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On Saturday, December 21, 1974, the St. Louis Cardinals faced the Minnesota Vikings at Metropolitan Stadium for the first round of the 1974 NFL Playoffs.
The Cardinals had a strong team for the first time in decades, going back all the way to the late 1940s when they were still in Chicago.
This was due thanks to second-year coach and offensive innovator Don Coriel. Leveraging the talent of Terry Metcalf and Mel Gray, who totaled more than 1,800 yards from scrimmage in 1974, Coriel was later named Associated Press Coach of the Year.
The Minnesota Vikings were coached by Bud Grant and were trying to make it back to the championship after losing Super Bowl VIII to Don Chulo's Dolphins in 1973.
This audio recording is from the radio broadcast featuring announcers Joe McConnell and Paul Horning.
Of course, the Vikings have lost three games here this year, but that is very unusual. They enjoy playing. Of course, if they win today, they'll play the NFC Championship game here.
Here's Joe Albert, who is strictly a kickoff man to the Cardinals, second booted away. McClanahan and McCollum are deep for the Vikings. Moving forward and down the stairs, the kick. Fine rider, deep coming over to the near side, McCollum at the 7th, to the 10th, to the 15th, to the 20th, 25th, dancing away at the 30th, slips and goes down right there on the near sideline.
Trying to turn away, Jerry Hammond was down to make the stop for the Big Red at St. Louis. The referee today is Chuck Heberling. The umpire is Lou Palazzi. Head lineman, Burl Tolar. The line judge, Red Cashion. The back judge, Don Wedge. The field judge is Tony Stover.
And the all-Nether Bob Rice. A 23-yard kickoff return by Sudden Sam McCollum, who had a brilliant game last week at Kansas City. Both ball clubs, 10 and 4. The Vikings won a mid-season Monday night game at St. Louis, 28-24. They also defeated the Cardinals 14-10 in a preseason game.
Wide to the left is Gilliam. Wide to the near side is Lye. Ozzie informing the running backs behind Fran Takenen. Takenen, the first play, hands off the foreman, breaks one tackle, cuts back in, but Stallings nails him at the 29-1. Let's linebacker Larry Stallings. 6'1, 230 pounds in his fourth year from Georgia Tech. It's no game. It's second down and a long 10.
You're going to see a lot of slips today looking at the field, the way they're running. The kind of balance will mean a great deal today, Joe, because the field is not 100%. Of course, it's probably frozen and not all the way frozen. You can cut on that. I'm sure they're using cleats right now, but you're going to see a lot of slips today.
Gilliam wide to the near side, Lye splits wide to the far side left. Duke backfield behind Fran, second and 10. The Bikes just got their own 30-yard line. Fran gives to Ozzie, slides to the left side, battles across the 35, off to the 37-yard line goes 10-year veteran Dave Osborne.
Typical Ozzie run off the left side behind Goodblocking. Chuck Goodrum and Demar on the left side, just zone blocking, and they really pushed that defensive right side of St. Louis back. It's going to bring up about third and three.
Right line backer Pete Barnes made the contact for St. Louis, a game of six, it's third and four. The Bikes at their own 36-yard line. Ozzie picked up 514 yards, an average of four a pop during the regular season.
Foreman who set out the final game of Kansas City in three periods of the 13th game against Atlanta, game 777. Lye wide to the near side right, Gilliam split wide left. Third down four, the Bikes in their first position to give to Foreman, looking for room, looking for a block, ties the cut back. Stalling is going to nail him for a one-yard gain at the 37. It will be fourth down and three.
Foreman on his first two carries of the game picks up a net of one yard. Stalling's defeated Dave Osborne on the block. Defensive left linebacker just off tackle, full back off tackle, and they put Foreman at the full back spot and handed off over the right side.
And that's all, he's played off the block of Dave Osborne well and the pursuit got Foreman for about 12, cut back the line of experience, maybe picked up a yard. Well, Fran who completed 199 and 351 for just under 2,600 yards did not put the ball in the air the first time.
And he's tied into front, the poorest in the NFC with an average of 36.1 on 82 kicks. There's a snap, it's a good one, he's got time, he gets the kick away. It's a rather low kick, a spiraling kick, and Metcalfe feels it at the 28 to the 30, heading to the far sideline, cuts back, gets by Foreman at the 40, he's at the 45, and he's finally hauled in at the 47 yard line.
