Campbell ran the ball four times for 25 yards and Hebert completed a pass to Brenner for 14. However, after reaching the Minnesota 30, Lee intercepted an Hebert pass and returned it 33 yards to the New Orleans 39. Kramer completed four consecutive throws, the longest to WR Mike Jones for 17 yards, but after achieving a first-and-goal at the 10, the home team once again couldn’t score a touchdown and settled for a 22-yard Stenerud field goal. The spread was once again ten points as the game headed into the fourth quarter.

Following a punt by the Saints early in the period, the Vikings again drove into New Orleans territory. Facing third-and-ten at the 43, Minnesota got a break when the Saints were called for defensive holding, giving them another first down, and Kramer immediately passed to WR Anthony Carter for a pickup of 19 yards. The drive bogged down at the 20, but Stenerud chipped away further at the New Orleans lead with a 37-yard field goal that made the tally 23-16.

WR Eric Martin returned the kickoff 48 yards and the Saints started their next series off at the Minnesota 49, but Wilson fumbled on a third-down carry and DE Keith Millard recovered for the Vikings at the 38. Kramer had completions to Carter for 25 yards and RB Allen Rice for six as Minnesota advanced to the New Orleans 26, but a long pass by Kramer was picked off by CB Dave Waymer and returned 15 yards to the 18.

The Saints managed to reach their 42 before having to punt. Minnesota was quickly back in business when a first down pass intended for Carter drew a pass interference call on Waymer that picked up 45 yards to the New Orleans 30. This time the Vikings didn’t come up empty as a third-down pass from Kramer to Jones was good for a six-yard touchdown. Stenerud added the extra point to tie the score at 23-23 with 1:47 left in regulation.

The ensuing kickoff went out of bounds and the next, squibbed kick was returned 23 yards by RB Bobby Fowler to the 50. Campbell carried twice for 11 yards before Hebert threw to TE John Tice for a 39-yard TD. Andersen added the point after and New Orleans held on to win by a final score of 30-23.

The Saints had the edge in total yards (371 to 284) and first downs (19 to 17). Of the yardage total for New Orleans, 234 came on the ground. Each team turned the ball over three times.

Earl Campbell rushed for 160 yards on a team-record 35 carries that included one touchdown.  Wayne Wilson (pictured at left) contributed 65 yards and a TD on his 12 attempts. Bobby Hebert completed 10 of 14 passes for 147 yards and a touchdown, his first in the NFL, while being intercepted once. Hoby Brenner topped the Saints with three pass receptions for 51 yards.

For the Vikings, Tommy Kramer was successful on 19 of 45 throws for 240 yards and two TDs with three interceptions. Ted Brown ran for 40 yards on 8 attempts and also topped the club with 8 catches for 54 yards. Alfred Anderson also gained 54 yards on his one long scoring reception. Greg Coleman averaged 51.6 yards on his five punts.

The 160-yard outing against the Vikings was Earl Campbell’s fortieth, and last, career hundred-yard performance. He ended up with 643 yards on 158 carries (4.1 avg.) and his TD at Minnesota was the only one he scored in what was his last season.  

The game against the Vikings was also the last for Coach Phillips, who resigned and was replaced by his son, Wade, the defensive coordinator. The Saints won again the next week but lost their last three contests to end up with a 5-11 record and placed third in the NFC West. Minnesota bounced back to split the remaining four games and finished at 7-9, which ranked third in the NFC Central and was considered a respectable outcome after the debacle of ‘84. Bud Grant retired for good and offensive coordinator Jerry Burns was elevated to head coach.

1983: Vikings Overcome Falcons in First Round Playoff Game

Following a strike-interrupted regular season, two teams with 5-4 records met in a NFC First Round playoff game in Minneapolis on January 9, 1983. The 57-day work stoppage had limited the 1982 NFL season to nine games, resulting in the league eliminating divisions and having the top eight clubs in each conference make the playoffs. Minnesota was the fourth seeded team and Atlanta ranked fifth.

