NFL game summary for 12/16/1973:
Minnesota got ready for its playoff game with Washington by rolling over the New York Giants, who were playing their last game under coach Alex Webster. A 63-yard interception return by Terry Brown helped the Vikings open up a 17-0 halftime edge. Fran Tarkenton completed 10 of 14 in the snow before giving way to Bob Berry. Ron Johnson gained 90 yards for the Giants, giving him 902 for the year, and he also caught a 16-yard TD pass from Randy Johnson.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 160.9 (7) | 140.5 (14) | 301.4 (8) | 24 |
| DEFENSE | 143.2 (12) | 133.8 (12) | 277.1 (11) | 34 | |
 | OFFENSE | 105.1 (24) | 192.8 (2) | 297.9 (10) | 37 |
| DEFENSE | 153.2 (18) | 142.7 (14) | 295.8 (17) | 30 |
Line: Vikings by 14
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Vikings (12-2-0) | 7 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 31 |
| New York Giants (2-11-1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
( 7- 0) MIN Oscar Reed 9 yard rush (Fred Cox kick)
(10- 0) MIN Fred Cox 22 yard field goal
(17- 0) MIN Terry Brown 63 yard interception return (Fred Cox kick)
(24- 0) MIN Bill Brown 1 yard rush (Fred Cox kick)
(24- 7) NYG Ron Johnson 16 yard pass from Randy Johnson (Pete Gogolak kick)
(31- 7) MIN Ed Marinaro 1 yard rush (Fred Cox kick)
MIN NYG
First Downs: 19 13
Rushes-yards: 42-183 32-112
Yards/rush: 4.4 3.5
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 10-14-130-0 11-28-154-2
Sacked-yards: 0-0 0-0
Net pass yards: 130 154
Net yards/pass: 9.3 5.5
Total net yards: 313 266
Total plays: 56 (75% run) 60 (53% run)
Yards/play: 5.6 4.4
Fumbles-lost: 3-2 1-0
Turnovers: 2 2
Penalties-yards: 6-59 2-30
Attendance: 70,041
Passing:
MIN: Fran Tarkenton, 10 of 14 for 130 yards NYG: Norm Snead, 6 of 15 for 65 yards (2 int); Randy Johnson, 5 of 13 for 89 yards and 1 TD
Rushing:
MIN: Dave Osborn, 9 for 72 yards; Bill Brown, 9 for 39 yards and 1 TD; Chuck Foreman, 9 for 16 yards; Ed Marinaro, 8 for 28 yards and 1 TD; Oscar Reed, 4 for 17 yards and 1 TD; Fran Tarkenton, 1 for 11 yards; Bob Berry, 1 for 5 yards; John Gilliam, 1 for -5 yards NYG: Ron Johnson, 23 for 90 yards; Vince Clements, 6 for 14 yards; Johnny Roland, 3 for 8 yards
Receiving:
MIN: Chuck Foreman, 2 for 28 yards; Gary Ballman, 2 for 22 yards; Stu Voigt, 2 for 22 yards; Jim Lash, 1 for 18 yards; John Gilliam, 1 for 17 yards; Carroll Dale, 1 for 15 yards; Ed Marinaro, 1 for 8 yards NYG: Don Herrmann, 3 for 9 yards; Bob Grim, 2 for 54 yards; Bob Tucker, 2 for 44 yards; Ron Johnson, 2 for 22 yards and 1 TD; Johnny Roland, 1 for 14 yards; Vince Clements, 1 for 11 yards
Kick returns:
MIN: Bill Brown, 1 for 17 yards NYG: Jack Rizzo, 4 for 86 yards; Rich Houston, 1 for 23 yards; Joe Orduna, 1 for 15 yards
Punt returns:
NYG: Chuck Crist, 1 for 7 yards; Pete Athas, 1 for 4 yards
Interceptions:
MIN: Terry Brown, 1 for 63 yards and 1 TD; Bobby Bryant, 1 for 10 yards
Punting:
MIN: Mike Eischeid, 3 for 106 yards NYG: Tom Blanchard, 1 for 35 yards
Field Goals:
MIN: Fred Cox, 1/1 NYG: Pete Gogolak, 0/3
MIN: Fran Tarkenton, 10 of 14 for 130 yards NYG: Norm Snead, 6 of 15 for 65 yards (2 int); Randy Johnson, 5 of 13 for 89 yards and 1 TD
Rushing:
MIN: Dave Osborn, 9 for 72 yards; Bill Brown, 9 for 39 yards and 1 TD; Chuck Foreman, 9 for 16 yards; Ed Marinaro, 8 for 28 yards and 1 TD; Oscar Reed, 4 for 17 yards and 1 TD; Fran Tarkenton, 1 for 11 yards; Bob Berry, 1 for 5 yards; John Gilliam, 1 for -5 yards NYG: Ron Johnson, 23 for 90 yards; Vince Clements, 6 for 14 yards; Johnny Roland, 3 for 8 yards
Receiving:
MIN: Chuck Foreman, 2 for 28 yards; Gary Ballman, 2 for 22 yards; Stu Voigt, 2 for 22 yards; Jim Lash, 1 for 18 yards; John Gilliam, 1 for 17 yards; Carroll Dale, 1 for 15 yards; Ed Marinaro, 1 for 8 yards NYG: Don Herrmann, 3 for 9 yards; Bob Grim, 2 for 54 yards; Bob Tucker, 2 for 44 yards; Ron Johnson, 2 for 22 yards and 1 TD; Johnny Roland, 1 for 14 yards; Vince Clements, 1 for 11 yards
Kick returns:
MIN: Bill Brown, 1 for 17 yards NYG: Jack Rizzo, 4 for 86 yards; Rich Houston, 1 for 23 yards; Joe Orduna, 1 for 15 yards
Punt returns:
NYG: Chuck Crist, 1 for 7 yards; Pete Athas, 1 for 4 yards
Interceptions:
MIN: Terry Brown, 1 for 63 yards and 1 TD; Bobby Bryant, 1 for 10 yards
Punting:
MIN: Mike Eischeid, 3 for 106 yards NYG: Tom Blanchard, 1 for 35 yards
Field Goals:
MIN: Fred Cox, 1/1 NYG: Pete Gogolak, 0/3