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 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]
Offseason
Edit
1970 DraftEdit
- ^[a] Minnesota traded their 4th round selection (103rd overall) to New Orleans for TE Kent Kramer.
- ^[b] Minnesota traded their 6th round selection (155th overall) to Pittsburgh for TE Tony Jeter.
| 1970 Minnesota Vikings roster
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| Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
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| Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
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| Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams
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| Reserve lists
Practice squad
Rookies in italics
Active, Inactive, Practice squad
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PreseasonEdit
Regular seasonEdit
| Week
| Date
| Opponent
| Result
| Record
| Venue
| Attendance
|
| 1
| September 20, 1970
| Kansas City Chiefs
| W 27–10
| 1–0
| Metropolitan Stadium
| 47,900
|
| 2
| September 27, 1970
| New Orleans Saints
| W 26–0
| 2–0
| Metropolitan Stadium
| 47,900
|
| 3
| October 4, 1970
| at Green Bay Packers
| L 10–13
| 2–1
| Milwaukee County Stadium
| 47,967
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| 4
| October 11, 1970
| at Chicago Bears
| W 24–0
| 3–1
| Wrigley Field
| 45,485
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| 5
| October 18, 1970
| Dallas Cowboys
| W 54–13
| 4–1
| Metropolitan Stadium
| 47,900
|
| 6
| October 26, 1970
| Los Angeles Rams
| W 13–3
| 5–1
| Metropolitan Stadium
| 47,900
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| 7
| November 1, 1970
| at Detroit Lions
| W 30–17
| 6–1
| Tiger Stadium
| 58,210
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| 8
| November 8, 1970
| at Washington Redskins
| W 19–10
| 7–1
| Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
| 50,415
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| 9
| November 15, 1970
| Detroit Lions
| W 24–20
| 8–1
| Metropolitan Stadium
| 47,900
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| 10
| November 22, 1970
| Green Bay Packers
| W 10–3
| 9–1
| Metropolitan Stadium
| 47,900
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| 11
| November 29, 1970
| at New York Jets
| L 10-20
| 9–2
| Shea Stadium
| 62,333
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| 12
| December 5, 1970
| Chicago Bears
| W 16–13
| 10–2
| Metropolitan Stadium
| 47,900
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| 13
| December 13, 1970
| at Boston Patriots
| W 35–14
| 11–2
| Harvard Stadium
| 37,819
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| 14
| December 20, 1970
| at Atlanta Falcons
| W 37–7
| 12–2
| Atlanta Stadium
| 57,992
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Season summaryEdit
Week 1 vs ChiefsEdit
| Game information
|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
- KC – Jan Stenerud 26-yard field goal. Vikings 17–10.
Fourth quarter
- MIN – Oscar Reed 1-yard run (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 24–10.
- MIN – Fred Cox 40-yard field goal. Vikings 27–10.
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
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PostseasonEdit
StandingsEdit
Template:1970 NFC Central standings
StatisticsEdit
Team leadersEdit
League rankingsEdit
| Category
| Total yards
| Yards per game
| NFL rank
(out of 26)
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| Passing offense | 2,181 | 155.8 | 14th
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| Rushing offense | 1,634 | 116.7 | 14th
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| Total offense | 3,815 | 272.5 | 19th
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| Passing defense | 1,438 | 102.7 | 1st
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| Rushing defense | 1,365 | 97.5 | 5th
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| Total defense | 2,803 | 200.2 | 1st
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ReferencesEdit
| v · d · eMinnesota Vikings |
|---|
| | Founded in 1961 • Based in Minneapolis, Minnesota | | | Franchise | | | | Stadiums | | | | Culture | | | | Rivalries | | | | Lore | | | | Head coaches | | | | Division championships (18) |
1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1989, 1992, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2008, 2009 | | | Super Bowl appearances (4) | | | | Retired numbers | | | | Seasons | | | | Current league affiliations | |
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