While the Vikings were coached by Bud Grant for the 16^th season, there was a significant change in terms of venue. Rather than being a rugged outdoor team that made the most of cold conditions at old Metropolitan Stadium, especially in the postseason, Minnesota had moved into the domed confines of the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, which took the elements out of the equation. Still, they had won four of their five games at the new stadium. QB Tommy Kramer provided emotional leadership as well as passing ability and FB Ted Brown (pictured above) paced the ground attack. Star DE Doug Martin had been joined by NT Charlie Johnson, who was obtained from the Eagles, and LB Matt Blair had a Pro Bowl year. 

The Falcons, under Head Coach Leeman Bennett, seemed to be going in the wrong direction. They were an inconsistent team that had been badly beaten in each of their last two regular season games with the offense struggling in particular, having managed just one touchdown in those two contests. QB Steve Bartkowski was a classic dropback passer with a strong and accurate arm, but the deep passing game was lacking. However, RB William Andrews was outstanding at both running the ball and catching out of the backfield. The linebacking corps was the strength of the defense, but ILB Buddy Curry was out for the playoff game with a knee injury.

There were 60,560 fans in attendance for the first postseason game at the Metrodome. The Falcons scored at just over a minute into the game when the Vikings were forced to punt following their first series. Punter Greg Coleman fumbled the snap and, while he got the kick off, it was blocked by LB Paul Davis. DE Doug Rogers recovered the ball in the end zone for an Atlanta touchdown. Mick Luckhurst kicked the extra point and the visitors had an early 7-0 lead.

Late in the first period, the Vikings benefited from a 25-yard pass interference call on FS Tom Pridemore. It set up a 33-yard field goal by Rick Danmeier that finished off a 33-yard drive in six plays and the score was 7-3 at the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter, the Vikings drove 82 yards in seven plays to put more points on the board. HB Darrin Nelson had a 14-yard run and Tommy Kramer connected with WR Sammy White for a 25-yard gain. The series ended with Kramer again throwing to White for an 11-yard touchdown. Danmeier’s extra point put Minnesota ahead by three.

Down by 10-7, a promising drive by the Falcons came up empty when FS John Turner intercepted a Bartkowski pass at the Minnesota two and returned it 17 yards.

Minnesota added to its lead with a 30-yard Danmeier field goal in the last 30 seconds before the end of the half that capped a four-play series and made the score 13-7. It was set up by a 20-yard punt return by DB Rufus Bess and helped along by Ted Brown’s 14-yard run.

It had been a rough first half for both clubs. Bartkowski had only three pass completion against the tough Minnesota defense, which pressured him relentlessly. Meanwhile, the Vikings had injury problems as Ted Brown missed time with a sore shoulder and John Turner hurt his ankle to the extent that he was carried off the field and taken to a hospital for x-rays, although both returned to make big plays in the second half.

In the third quarter, Atlanta finally put together a solid drive, with Bartkowski completing three passes, including one for 25 yards to WR Floyd Hodge and another to WR Alfred Jenkins that picked up 22 yards. The series reached the Minnesota 17 before stalling and the Falcons lined up for a field goal attempt. However, QB Mike Moroski, the holder, took the snap and sprinted around right end, lateraling to PK Mick Luckhurst (pictured below), who ran the last 17 yards for a touchdown. It was the Englishman’s only career rushing attempt and capped an eight-play, 71-yard possession.

Two minutes later, SS Bob Glazebrook intercepted a Kramer pass at the Minnesota 35 and returned it for a touchdown. Despite their woes on offense, the Falcons were ahead by eight points at 21-13.

Minnesota drove to another score before the third quarter was over, going 70 yards in 13 plays, ending with a 39-yard Danmeier field goal. Along the way, an offside penalty in a third-and-four situation gave the Vikings a first down and Kramer completed a pass to TE Joe Senser for 18 yards.