And Mike Eishide, the man who caught the ball, made the tackle. He is dangerous Joe, he caught that football on a dead run. Eishide, or rather Metcalfe, led the lead in kickoff returns and was fourth in putt returns. He's an all purpose back, 5'10", 185 in his second year from Long Beach.
A 35 yard punt, a 13 yard return, and the Cardinals own the ball, an excellent field position at the 46. They've got Earl Thomas and Mel Gray at the wide receivers. Jackie Smith, a tight end. Jimmy Hart, the fifth Viking quarterback behind Fran Parkinson in there. Metcalfe moves into a double wing slot right. Here's the call now, Jimmy Otis, the other running back. And the handoff goes to Otis, flying into the right side, trying to turn the corner, gets by Marshall, bows across the 50, and gets into Viking territory to about the 48, maybe as deep as the 47 yard line.
Almost a pick up of eight yards, Jimmy Otis, and both teams it seems going with that full back off the right side.
Jeff Wright made the tackle. Now, on the interior line, we have Roger Finney at left tackle, Bob Young at left guard, Tom Brughaney is the starting center for St. Louis, Conrad Dobler is the right guard, Dan Girdolf the right tackle, and Jackie Smith the tight end.
We've got Marshall, Page, Sutherland and Miller across the front four. Winston at left linebacker, Steven in the middle, Hildenberg on the right side. Cornerbacks are Jackie Wallace and Nate Wright. The safeties are Jeff Wright and Paul Krauss.
Second down, about three yards to go for the Cardinals, in motion goes Mel Gray to the right side. Handoff goes to Metcalfe, and he blasts in across the 45, about the 44 before he's hit and shoved back, but it is very close to a first down. Hildenberg, the right side linebacker, making the play.
Depending on where they place it. It looked like his forward progress did get the first down. We're going to call it a first down here.
Well, they're going to stop the clock to measure here. Hart completed an even 200 passes out of 388 attempts. That's 51.5% completion. He passed for 2,411 yards, 20 touchdowns, which led the NFC.
And Mel Gray, the wide receiver, a burner on the right side, caught six touchdown passes and 39 grabs. It's a first down for the Big Red on the Viking 44 yard line. The first first down of the afternoon on St. Louis's first possession.
The official Chuck Eberling says, let's get it going. 1125 up to go so far, very early in the first period, scoreless tie here at the Met. Later on today, the first AFC playoff game of the defending Super Bowl champion Miami Dolphins at Oakland.
Now they shift Smith wide to the right in a slot almost. Double wing, one single running back, quick pitch goes to Metcalf, breaks off left tackle and gets to the 40 yard line. A pick up of the Bot 4 and a quick pitch and Alan Page made the tackle on the play.
Page is one of seven Vikings named to the NFC's All-Pro team, which will play in the Pro Bowl in the week following the Super Bowl down in New Orleans. What a year he had Joe. Again, Alan Page I think has played as well this year as he has in the past, even as one great year when he was MVP.
All professional football this year and just the next one here. J.B. Kane, a big rookie from Colorado, wide to the right. Mel Gray, wide to the near side, second down and six for the big red on the Viking 40. In motion goes Gray to the far side.
This backfield behind Jimmy Hart, quick pitch down to Metcalf, flying to the right side, hit by Eller, hit, knocked away and surges across the 35 and out of bounds in front of the Cardinal bench at the Viking 34 yard line. We'll see where they mark it. And it's going to be very close to a first down. Jeff Wright finally hit him hard enough to push him out of bounds.
Both teams keeping the football right on the ground Joe and I think St. Louis, if we're going to have this much success against the Vikings running the football, you're not going to see too many chances in a game like this because they're playing a game of mistakes now. One mistake, well that can mean the end of a season.
Gray is out, Jim McFarlane, the second string tight in his end. They mark the ball at the 36, it's third down and a long run. Big play Viking defense.
All right, triple stack backfield behind Jimmy Hart. Both ends bunched in tight. Now they shift into the power eyes. And the give is to the third man Otis. And he is close to the first down, he's pushed back and coming out of a pile with a ball of Wally Hilgenberg but they've called the play dead as Hilgenberg stole it all from Jim Otis.
