1970 Minnesota Vikings season | |
---|---|
General manager | Jim Finks |
Head coach | Bud Grant |
Home field | Metropolitan Stadium |
Results | |
Record | 12–2 |
Division place | 1st NFC Central |
Playoff finish | Lost
Divisional Playoffs (vs. 49ers) 14–17 |
Uniform | |
The 1970 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 10th in the National Football League and the first season following the AFL–NFL merger. Under head coach Bud Grant, they finished with a 12–2 record and won the first ever NFC Central title before losing to the San Francisco 49ers 17–14 at home in the NFC Divisional Playoff game. The Vikings' defense became the second defense in the history of the NFL to lead the league in fewest points allowed and fewest total yards allowed for two consecutive seasons. [1]
1970 Minnesota Vikings Draft | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Draft order | Player name | Position | College | Notes | |
Round | Selection | ||||
1 | 25 | John Ward | Offensive tackle | Oklahoma State | |
2 | 51 | Bill Cappleman | Quarterback | Florida State | |
3 | 77 | Chuck Burgoon | Linebacker | North Park | |
4 | 103 | Traded to the New Orleans Saints [a] | |||
5 | 129 | Greg Jones | Running back | UCLA | |
6 | 155 | Traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers [b] | |||
7 | 181 | Hap Farber | Linebacker | Mississippi | |
8 | 207 | Mike Carroll | Guard | Missouri | |
9 | 233 | George Morrow | Defensive end | Mississippi | |
10 | 259 | Stu Voigt | Tight end | Wisconsin | |
11 | 285 | Godfrey Zaunbrecher | Center | Louisiana State | |
12 | 311 | James Holland | Defensive back | Jackson State | |
13 | 337 | Robert Pearce | Defensive back | Stephen F. Austin | |
14 | 363 | Tommy Spinks | Wide receiver | Louisiana Tech | |
15 | 389 | Bennie Francis | Defensive end | Chadron State | |
16 | 415 | Bruce Cerone | Wide receiver | Emporia State | |
17 | 441 | Brian Healy | Defensive back | Michigan |
Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
|
Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
|
Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams
|
Rookies in italics |
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance [2] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | August 8 | New Orleans Saints | L 13–14 | 0–1 | Fawcett Stadium ( Canton, OH) | 17,932 |
2 | August 15 | Pittsburgh Steelers | L 13–20 | 0–2 | Metropolitan Stadium | 45,591 |
3 | August 22 | at Houston Oilers | W 14–7 | 1–2 | Astrodome | 44,563 |
4 | August 30 | New York Jets | W 52–21 | 2–2 | Metropolitan Stadium | 47,900 |
5 | September 5 | at Cleveland Browns | W 24–21 | 3–2 | Cleveland Stadium | 83,043 |
6 | September 11 | at Chicago Bears | W 31–30 | 4–2 | Soldier Field | 46,630 |
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | September 20 | Kansas City Chiefs | W 27–10 | 1–0 | Metropolitan Stadium | 47,900 |
2 | September 27 | New Orleans Saints | W 26–0 | 2–0 | Metropolitan Stadium | 47,900 |
3 | October 4 | at Green Bay Packers | L 10–13 | 2–1 | Milwaukee County Stadium | 47,967 |
4 | October 11 | at Chicago Bears | W 24–0 | 3–1 | Wrigley Field | 45,485 |
5 | October 18 | Dallas Cowboys | W 54–13 | 4–1 | Metropolitan Stadium | 47,900 |
6 | October 26 | Los Angeles Rams | W 13–3 | 5–1 | Metropolitan Stadium | 47,900 |
7 | November 1 | at Detroit Lions | W 30–17 | 6–1 | Tiger Stadium | 58,210 |
8 | November 8 | at Washington Redskins | W 19–10 | 7–1 | Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium | 50,415 |
9 | November 15 | Detroit Lions | W 24–20 | 8–1 | Metropolitan Stadium | 47,900 |
10 | November 22 | Green Bay Packers | W 10–3 | 9–1 | Metropolitan Stadium | 47,900 |