The Falcons had to punt on their next series and, as the contest entered the fourth quarter, Minnesota responded with a ten-play possession that advanced 61 yards. Brown converted a fourth-and-inches situation with a three-yard run and Kramer completed a pass to WR Sam McCullum for 15 yards. The drive ended with Kramer throwing to WR Sam McCullum for an 11-yard TD and Danmeier again added the PAT to put the Vikings up by two at 23-21.

The Falcons moved back in front thanks to a 50-yard, seven-play drive that concluded with a 41-yard Luckhurst field goal with 6:45 left in regulation to make it 24-23. The big play was a Bartkowski pass to Jenkins that picked up 30 yards.

The Vikings, taking over with six minutes left in the game, put together a 72-yard drive. Ted Brown was the key player, running for gains of 11 and 10 yards along the way. In addition, Kramer threw to WR Terry LeCount for 19 yards. Brown finished off the series with a five-yard carry that was helped along by a block thrown by HB Rickey Young. The TD put the Vikings in front once more with 1:44 remaining.

There was still time for the Falcons to respond, but after advancing to the Minnesota 45, a pass by Bartkowski was intercepted by Turner to seal the win with 57 seconds left on the clock. The Vikings came out on top by a final score of 30-24.

Atlanta’s offense failed to score a touchdown, and the Vikings easily outgained the Falcons by 378 yards to 235. Minnesota also had an edge of 30 to 24 in first downs. The Vikings registered the game’s only three sacks and forced two Atlanta turnovers, to one for Minnesota. There were a total of 17 penalties, with the Vikings flagged 10 times at a cost of 84 yards.

Tommy Kramer completed 20 of 34 passes for 253 yards and a touchdown, also giving up an interception. Ted Brown ran for 81 yards and a TD on 23 carries. Joe Senser had 6 catches for 81 yards to lead the team’s receivers. Defensively, John Turner contributed two interceptions, with a trip to the hospital in between.

For the Falcons, Steve Bartkowski was successful on only 9 of 23 throws for 134 yards and no TDs while tossing two interceptions. William Andrews had 48 yards on 11 attempts and rookie RB Gerald Riggs added 38 yards on 9 carries and was one of three Atlanta receivers who led the club with two catches apiece, gaining 16 yards. Alfred Jenkins had 52 yards on his two receptions and Floyd Hodge gained 29 on his.

“It shows what we can do, but I sure don’t like to have to do it every week,” said Tommy Kramer. “We gave them 14 points. They really shouldn’t have been in the game.”

“We got beat today by a defensive football team that I thought whipped our offensive football team,” said Atlanta’s Coach Bennett. “I thought our offense left a lot to be desired.”

The Vikings went on to play Washington in the second round and lost 21-7. They dropped to 8-8 in 1983 and went into a period of decline, not returning to the postseason again until 1987. As for the Falcons, the loss to Minnesota proved to be the end for Leeman Bennett, who was fired and replaced by Dan Henning. They had an even longer period in the doldrums, not reaching the playoffs again until 1991.

1985: McMahon Comes Off Bench to Rally Bears Past Vikings

The Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings were both 2-0 as they faced off in Minneapolis on September 19, 1985. The Bears, coached by Mike Ditka, were well-established as a tough defensive club. Defensive Coordinator Buddy Ryan’s aggressive unit had led the NFL in total defense and set a record with 72 sacks in 1984. Colorful QB Jim McMahon (pictured above) was a tough and effective leader of the offense – when he was able to play. Injuries were a nagging problem, and back and neck injuries suffered in the previous week’s game put him in traction during the week and made him unlikely to face the Vikings; his backup, Steve Fuller, would start in his place.

The Vikings were coming off a dreadful 3-13 season under Head Coach Les Steckel, necessitating the return of his predecessor, the highly-esteemed Bud Grant, to right the ship. After missing 20 games due to injury over the course of the previous two years, QB Tommy Kramer was back and healthy and he had an exciting new target to pass to in WR Anthony Carter, a refugee from the USFL.