Now it's his deepest penetration and it looks like he may be a little bit shy Paul. It's going to be very close. 34 and I think he got to about the 34 and a half. I think it was Metcalf in the power eye wasn't it Joe? I think he lost control of the football.
Otis, it looked of course a power eye situation there. Otis was the lead blocker and a quick whistle there. The Vikings would have come up with the football and maybe six points. Big play coming up, fourth down, a yard to go.
Otis is the middle man.
All right, power eye again. Now they shift in.
Again this time. And again Metcalf. It was the Ken Willard. And Willard has stopped at the 35 yard line and the Viking defense has had.
The third running back in there was caught short of the line. Don't you think this should, this really should pick up that offense Joe? The Cardinals on third and one didn't make it. They came back, went for it on fourth down. They're going to come up short. They did not gain it in.
Sutherland and Winston made the tackle. Time out with 9.44 left to go in his smallest first period. More from the Met in a minute.
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John McConnell and Paul Horning back at the Met with a score tied. Nothing, nothing. The Vikings will take it over for the second time. Just tied their own 35-yard line.
A big, big fourth down play made by left-side linebacker Roy Winston, a 13-year veteran from LSU and Doug Sutherland who displaced Gary Larson in that front floor for the Vikings about a third of the way into the season.
Now the Vikes break the huddle. Jim Rice who caught 32 passes for 631 yards wide to the left. Gilliam wide to the near side. Double wing. Slot left foreman in the slot. Parking it all to the right.
Looking down field. What's back in the middle? Floor to foreman. Right floor. 47-yard line incomplete. He couldn't hang on. He was hit immediately by Pete Barnes. But it's incomplete. That's the first pass attempt of the ball game. It's second and 10 for the Vikes.
Roll out right and they got Chuck Foreman, a receiver. They covered that flood pass well. The defensive left side of the Cardinals. A roll out right. Fran actually has got his split end to hit. He's got his tight end to hit. He's got his running back out in the flat. Foreman was coming from the weak side on the left. Ball was perfectly thrown. Fran picked his secondary receiver. Of course Chuck leads his team. Passes sections. He already caught 53 on the year.
The 6 touchdowns and 586 yards. Double wing. Slot left. Foreman now wide to the near side. This is the foreman we saw against the Rams. Tucked and rolled to the right. Now looks, looks, looks. He spins away. Touched back. He's running inside the 30. Moving to the far sideline. Falls on the right end template and attempting to hit Jim Rice. He was chased by Council Rudolph. But Tucked and finally threw it away. It'll be third down and 10.
He was forced. He rolled to the near side right. Was bottled up. Couldn't find anybody open. Had to run laterally all the way back across the far side of the field and it was a foot race between Council Rudolph and Tucked into the far sidelines and Fran finally just dumped it harmlessly out of bounds.
Fran had to run this football field. It's 53 yards wide. The ball was on the left hash mark. You know he ran at least 30 yards to the right and about 45 going back to the left.
All for no gain. It's third and 10. Again, wide to the left and this time Gilliam will line up in the slot to the left. The backfield of Deuce. Ozzie on the left. Foreman on the right.
The Vikings have been characteristically a slow starting team in the last few ballgames. Target back to pass. Rings went out. Tucked and out of bounds at the 45 yard line.
And I believe it was Dave Osborne. Ozzie who caught 29 during the regular season knocked out of bounds at the 45 and it's going to be very very close to the first down.
I think the ball does not have to be to the 45 yard line. This is going to be from the far side away from our vantage point here and I think it's going to be a first down maybe by Air Joe or if they do miss it it's going to be two inches.
Well the chains had to be moved all the way over to the far side and I think he made it. They're going to maze you right now and it is close.
Usually when they look right now it's going to be sharp. Now will the Vikings go on fourth down an inch. I think they are. No move from the sidelines. They're going to go far.
Alleman comes in. Alleman and King's Ryder come in. Alleman of course the last of the original Vikings. A 15 year veteran the offensive captain at left tackle. Lash and Gilliam the wide receivers go out. King's Ryder a second year tight end for Minnesota into the game to block.
