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1971 Minnesota Vikings season

NFL team season

NFL team season

FieldValue
teamMinnesota Vikings
year1971
record11–3
division_place1st NFC Central
coachBud Grant
general managerJim Finks
stadiumMetropolitan Stadium
playoffsLost Divisional Playoffs
(vs. Cowboys) 12–20
pro bowlersDE Carl Eller
WR Bob Grim
S Paul Krause
DT Alan Page
T Ron Yary
AP All-prosDE Carl Eller (1st team)
DT Alan Page (1st team)
T Ron Yary (1st team)
uniformFile:Vikings1970-74.png
shortnavlinkVikings seasons

(vs. Cowboys) 12–20 WR Bob Grim S Paul Krause DT Alan Page T Ron Yary | AP All-pros = DE Carl Eller (1st team) DT Alan Page (1st team) T Ron Yary (1st team) The 1971 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 11th in the National Football League (NFL). They finished with an 11–3 record to win the NFC Central title and return to the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season; however, they lost 20–12 at home to the eventual Super Bowl champion Dallas Cowboys in the divisional round.

In 2007, ESPN.com ranked the 1971 Vikings as the fourth-greatest defense in NFL history, saying, "Considering that their motto was 'Meet at the quarterback,' it's no surprise that the Purple People Eaters held opposing QBs to a 40.4 rating, one of the lowest ever." ESPN also noted that the 1971 Vikings "shut out three opponents, and only one team scored more than 20 points against them. As a result, Alan Page became the first defensive player to ever be named NFL MVP. Carl Eller, Jim Marshall and safety Paul Krause joined Page on the All-Pro team."

Offseason

1971 draft

Main article: 1971 NFL draft

Minnesota Vikingsyear=1971border=2}}"1971 Minnesota Vikings DraftMinnesota Vikingsyear=1971border=2}}"Draft orderMinnesota Vikingsyear=1971border=2}}"Player nameMinnesota Vikingsyear=1971border=2}}"PositionMinnesota Vikingsyear=1971border=2}}"CollegeMinnesota Vikingsyear=1971border=2}}"NotesMinnesota Vikingsyear=1971border=2}}"RoundMinnesota Vikingsyear=1971border=2}}"Selection1242503764102512861547180820892321025811284123101333614362153881641317439
Leo HaydenRunning backOhio State
*Traded to the Philadelphia Eagles*
Eddie HackettWide receiverAlcorn A&M
Vince ClementsRunning backConnecticut
*Traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers*
*Traded to the Philadelphia Eagles*
Gene MackLinebackerUTEP
John FarleyDefensive endJohnson C. SmithOriginally Colts pick
Tim SullivanRunning backIowa
Chris MorrisGuardIndiana
Mike WalkerLinebackerTulane
Reggie HolmesDefensive backStout State
Benny FryCenterHouston
Jim GallagherLinebackerYale
Jeff WrightSafetyMinnesota
Greg EdmondsWide receiverPenn StateOriginally 49ers pick
Ken DuncanPunterTulsaOriginally 49ers pick

Notes

Roster

|

CB/SS

Preseason

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueAttendance123456
August 8New England PatriotsW 17–101–0Memorial Stadium (Minneapolis)31,813
August 14at San Diego ChargersW 34–72–0San Diego Stadium49,267
August 21Chicago BearsW 34–143–0Metropolitan Stadium47,900
August 28at Pittsburgh SteelersW 26–214–0Three Rivers Stadium46,276
September 4at Denver BroncosL 7–144–1Mile High Stadium43,000
September 11Miami DolphinsW 24–05–1Metropolitan Stadium47,990

Regular season

Schedule

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueAttendance1234567891011121314
September 20at Detroit LionsW 16–131–0Tiger Stadium54,418
September 26Chicago BearsL 17–201–1Metropolitan Stadium47,900
October 3Buffalo BillsW 19–02–1Metropolitan Stadium47,900
October 10at Philadelphia EaglesW 13–03–1Veterans Stadium65,358
October 17at Green Bay PackersW 24–134–1Lambeau Field56,263
October 25Baltimore ColtsW 10–35–1Metropolitan Stadium49,784
October 31at New York GiantsW 17–106–1Yankee Stadium62,829
November 7San Francisco 49ersL 9–136–2Metropolitan Stadium49,784
November 14Green Bay PackersW 3–07–2Metropolitan Stadium49,784
November 21at New Orleans SaintsW 23–108–2Tulane Stadium83,130
November 28Atlanta FalconsW 24–79–2Metropolitan Stadium49,784
December 5at San Diego ChargersL 14–309–3San Diego Stadium54,505
December 11Detroit LionsW 29–1010–3Metropolitan Stadium49,784
December 19at Chicago BearsW 27–1011–3Soldier Field55,049

Game summaries

Week 6: vs. Baltimore Colts

First quarter

  • MIN – Dave Osborn 2-yard run (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 7–0. Second quarter
  • No scoring plays. Third quarter
  • MIN – Fred Cox 32-yard field goal. Vikings 10–0. Fourth quarter
  • BAL – Jim O'Brien 40-yard field goal. Vikings 10–3. Top passers
  • BAL – Earl Morrall – 16/27, 148 yards, 3 INT
  • MIN – Gary Cuozzo – 7/15, 110 yards, INT Top rushers
  • BAL – Norm Bulaich – 18 rushes, 83 yards
  • MIN – Dave Osborn – 13 rushes, 42 yards, TD Top receivers
  • BAL – Norm Bulaich – 6 receptions, 62 yards
  • MIN – Stu Voigt – 3 receptions, 60 yards

Standings

Postseason

RoundDateOpponentResultVenueAttendance
DivisionalDecember 25Dallas CowboysL 12–20Metropolitan Stadium47,307

Awards, records, and honors

All-Pros

First team

  • OT Ron Yary (AP, NEA, PFWA, PFW)
  • DE Carl Eller (AP, NEA, PFWA, PFW)
  • DT Alan Page (AP, NEA, PFWA, PFW)
  • S Paul Krause (NEA)

Pro Bowlers

  • WR Bob Grim
  • OT Ron Yary
  • DE Carl Eller
  • DT Alan Page
  • S Paul Krause

League leaders

  • Bob Lee – Most punts (89), most punting yards (3515)
  • Charlie West – Longest interception return (89 yards)
  • Alan Page – Most safeties (2)

Statistics

Team leaders

Minnesota Vikingsyear=1971border=2}}"CategoryMinnesota Vikingsyear=1971border=2}}"Player(s)Minnesota Vikingsyear=1971border=2}}"Value
Passing yardsGary Cuozzo842
Passing touchdownsGary Cuozzo6
Rushing yardsClint Jones675
Rushing touchdownsDave Osborn5
Receiving yardsBob Grim691
Receiving touchdownsBob Grim7
PointsFred Cox91
Kickoff return yardsCharlie West556
Punt return yardsCharlie West94
InterceptionsCharlie West7

League rankings

Minnesota Vikingsyear=1971border=2}}"CategoryMinnesota Vikingsyear=1971border=2}}"Total yardsMinnesota Vikingsyear=1971border=2}}"Yards per gameMinnesota Vikingsyear=1971border=2}}"NFL rank
(out of 26)Total offense3,350239.323rdTotal defense3,406243.32nd
Passing offense1,655118.225th
Rushing offense1,695121.117th
Passing defense1,806129.03rd
Rushing defense1,600114.36th

References

References

  1. [https://www.espn.com/page2/s/list/bestNFLdefense.html The List: Best NFL defense of all-time, 2007]
  2. "1971 Minnesota Vikings (NFL) - Pro Football Archives".
Info: Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

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