There were 61,242 fans in attendance for the Thursday night game at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. The Bears got the first break when CB Leslie Frazier intercepted a pass by Kramer to give Chicago the ball at the Minnesota 37. Steve Fuller completed two 12-yard passes to WR Willie Gault but, after having first-and-goal at the eight, the Bears had to settle for a 24-yard field goal by Kevin Butler.

The Vikings responded with a 10-play drive that covered 61 yards. They converted two third downs, on Kramer passes to WR Mike Jones for 13 yards in a third-and-four situation and to Jones again for 12 yards while facing third-and-six at the Chicago 29. Jan Stenerud kicked a 25-yard field goal and the score was 3-3 after a quarter of play.

The teams traded punts in the second quarter until the Bears advanced to the Minnesota 16. However, Fuller was sacked by DE Mark Mullaney for a loss of seven yards and a pass into the end zone was picked off by CB Carl Lee.

Chicago got the ball back four plays later when punter Greg Coleman dropped the snap and CB Shaun Gayle recovered at the Minnesota 22. Five carries by star RB Walter Payton gained 20 yards but the Bears were unable to penetrate the goal line and Butler kicked another field goal, this time from 19 yards.

Minnesota regained possession with 3:15 remaining in the half. Kramer threw to Anthony Carter for 16 yards to get the ball into Chicago territory and completions to TE Mike Mularkey and Carter picked up another 31 yards. Two plays later, Kramer connected with Carter in the corner of the end zone for a 14-yard TD and, with Stenerud’s extra point, the Vikings took a 10-6 lead into halftime.

The Bears started off the third quarter with Fuller throwing to Gault for a 21-yard gain on the way to a 34-yard Butler field goal that narrowed Minnesota’s margin to 10-9. However, the Vikings turned around and went 66 yards in 10 plays. In a third-and-nine situation at his own 45, Kramer threw to WR Buster Rhymes for a 33-yard gain and the series ended with Kramer completing a nine-yard touchdown pass to Mike Jones.

Down by 17-9, and with 7:32 remaining in the third quarter, Jim McMahon came off the bench to relieve Fuller. It didn’t take him long to make his presence felt. On his first play, McMahon went long to WR Willie Gault for a 70-yard touchdown that, with the successful extra point tacked on, narrowed Minnesota’s margin to 17-16.

Five plays into the Vikings’ next possession, Chicago LB Wilbur Marshall intercepted a Kramer pass. It set up another McMahon scoring pass, this time to WR Dennis McKinnon for 25 yards. In just two plays, McMahon had completed two passes for 95 yards and two scores.

McMahon and the Bears still weren’t done with third quarter scoring. Following a punt by the Vikings, and with 33 seconds remaining in the period, McMahon completed a six-play, 68-yard drive by connecting with McKinnon again for a 43-yard TD. McMahon had tossed three touchdown passes in a little more than seven minutes of action and the third quarter ended with Chicago in the lead by 30-17.

The reeling Vikings encountered more problems when their next series reached the Chicago 30 after Kramer completed a pass to Rhymes for 36 yards. They could move no further and a field goal try was aborted when the snap sailed over the holder’s head. The Bears gained possession at the Minnesota 44 and advanced to the 17 before Butler missed on a 34-yard field goal try.

Kramer threw to TE Steve Jordan for a 23-yard gain and two plays after that the Vikings got back on the board as Kramer connected with Carter for a 57-yard touchdown. There was still 9:19 remaining in the contest and it was a six-point game.

McMahon wasted no time in moving the Bears down the field. On the first play following the ensuing kickoff, he went deep to McKinnon for a 46-yard gain to the Minnesota 34. From there they moved to the 18 before Butler booted a 31-yard field goal.

Minnesota’s next series lasted just two plays as Kramer completed a short toss to Jordan, but the tight end fumbled it away. The Bears came up empty when Butler was wide on a 45-yard field goal attempt, but there were less than two minutes remaining and time ran out on the Vikings. Chicago won by a score of 33-24.

The Bears outgained Minnesota (480 yards to 445) but the Vikings had the edge in first downs (23 to 21). Minnesota had difficulty running the ball, gaining just 34 yards on the ground in 15 carries. Kramer was also sacked four times and the Vikings turned the ball over on five occasions, to just one suffered by Chicago.

