Minnesota Vikings: Top 20 games in franchise history
By Dan Zinski
Oct 3, 2014; Provo, UT, USA; Brigham Young Cougars and NFL former quarterback Jim McMahon speaks during a ceremony in his honor during halftime of the game between the Brigham Young Cougars and the Utah State Aggies at Lavell Edwards Stadium. Utah State won 35-20. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
19. Eric Guliford becomes unlikely hero
Sept 26, 1993. Eric Guliford became forever enshrined in Vikings lore as Minnesota stunned the Green Bay Packers.
Guliford had only one pass reception in his two years with the Vikings, but he sure as heck made it count.
With the Vikings trailing 13-12 at home and just 14 seconds left on the clock, Guliford somehow found himself getting wide open against a cocky Packers defense.
Evidently the Packers believed Vikings QB Jim McMahon lacked the arm strength to throw deep down the field. According to McMahon, Terrell Buckley served up some smack-talk to this effect just before the fateful play (via New York Times):
"“Terrell Buckley said on the play before that, ‘McMahon can’t throw it that far,’ ” McMahon said, referring to Green Bay’s trash-talking cornerback. “Well, they should cover a guy going deep.”"
McMahon had enough arm to heave a rainbow that fell gently into Guliford’s hands for a 45-yard gain.
That put the Vikings well within field goal range for Fuad Reveiz who banged through the game-winner with no time left on the clock.
Thus ended the most-exciting seven-field goal, one-touchdown game in Vikings history.
Eric Guliford would go on to play four more seasons in the NFL but nothing he did in those years would come close to the play that shut up Terrell Buckley.