11 | November 29, 1970 | at New York Jets | L 10-20 | 9–2 | Shea Stadium | 62,333 |
12 | December 5 | Chicago Bears | W 16–13 | 10–2 | Metropolitan Stadium | 47,900 |
13 | December 13 | at Boston Patriots | W 35–14 | 11–2 | Harvard Stadium | 37,819 |
14 | December 20 | at Atlanta Falcons | W 37–7 | 12–2 | Atlanta Stadium | 57,992 |
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 0 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 10 |
Vikings | 0 | 17 | 0 | 10 | 27 |
at Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
NFC Central | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK | |
Minnesota Vikings | 12 | 2 | 0 | .857 | 5–1 | 10–1 | 335 | 143 | W3 |
Detroit Lions | 10 | 4 | 0 | .714 | 4–2 | 7–4 | 347 | 202 | W5 |
Green Bay Packers | 6 | 8 | 0 | .429 | 2–4 | 4–7 | 196 | 293 | L2 |
Chicago Bears | 6 | 8 | 0 | .429 | 1–5 | 5–6 | 256 | 261 | W2 |
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Divisional | December 27 | San Francisco 49ers | L 14–17 | 0–1 | Metropolitan Stadium | 46,050 |
Category | Player(s) | Value |
---|---|---|
Passing yards | Gary Cuozzo | 1,720 |
Passing touchdowns | Gary Cuozzo | 7 |
Rushing yards | Dave Osborn | 681 |
Rushing touchdowns | Clint Jones | 9 |
Receiving yards | Gene Washington | 702 |
Receiving touchdowns | Gene Washington | 4 |
Points | Fred Cox | 125 |
Kickoff return yards | Clint Jones | 452 |
Punt return yards | Charlie West | 169 |
Interceptions | Ed Sharockman | 7 |
Category | Total yards | Yards per game | NFL rank (out of 26) |
---|---|---|---|
Passing offense | 2,181 | 155.8 | 14th |
Rushing offense | 1,634 | 116.7 | 14th |
Total offense | 3,815 | 272.5 | 19th |
Passing defense | 1,438 | 102.7 | 1st |
Rushing defense | 1,365 | 97.5 | 5th |
Total defense | 2,803 | 200.2 | 1st |
1970 Minnesota Vikings season | |
---|---|
General manager | Jim Finks |
Head coach | Bud Grant |
Home field | Metropolitan Stadium |
Results | |
Record | 12–2 |
Division place | 1st NFC Central |
Playoff finish | Lost
Divisional Playoffs (vs. 49ers) 14–17 |
Uniform | |
The 1970 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 10th in the National Football League and the first season following the AFL–NFL merger. Under head coach Bud Grant, they finished with a 12–2 record and won the first ever NFC Central title before losing to the San Francisco 49ers 17–14 at home in the NFC Divisional Playoff game. The Vikings' defense became the second defense in the history of the NFL to lead the league in fewest points allowed and fewest total yards allowed for two consecutive seasons. [1]
1970 Minnesota Vikings Draft | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Draft order | Player name | Position | College | Notes | |
Round | Selection | ||||
1 | 25 | John Ward | Offensive tackle | Oklahoma State | |
2 | 51 | Bill Cappleman | Quarterback | Florida State | |
3 | 77 | Chuck Burgoon | Linebacker | North Park | |
4 | 103 | Traded to the New Orleans Saints [a] | |||
5 | 129 | Greg Jones | Running back | UCLA | |
6 | 155 | Traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers [b] | |||
7 | 181 | Hap Farber | Linebacker | Mississippi | |
8 | 207 | Mike Carroll | Guard | Missouri | |
9 | 233 | George Morrow | Defensive end | Mississippi | |
10 | 259 | Stu Voigt | Tight end | Wisconsin | |
11 | 285 | Godfrey Zaunbrecher | Center | Louisiana State | |
12 | 311 | James Holland | Defensive back | Jackson State | |
13 | 337 | Robert Pearce | Defensive back | Stephen F. Austin | |
14 | 363 | Tommy Spinks | Wide receiver | Louisiana Tech | |
15 | 389 | Bennie Francis | Defensive end | Chadron State | |