In less than a half of action, Jim McMahon completed 8 of 15 passes for 236 yards and three touchdowns with none intercepted. Steve Fuller was 13 of 18 for 124 yards with no TDs and one picked off. Willie Gault (pictured at right) had a huge performance with 6 catches for 146 yards and a touchdown and Dennis McKinnon was right behind with four receptions for 133 yards and two TDs. Walter Payton, hindered by bruised ribs, rushed for 62 yards on 15 carries and added 5 catches for 17 yards.

For the Vikings, Tommy Kramer went to the air 55 times with 28 completions for 436 yards and three touchdowns, but also tossed three interceptions. Anthony Carter caught four of those passes for 102 yards and two scores, Steve Jordan contributed 5 catches for 66 yards, and Buster Rhymes gained 89 yards on three receptions. RB Darrin Nelson led the miniscule ground game with 18 yards on 5 attempts.

“I didn’t plan to use Jim before the game, but he said he knew what was going on and said ‘you can use me if you need me’,” explained Mike Ditka of the decision to send McMahon into the game in the third quarter.

The Bears went on to post a 15-1 record on the way to winning a NFL title. The defense remained the dominant factor in the club’s success, and Jim McMahon missed a total of three games, but when healthy he completed 56.9 percent of his passes for 2392 yards and 15 touchdowns against 12 interceptions. Willie Gault caught 33 passes for 704 yards (21.3 avg.) and Dennis McKinnon had 31 receptions for 555 yards (17.9 avg.) and seven touchdowns. Walter Payton, still great in his 11^th season at age 31, rushed for 1551 yards.

Minnesota recovered to win at Buffalo the following week but lost three of its next four games on the way to a 7-9 tally and third place in the NFC Central. Tommy Kramer passed for 3522 yards and 19 TDs, but also a league-leading 26 interceptions. Anthony Carter had a fine first year in the NFL with 43 catches for 821 yards (19.1 avg.) and eight touchdowns and Steve Jordan led the club with 68 pass receptions.

1979: Rams Beat Vikings on Fake FG in Overtime

The Los Angeles Rams had won the NFC West title for six straight years heading into the 1979 season, but the streak appeared to be in jeopardy. In their second year under Head Coach Ray Malavasi, there was still plenty of talent, but injuries had tested the club’s depth. In particular, QB Pat Haden had gone out with a broken finger ten weeks through the schedule, and inexperienced backup Vince Ferragamo had taken over. While he proved to be a good passer, the ground game that featured HB Wendell Tyler and FB Cullen Bryant was the key to resurgence, along with the rugged defense (when healthy).

On December 2 the Rams, having won two straight games and thus sporting a 7-6 record, hosted the Minnesota Vikings at the Memorial Coliseum. As the Rams had in the NFC West, Minnesota largely dominated the NFC Central under Head Coach Bud Grant, but was also experiencing difficulty in ’79. Many of the veterans who had contributed heavily to the club’s success over the years were either over-the-hill or gone, most notably QB Fran Tarkenton, who retired after 1978, his 18th season (and 13th, over two stints, in Minnesota). Tarkenton’s successor, 24-year-old Tommy Kramer, was performing capably but the running game was weak and the defense not nearly as strong as it had been during the team’s best years. However, the special teams had blocked 13 kicks during the season (punts, field goals, and extra point attempts), which would factor into the game’s outcome.

There were 56,700 fans at the Coliseum, and they saw the Vikings dominate the first half, although the score was 14-14 at halftime as the Rams took advantage of a blocked punt, muffed punt, and interception. In the first quarter, LB Joe Harris, a former Viking, returned the blocked punt 31 yards to put LA in front at 7-0. Later in the period, Kramer passed to WR Terry LeCount for a 36-yard TD to tie the score.

