NFL game summary for 10/08/1972:
Quarterback Gary Cuozzo, traded by Minnesota to St. Louis in the offseason, threw a pair of 24-yard touchdown passes to rookie wide receiver Bobby Moore. The decisive Cuozzo-to-Moore TD came with 1:38 to play and climaxed a six-play-70-yard drive in 66 seconds. Viking Fred Cox's 26-yard field goal attempt for victory with four seconds left hit the right upright.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 61.0 (25) | 139.3 (19) | 200.3 (25) | 7 |
| DEFENSE | 150.3 (17) | 182.3 (18) | 332.7 (20) | 5 | |
 | OFFENSE | 147.7 (9) | 155.0 (13) | 302.7 (14) | 6 |
| DEFENSE | 118.3 (11) | 105.0 (3) | 223.3 (3) | 8 |
Line: Vikings by 14
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis Cardinals (2-2-0) | 3 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 19 |
| Minnesota Vikings (1-3-0) | 0 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 17 |
( 3- 0) STL Jim Bakken 27 yard field goal
( 6- 0) STL Jim Bakken 13 yard field goal
( 6- 7) MIN Clint Jones 4 yard rush (Fred Cox kick)
(12- 7) STL Ahmad Rashad 24 yard pass from Gary Cuozzo (kick failed)
(12-14) MIN Gene Washington 4 yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick)
(12-17) MIN Fred Cox 37 yard field goal
(19-17) STL Ahmad Rashad 24 yard pass from Gary Cuozzo (Jim Bakken kick)
STL MIN
First Downs: 12 21
Rushes-yards: 31-109 45-179
Yards/rush: 3.5 4.0
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 12-23-153-0 15-23-124-1
Sacked-yards: 0-0 2-11
Net pass yards: 153 113
Net yards/pass: 6.7 4.5
Total net yards: 262 292
Total plays: 54 (57% run) 70 (64% run)
Yards/play: 4.9 4.2
Fumbles-lost: 1-0 1-1
Turnovers: 0 2
Penalties-yards: 3-25 3-35
Attendance: 49,687
Passing:
STL: Gary Cuozzo, 11 of 22 for 115 yards and 2 TDs; Donny Anderson, 1 of 1 for 38 yards MIN: Fran Tarkenton, 15 of 23 for 124 yards and 1 TD (1 int)
Rushing:
STL: Donny Anderson, 14 for 46 yards; Johnny Roland, 5 for 18 yards; Leon Burns, 5 for 15 yards; Tom Woodeshick, 3 for 11 yards; Ahmad Rashad, 2 for 15 yards; Jackie Smith, 1 for 3 yards; Cannonball Butler, 1 for 1 yard MIN: Clint Jones, 16 for 68 yards and 1 TD; Bill Brown, 13 for 47 yards; Fran Tarkenton, 5 for 31 yards; Oscar Reed, 5 for 5 yards; Dave Osborn, 4 for 10 yards; John Gilliam, 1 for 14 yards; Ed Marinaro, 1 for 4 yards
Receiving:
STL: Walker Gillette, 5 for 68 yards; Ahmad Rashad, 4 for 67 yards and 2 TDs; Jackie Smith, 2 for 14 yards; Johnny Roland, 1 for 4 yards MIN: Gene Washington, 4 for 38 yards and 1 TD; John Beasley, 4 for 32 yards; Ed Marinaro, 2 for 19 yards; Clint Jones, 2 for 14 yards; John Gilliam, 1 for 11 yards; Dave Osborn, 1 for 8 yards; Oscar Reed, 1 for 2 yards
Kick returns:
STL: Larry Willingham, 3 for 67 yards; Cannonball Butler, 1 for 16 yards MIN: Clint Jones, 3 for 96 yards; Charlie West, 1 for 29 yards
Punt returns:
STL: Larry Willingham, 2 for 7 yards MIN: Charlie West, 2 for 19 yards; Bobby Bryant, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
STL: Mike McGill, 1 for 2 yards
Punting:
STL: Donny Anderson, 6 for 233 yards MIN: Mike Eischeid, 6 for 242 yards
Field Goals:
STL: Jim Bakken, 2/3 MIN: Fred Cox, 1/2
STL: Gary Cuozzo, 11 of 22 for 115 yards and 2 TDs; Donny Anderson, 1 of 1 for 38 yards MIN: Fran Tarkenton, 15 of 23 for 124 yards and 1 TD (1 int)
Rushing:
STL: Donny Anderson, 14 for 46 yards; Johnny Roland, 5 for 18 yards; Leon Burns, 5 for 15 yards; Tom Woodeshick, 3 for 11 yards; Ahmad Rashad, 2 for 15 yards; Jackie Smith, 1 for 3 yards; Cannonball Butler, 1 for 1 yard MIN: Clint Jones, 16 for 68 yards and 1 TD; Bill Brown, 13 for 47 yards; Fran Tarkenton, 5 for 31 yards; Oscar Reed, 5 for 5 yards; Dave Osborn, 4 for 10 yards; John Gilliam, 1 for 14 yards; Ed Marinaro, 1 for 4 yards
Receiving:
STL: Walker Gillette, 5 for 68 yards; Ahmad Rashad, 4 for 67 yards and 2 TDs; Jackie Smith, 2 for 14 yards; Johnny Roland, 1 for 4 yards MIN: Gene Washington, 4 for 38 yards and 1 TD; John Beasley, 4 for 32 yards; Ed Marinaro, 2 for 19 yards; Clint Jones, 2 for 14 yards; John Gilliam, 1 for 11 yards; Dave Osborn, 1 for 8 yards; Oscar Reed, 1 for 2 yards
Kick returns:
STL: Larry Willingham, 3 for 67 yards; Cannonball Butler, 1 for 16 yards MIN: Clint Jones, 3 for 96 yards; Charlie West, 1 for 29 yards
Punt returns:
STL: Larry Willingham, 2 for 7 yards MIN: Charlie West, 2 for 19 yards; Bobby Bryant, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
STL: Mike McGill, 1 for 2 yards
Punting:
STL: Donny Anderson, 6 for 233 yards MIN: Mike Eischeid, 6 for 242 yards
Field Goals:
STL: Jim Bakken, 2/3 MIN: Fred Cox, 1/2