Minnesota Vikings: Top 20 games in franchise history
By Dan Zinski
Dec 14, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Dec 14, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Heisman Trophy winner and Naval Academy alumnus Roger Staubach speaks with Army Black Knights athletic director Boo Coorigan on the sidelines prior to the start of the 114th Army-Navy game at Lincoln Financial Field. Navy Midshipmen defeated Army Black Knights 34-7. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
6. Vikings beat Dallas to go to the Super Bowl
Dec. 30, 1973. The Vikings earned their second-ever Super Bowl berth by beating the Dallas Cowboys at Texas Stadium.
Football historians like to tell us that the dominant Vikings teams of the ’70s benefited greatly from playing their home games outdoors at the old Metropolitan Stadium in Minnesota.
While it’s true that Minnesota did win a lot of late-season and playoff games in the frigid, windy conditions of the Met, they didn’t necessarily always have that on their side.
In 1973, the Vikings had to go on the road to Dallas for the NFC championship game, and they managed to get the job done despite the lack of home-field advantage.
On the Astroturf in 50-degree weather, the Vikings dominated Roger Staubach and the Cowboys, running away to a 27-10 victory.
The game’s highlights were a 54-yard TD pass from Fran Tarkenton to John Gilliam and a 63-yard pick-six by Bobby Bryant.
A few years later, the Cowboys would get a measure of revenge by upsetting the Vikings at Metropolitan stadium in the first round of the playoffs.
Of course Viking fans will tell you that Drew Pearson pushed off in that game. But that’s a story for another time.