The Vikings went ahead on a second Kramer scoring pass, this time to WR Sammy White from six yards out. But Cullen Bryant’s two-yard touchdown run and the ensuing extra point resulted in the tied score after a half of play. It was fortunate for LA, for Ferragamo had been ineffective, completing just 4 of 10 passes for 22 yards with one interception.

With the LA offense playing poorly in the first half, Coach Malavasi chose to change quarterbacks for the second half. Ex-Viking QB Bob Lee, who had been signed by the Rams the previous month, came into the game. The move paid dividends when he completed a pass to WR Preston Dennard for a 41-yard touchdown and 21-14 lead. However, in the fourth quarter the Vikings struck once more as Kramer connected with WR Ahmad Rashad for a 22-yard TD and, with Rick Danmeier’s extra point, the score was again tied at 21-21 at the end of regulation.

Minnesota appeared to be driving for the win in overtime, but DB Eddie Brown intercepted a Kramer pass at his own 15 yard line and returned it 25 yards (it was Brown’s second pickoff of the game). Lee completed a throw to Bryant that gained 20 yards, and the Rams got 15 more added when DE Mark Mullaney was penalized for roughing the passer. Tyler ran for 17 yards to the Minnesota eight and then Bryant’s short three-yard carry set the Rams up for a field goal attempt on third down.

Frank Corral was lined up for an apparent 22-yard kick, but Jack Youngblood, the star defensive end who played blocking back in kicking situations and called the signals, was mindful of Minnesota’s success at blocking kicks and audibled for a fake. FS Nolan Cromwell (pictured at top), the holder, took the snap and ran around left end for a five-yard touchdown to give the Rams a 27-21 win at 6:53 into the overtime period.

The Vikings outgained LA (409 yards to 300) and had far more first downs (26 to 14). However, they had four costly turnovers, to three by LA, and Kramer was sacked five times. The Rams were hurt by 9 penalties, totaling 90 yards, to 7 flags thrown on Minnesota.

In relief of Ferragamo, Bob Lee completed 7 of 14 passes for 161 yards with a TD and an interception. WR Ron Smith caught three passes for 99 yards while Wendell Tyler added 17 yards on three receptions to go along with his 36 yards on 13 rushing attempts. Cullen Bryant paced the club with 44 yards on 14 carries that included a TD. Highlighting the difficulties encountered by the offense, Ken Clark punted 10 times over the course of the contest (40.4 avg.).

For the Vikings, Tommy Kramer went to the air 42 times and completed 21 for 297 yards and three touchdowns, as well as three that were picked off. Ahmad Rashad caught 6 of those passes for 102 yards and a TD. HB Rickey Young gained 70 yards on 16 carries and FB Ted Brown had 18 rushing attempts for 52 yards and caught 5 passes for 56 more. 16-year veteran FS Paul Krause accounted for both of the team’s interceptions, thus breaking a tie with Emlen Tunnell at 79 and giving him the NFL career record of 81.

“The plan was to run if they were set for a kick,” said Jack Youngblood of the climactic fake field goal. “Obviously, they were playing for a kick.”

“All we had to do was get three points,” said Ray Malavasi (pictured below). “If Cromwell puts it in, we win. We still had another shot if it failed. It was a play we worked on during the week.”


The Rams split their last two games to end up first in the NFC West once more, although with a rather ordinary 9-7 record. However, they won the NFC Championship, something that had eluded the team during its prior years of success over the decade (they lost four conference title games during the ‘70s), beating the Cowboys and upstart Buccaneers to advance in the playoffs. They lost a hard-fought Super Bowl to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Minnesota ended up at 7-9 to place third in the NFC Central, the team’s first losing record since Bud Grant’s initial year as head coach in 1967.

Despite the rough outing against the Vikings, Vince Ferragamo went 4-1 as the starting quarterback in the regular season and 2-1 in the playoffs, looking impressive in doing so. It was enough to ignite a quarterback controversy that was settled in the 1981 season-opening game when Pat Haden suffered another hand injury and Ferragamo put together a career year.

