![]() The Vikings won 10 of 12 in Metropolitan Stadium from 1968-1979. In fact, the Viking dominance in Minnesota was such that the Packers' yearly trip there almost always ended in a loss. Bud Grant was now the coach of the Vikings, and it was Grant who would be the ultimate coach in the NFC Central during the 1970s. Most of these were blowouts, and the 1964 game ended with a final score of Packers 42, Vikings 13 despite the fact that the Vikings actually went into Lambeau Field and beat the Packers by one point.īy 1968, Lombardi was gone. The Packers won the first seven games in Minnesota, all played at Metropolitan Stadium. Lombardi made sure of this, and he in fact never lost a road game to the Vikings while coach of the Packers. When the Vikings entered the NFL in 1961, they cut into the Packers' established fan base in the Twin Cities. In fact, the series as it currently stands in Minnesota is an exact tie, with the current mark being a 25-25 deadlock. Given all of Brett Favre's struggles in the Metrodome, you might think the Vikings would have a series edge in Minnesota. And also, it gave me a chance to prepare for the nor'easter storm that is bearing down on my area and is expected to give us 10-15 inches of snow.Īnyway, here is Green Bay's history against the Minnesota Vikings, limited to games played in Minnesota. This gave me a chance to get home and prepare for this week's game. Then they lost 31-3 to Los Angeles.Owing to the Christmas holidays, I am writing this on Wednesday instead of the usual Tuesday. The last time the Vikings scored only three points was three years ago. “Maybe it’s written somewhere that you are supposed to win … or you’re supposed to lose,” said Grant. “But for McGeorge I could have gone all the way,” said Krause. Krause, who got the game ball, made another lifesaver in the third quarter by recovering a fumble, again on the three when Jim Marshall had jarred the ball loose from Anderson. Later Krause came over form the other side to help out Gersbach and make the interception on the three when Anderson had Gersbach beat. Wally Hilgenberg, Alan Page and Marshall twice stopped Donny Anderson cold when the Packers had third down two feet to go for a first down and a yard and a half for the TD. The defense on the field for 60 percent of the time – “We ought to get double on our pension time,” quipped Jim Marshall – authored four more big plays in the second and third quarters. It yielded 301 total offense yards while fashioning their third 1971 shutout.Ĭarl Gersbach started the trend by getting “two fingers” on Lou Michaels’ 23-yard field goal in the first quarter. The Viking defense carried Grant’s “bend but don’t break” theme to extremes. That was about the only way to explain the victory in the face of the Packers’ huge statistical edge. “We made a lot of big plays,” said Grant. The accolades should go to the whole defense, the whole team.” ![]() “I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. “I am not the man of the hour,” disagreed West when someone suggested that was his role at Metropolitan Stadium yesterday. Fred Cox’s field goal, almost automatic even in the tricky winds, gave them all the points they needed with West’s second interception wrapping it up. (Staff Photo by Earl Seubert)Īnd led by Dave Osborn, they took advantage for their most sustained drive, all of 32 yards. It was one of three Vikings interceptions. Paul Krause, Minnesota's free safety, intercepted this pass from Green Bay's Scott Hunter, intended for Donny Anderson (44) and returned it 31 yards. It was only the third time the Vikings had enjoyed such field position. Stumbling momentarily, he recovered and ran all the way to midfield. His super play did not stop with his catch in the end zone. Hunter threw and West, slightly in front of McGeorge, jumped. Charlie was playing strong safety for the first time in two years because of Karl Kassulke’s injury. “We were in man-to-man defense and I stuck with him (intended receiver Rich McGeorge) to the outside,” said West. But Hunter admittedly “got greedy” and passed. “We were prepared to play the run first,” said Viking defensive coach Neill Armstrong. At that stage he reasoned three points were as good as a million. He knew the Vikings hadn’t scored a touchdown in two weeks. Naturally the Packers, who rushed for 245 yards, would call on John Brockington who contributed 149 himself.ĭevine had been preaching to Hunter on the sidelines “for five minutes” that a field goal would win the game. The Packers, taking advantage of a rare penalty – defensive holding against John Ward on their punt – had moved to the Viking eight-yard-line, second down, goal-to-go. The box score is hard to read, so I'll pull out one key stat: Minnesota QB Gary Cuozzo completed 5 of 11 passes for 42 yards.
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