16 | 415 | Bruce Cerone | Wide receiver | Emporia State | |
17 | 441 | Brian Healy | Defensive back | Michigan |
Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
|
Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
|
Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams
|
Rookies in italics |
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance [2] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | August 8 | New Orleans Saints | L 13–14 | 0–1 | Fawcett Stadium ( Canton, OH) | 17,932 |
2 | August 15 | Pittsburgh Steelers | L 13–20 | 0–2 | Metropolitan Stadium | 45,591 |
3 | August 22 | at Houston Oilers | W 14–7 | 1–2 | Astrodome | 44,563 |
4 | August 30 | New York Jets | W 52–21 | 2–2 | Metropolitan Stadium | 47,900 |
5 | September 5 | at Cleveland Browns | W 24–21 | 3–2 | Cleveland Stadium | 83,043 |
6 | September 11 | at Chicago Bears | W 31–30 | 4–2 | Soldier Field | 46,630 |
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | September 20 | Kansas City Chiefs | W 27–10 | 1–0 | Metropolitan Stadium | 47,900 |
2 | September 27 | New Orleans Saints | W 26–0 | 2–0 | Metropolitan Stadium | 47,900 |
3 | October 4 | at Green Bay Packers | L 10–13 | 2–1 | Milwaukee County Stadium | 47,967 |
4 | October 11 | at Chicago Bears | W 24–0 | 3–1 | Wrigley Field | 45,485 |
5 | October 18 | Dallas Cowboys | W 54–13 | 4–1 | Metropolitan Stadium | 47,900 |
6 | October 26 | Los Angeles Rams | W 13–3 | 5–1 | Metropolitan Stadium | 47,900 |
7 | November 1 | at Detroit Lions | W 30–17 | 6–1 | Tiger Stadium | 58,210 |
8 | November 8 | at Washington Redskins | W 19–10 | 7–1 | Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium | 50,415 |
9 | November 15 | Detroit Lions | W 24–20 | 8–1 | Metropolitan Stadium | 47,900 |
10 | November 22 | Green Bay Packers | W 10–3 | 9–1 | Metropolitan Stadium | 47,900 |
11 | November 29, 1970 | at New York Jets | L 10-20 | 9–2 | Shea Stadium | 62,333 |
12 | December 5 | Chicago Bears | W 16–13 | 10–2 | Metropolitan Stadium | 47,900 |
13 | December 13 | at Boston Patriots | W 35–14 | 11–2 | Harvard Stadium | 37,819 |
14 | December 20 | at Atlanta Falcons | W 37–7 | 12–2 | Atlanta Stadium | 57,992 |
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 0 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 10 |
Vikings | 0 | 17 | 0 | 10 | 27 |
at Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
NFC Central | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK | |
Minnesota Vikings | 12 | 2 | 0 | .857 | 5–1 | 10–1 | 335 | 143 | W3 |
Detroit Lions | 10 | 4 | 0 | .714 | 4–2 | 7–4 | 347 | 202 | W5 |
Green Bay Packers | 6 | 8 | 0 | .429 | 2–4 | 4–7 | 196 | 293 | L2 |
Chicago Bears | 6 | 8 | 0 | .429 | 1–5 | 5–6 | 256 | 261 | W2 |
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Divisional | December 27 | San Francisco 49ers | L 14–17 | 0–1 | Metropolitan Stadium | 46,050 |
Category | Player(s) | Value |
---|---|---|
Passing yards | Gary Cuozzo | 1,720 |
Passing touchdowns | Gary Cuozzo | 7 |
Rushing yards | Dave Osborn | 681 |
Rushing touchdowns | Clint Jones | 9 |
Receiving yards | Gene Washington | 702 |
Receiving touchdowns | Gene Washington | 4 |
Points | Fred Cox | 125 |
Kickoff return yards | Clint Jones | 452 |
Punt return yards | Charlie West | 169 |
Interceptions | Ed Sharockman | 7 |
Category | Total yards | Yards per game | NFL rank (out of 26) |
---|---|---|---|
Passing offense | 2,181 | 155.8 | 14th |
Rushing offense | 1,634 | 116.7 | 14th |
Total offense | 3,815 | 272.5 | 19th |
Passing defense | 1,438 | 102.7 | 1st |
Rushing defense | 1,365 | 97.5 | 5th |
Total defense | 2,803 | 200.2 | 1st |