1979: Kramer to Rashad Leads Vikings Over 49ers

The Minnesota Vikings, under Head Coach Bud Grant, had been the dominant team in the NFC Central division throughout the decade of the ‘70s (indeed, since 1968), but there were question marks surrounding the club leading into the 1979 season. The Vikings had won the division title for the tenth time in eleven years in ’78, but with only an 8-7-1 record; they had been easily dispatched by the Rams in the opening round of the playoffs. Furthermore, star QB Fran Tarkenton had retired in the offseason and third-year QB Tommy Kramer (pictured above) was taking his place in the starting lineup.

The 6’2”, 200-pound Kramer had been drafted out of Rice in the first round by the Vikings in 1977 with the expectation that he would be Tarkenton’s heir. There was little question regarding his arm or confidence, but Kramer had seen little action in his first two years, throwing a total of 73 passes for 475 yards with five touchdowns and five interceptions apiece. However, he had experienced wide receivers in Ahmad Rashad and Sammy White, as well as RB Rickey Young, an outstanding receiver out of the backfield who had led the NFL with 88 catches in ’78.

The Vikings hosted their season-opening game on September 2, 1979 against the San Francisco 49ers at Metropolitan Stadium. While Minnesota was in transition, the 49ers were in full rebuilding mode after coming off of a miserable 2-14 season. They were under the guidance of a new head coach/GM, Bill Walsh.

Neither team generated much excitement in the first half. Ray Wersching kicked field goals of 37 and 22 yards in the second quarter and the 49ers clung to a 6-0 halftime lead. Wersching booted another field goal, of 44 yards, in the third quarter before Kramer connected with Rashad for a 52-yard touchdown. The young quarterback threw another TD pass to Rashad, covering 32 yards, before the period was over to give Minnesota a 14-9 lead.

A third Kramer to Rashad touchdown pass play, for eight yards, gave the Vikings a 21-9 fourth quarter lead, but it did not prove to be a comfortable one. 49ers QB Steve DeBerg threw a 44-yard TD pass to WR Freddie Solomon, and when RB Lenvil Elliott ran for a four-yard touchdown, San Francisco was back in front by a 22-21 score (the extra point attempt failed following the second TD).

With 17 seconds remaining on the clock, it was Kramer to Rashad once more for the winning 25-yard touchdown, although the 49ers claimed the wide receiver didn’t have possession when he crossed the goal line. An apparent forward fumble had been recovered in the end zone by fellow Vikings WR Sammy White, and under a new rule should not have been a touchdown but rather Minnesota’s ball on the one yard line. It was a moot point – and there was no instant replay provision at that time – as the officials ruled that Rashad had crossed the goal line before fumbling. The Vikings won, 28-22.

“I’m sick about the loss,” said Bill Walsh, whose head coaching debut had been marred by the late score.

The game had indeed been closely fought. Both clubs had 22 first downs and turned the ball over twice, while Minnesota led in passing yards (287 to 254) and total yards (397 to 352). Both squads ran the ball 27 times, with the Vikings outgaining the Niners, 110 to 98 yards.


Kramer had a solid outing, completing 21 of 34 passes for 297 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions. Ahmad Rashad was of course the pass receiving star, with 7 catches for 152 yards and the four touchdowns. Fading veteran RB Chuck Foreman ran the ball the most times, with 11 carries for 33 yards, while Rickey Young was the team’s leading ground gainer with 43 yards on six attempts.

Steve DeBerg, at the beginning of what would be a record-setting passing season, threw the ball 42 times and had 29 completions for 262 yards with a TD and two interceptions. Freddie Solomon, thanks to the long touchdown reception, led the 49ers in receiving yards with 107 on four catches, while FB Mike Hogan caught the most passes (7, for 39 yards). Lenvil Elliott topped the runners with 41 yards on 10 carries and the one touchdown.

It was not the beginning of a rejuvenating year for the Vikings – they fell below .500 for the first time since 1967 with a 7-9 record that placed them third in the NFC Central. It was a harder year for the 49ers, who again went 2-14 and placed last in the NFC West; however, the groundwork was being laid for better years ahead under Walsh.

