NFL game summary for 10/10/1976:
Fred Cox kicked a 39-yard field goal in the first minute of the fourth quarter, giving the Vikings the point they needed to stay ahead of a second-half Chicago comeback effort. Minnesota took a 17-0 halftime lead on two Chuck Foreman touchdowns and a Cox field goal, but Walter Payton scored twice in the third quarter as the Bears closed the gap to 17-13. Following Cox's second field goal, Chicago drove 80 yards in nine plays with Roland Harper scoring from the 7, but Bob Thomas' PAT attempt missed. Payton rushed for 141 yards in 19 carries, his third 100-yard game of the season.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 164.2 (10) | 115.0 (24) | 279.2 (21) | 8 |
| DEFENSE | 98.8 (3) | 106.8 (4) | 205.5 (1) | 11 | |
 | OFFENSE | 128.8 (22) | 160.8 (14) | 289.5 (18) | 8 |
| DEFENSE | 146.2 (14) | 104.2 (3) | 250.5 (5) | 14 |
Line: Vikings by 9
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears (3-2-0) | 0 | 0 | 13 | 6 | 19 |
| Minnesota Vikings (4-0-1) | 7 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 20 |
( 0- 7) MIN Chuck Foreman 5 yard rush (Fred Cox kick)
( 0-10) MIN Fred Cox 29 yard field goal
( 0-17) MIN Chuck Foreman 1 yard rush (Fred Cox kick)
( 7-17) CHI Walter Payton 13 yard rush (Bob Thomas kick)
(13-17) CHI Walter Payton 11 yard rush (kick failed)
(13-20) MIN Fred Cox 39 yard field goal
(19-20) CHI Roland Harper 7 yard rush (kick failed)
CHI MIN
First Downs: 19 16
Rushes-yards: 40-235 40-111
Yards/rush: 5.9 2.8
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 13-20-116-1 18-30-210-0
Sacked-yards: 2-22 4-34
Net pass yards: 94 176
Net yards/pass: 4.3 5.2
Total net yards: 329 287
Total plays: 62 (64% run) 74 (54% run)
Yards/play: 5.3 3.9
Fumbles-lost: 3-1 3-2
Turnovers: 2 2
Penalties-yards: 11-90 7-67
Attendance: 47,948
Passing:
CHI: Bob Avellini, 13 of 20 for 116 yards (1 int) MIN: Fran Tarkenton, 18 of 30 for 210 yards
Rushing:
CHI: Walter Payton, 19 for 141 yards and 2 TDs; Roland Harper, 16 for 93 yards and 1 TD; Mike Adamle, 4 for -1 yards; Johnny Musso, 1 for 2 yards MIN: Chuck Foreman, 23 for 63 yards and 2 TDs; Brent McClanahan, 12 for 52 yards; Fran Tarkenton, 5 for -4 yards
Receiving:
CHI: James Scott, 4 for 44 yards; Walter Payton, 4 for 42 yards; Greg Latta, 3 for 17 yards; Bo Rather, 2 for 13 yards MIN: Ahmad Rashad, 7 for 109 yards; Brent McClanahan, 6 for 36 yards; Sammy White, 5 for 65 yards
Kick returns:
CHI: Brian Baschnagel, 4 for 85 yards; Mike Adamle, 1 for 20 yards MIN: Sammy White, 1 for 21 yards; Robert Miller, 1 for 15 yards; Leonard Willis, 1 for 15 yards
Punt returns:
CHI: Virgil Livers, 3 for 40 yards MIN: Leonard Willis, 2 for 19 yards; Sammy White, 1 for 31 yards
Interceptions:
MIN: Nate Wright, 1 for 21 yards
Punting:
CHI: Bob Parsons, 7 for 225 yards MIN: Neil Clabo, 8 for 326 yards
Field Goals:
CHI: Bob Thomas, 0/1 MIN: Fred Cox, 2/2
CHI: Bob Avellini, 13 of 20 for 116 yards (1 int) MIN: Fran Tarkenton, 18 of 30 for 210 yards
Rushing:
CHI: Walter Payton, 19 for 141 yards and 2 TDs; Roland Harper, 16 for 93 yards and 1 TD; Mike Adamle, 4 for -1 yards; Johnny Musso, 1 for 2 yards MIN: Chuck Foreman, 23 for 63 yards and 2 TDs; Brent McClanahan, 12 for 52 yards; Fran Tarkenton, 5 for -4 yards
Receiving:
CHI: James Scott, 4 for 44 yards; Walter Payton, 4 for 42 yards; Greg Latta, 3 for 17 yards; Bo Rather, 2 for 13 yards MIN: Ahmad Rashad, 7 for 109 yards; Brent McClanahan, 6 for 36 yards; Sammy White, 5 for 65 yards
Kick returns:
CHI: Brian Baschnagel, 4 for 85 yards; Mike Adamle, 1 for 20 yards MIN: Sammy White, 1 for 21 yards; Robert Miller, 1 for 15 yards; Leonard Willis, 1 for 15 yards
Punt returns:
CHI: Virgil Livers, 3 for 40 yards MIN: Leonard Willis, 2 for 19 yards; Sammy White, 1 for 31 yards
Interceptions:
MIN: Nate Wright, 1 for 21 yards
Punting:
CHI: Bob Parsons, 7 for 225 yards MIN: Neil Clabo, 8 for 326 yards
Field Goals:
CHI: Bob Thomas, 0/1 MIN: Fred Cox, 2/2