Tommy Kramer placed second in the NFL in passes attempted (566) and third in completions (315), categories in which Steve DeBerg set new league records (578 attempts, 347 completions). Kramer’s 3397 yards and 23 touchdown passes were solid numbers, but he also tossed 24 interceptions (tied for first in the NFC with Tampa Bay’s Doug Williams). Ahmad Rashad led the conference in both pass receptions (80) and yards (1156) while scoring a total of 9 touchdowns.

1986: Schroeder and Redskins Overcome Kramer and Missed PATs

The game between the Minnesota Vikings (5-3) and host Washington Redskins (6-2) on November 2, 1986 at RFK Stadium was a hard-fought battle that went into overtime. Ultimately, it was a heartbreaking loss on a record-setting day for Vikings QB Tommy Kramer. The Redskins, who came into the Week 9 matchup in a three-way tie atop the NFC East, skirted with defeat but managed to come from behind to force OT and eke out the win.

Washington struck first with a two-yard TD run by RB George Rogers and a 25-yard Max Zendejas field goal to take a 10-0 lead. But the Vikings answered with two touchdowns of their own, including a 67-yard pass play from Kramer to WR Leo Lewis to lead 14-10 at the end of the first quarter.

Redskins DE Dexter Manley returned a fumble 26 yards for a TD in the second quarter, but the extra point attempt failed. A 39-yard field goal by Minnesota’s Chuck Nelson made the score 17-16 in favor of the Vikings at the half.

Kramer had two more long TD pass plays in the third quarter, first to TE Steve Jordan for 68 yards and the second to Leo Lewis once again, this time for 76 yards. In between, Washington added a field goal and 40-yard TD run by Rogers to make the score 31-26 at the end of three quarters.

When Tommy Kramer tossed his fourth touchdown pass of the day, this time a short one of only a yard to RB Darrin Nelson, the Vikings appeared to be in control with a 38-26 lead and just 5:16 remaining on the clock. But Washington QB Jay Schroeder hit WR Art Monk for a 34-yard touchdown (again the PAT attempt was missed) and, with 1:03 remaining in regulation, Rogers scored his third TD of the game from two yards out. However, for the third time the extra point attempt failed, thus taking the game into sudden death.

A Schroeder to WR Gary Clark pass play of 38 yards ended the struggle and gave Washington a 44-38 win. Drained Head Coach Joe Gibbs said afterward “I feel like we’ve been playing for twelve hours….like we won, lost, won, lost, and won all at the same time”. For Vikings Head Coach Jerry Burns it was a bitter defeat, “a very tough loss to take. I thought we had it.”

Tommy Kramer set a Minnesota team record with 490 passing yards, completing 20 of 35 passes with 4 TDs and an interception. Including the two long touchdowns, Leo Lewis ended up with 159 yards on just three receptions, but he wasn’t the highest yardage producer of the receivers – that was Steve Jordan with 179 yards on six catches and a long score of his own.

Both of Washington’s starting wide receivers, Gary Clark (123 yards) and Art Monk (102) reached triple figures, each with six catches. Schroeder, the second year quarterback, completed 24 of 47 passes for 378 yards with two TDs and an INT. George Rogers was the game’s leading rusher with 88 yards on 19 carries, including the three scoring runs.

The gunslinging Kramer ended up with an even 3000 yards in 1986 and led the NFL with a passer rating of 92.6, with an uncharacteristically strong ratio of 24 TD passes to 10 interceptions. Minnesota ended up with a 9-7 record, in second place in the NFC Central.

The Redskins went 12-4 and were a wild card entry in a postseason that saw them advance all the way to the NFC Championship before falling to the division rival Giants. Kicker Max Zendejas, of the three missed PATs, did not last that far – he was replaced prior to the regular season finale. Second-year quarterback Jay Schroeder had the best of his three seasons with Washington, passing for 4109 yards, although tossing as many interceptions as touchdown passes (22 each). On this day, he had skill enough to bring his team back from the brink and pull out a victory.