If they make it they don't and this happens to be one of the big plays which it inevitably will be. There will be some question about this. Well it's fourth down and less than a yard. The Vikings gambling here on their second possession inside their own 45.
Everyone lets inside in the goal line defense. Ozzie and Farman are running backs. King's Ryder is the wing on the left side. Here's the call by Tuckington. And he goes. The Foreman has got the first down of the 46 yard line on a joke right up the middle. And Ozzie and Norm Tonson have a little exchange after the play. Ozzie was the man who carried the ball.
And the hotel fans sure are on their feet. They love it. You really don't know why. If you really think about it a little bit. Fans love to see teams go on fourth down. And if a coach does it I would say 10 times out of the year he's probably going to be wrong seven times.
First down for the Vikings on their own 46 yard line. Slot left Gilliam lining up inside Jim Lance and the snow continues to fall here to med. A little heavier now. It started about 20 minutes before kickoff.
And here's the Foreman sliding off right tackle and he battles his way to about the 48 yard line. A game of two plus. It'll be second down and a long seven. Bob Rowe the big defensive tackle an eight year veteran from Western Michigan made to stop for the big red.
One play John. Sure we're going to see and we're seeing a little bit different. Of course Foreman is a running back. You have to call him a running back. Not a halfback or a fullback because of the fact that even look at today he's been in the fullback position when a fullback plays a called off tackle.
They just switch it around Ozzie goes to the right halfback and blocks the former. Second down eight Minnesota. The Vikings on their own 48. Slot left.
A and B circle. This backfield Ozzie on the left. Foreman on the right behind.
13 year veteran from the back to the center. Snaps it off. Back to pass.
Now looking out on the right side. Foreman having it for 42 to 40. He enters and gets out of bounds. The big red 37 and first down. A and B circle John. He beat Larry Stallings on a good move and actually a linebacker is really at the mercy of a running back.
This Foreman is going to beat Larry Stallings who is a 12 year veteran out of charge attack. You just especially on a kind of field because he has the option of cutting in or out.
Now what he does he was lined up on the weak side. The tight end was lined up on the left. Foreman was in the right halfback position and you have to cue your middle linebacker.
If the middle linebacker comes your way you break outside. If he goes to the tight end side you're going to break inside.
14 yard pick up first down. Bikes on the big red 38. Slot left again. Gillian inside. Jim Lags.
Toggington inside hand off to Foreman who bucks his way across the 35 to the 34 yard line. A pick up of about four as they're beginning to soften up that front four of St. Louis just a little bit.
Middle linebacker Mark Arneson in on the stop along with Bob Rowe. It's second down six and that's the best game on the ground by Chuck Foreman today.
I tell you they're big inside and maybe it's good. Rowe and Brooks both. Rowe six four. Brooks six six. They both go about 270 pounds and right behind in the middle linebacker is not too big.
They got him with the 223 pounds. Second down six. The ball on the cardinal 34. Double wing. Slot left. Foreman in the slot to the left and off goes to Ozzie.
He's tripped up and falls forward right straight up the middle about the 32 yard line and Council Rudolph and Leo Brooks got an arm on him and helped trip him up but Ozzie fell forward for a gain of about two.
It'll be third down coming up now. The Vikings are their first possession in big red territory. They marketed to St. Louis 31 so it picked up three and it's third and three. Big play.
But Grant in his tenure with the Vikings has won four and lost four in the second season which is known as the playoff season. They might throw it here in this circumstance Joe.
All right. Gilly and why did the lefts. See if they go right back to A&B circle. They got them split. Last wide to the left. Gilly and wide to the near side.
Third down three from the St. Louis 31. The Vikings in their second possession and deep in penetration. Tuckman back to pass.
The
both backs way out of that field this time Foreman hooked up in front of linebacker. He's on the left side and Clarence Duran the free safety.
Duran made the tackle on the play a seven yard pass completion department. It's a first down for the Vikings on the St. Louis 24.
I had a blitz on the play Joe. Six twenty to go in the first period no score in the ballgame here at Snowy Metropolitan Stadium.
Jim Lites comes wide to the near side and I'd eat Lites even though he had a great season has played two years in the NFL without a touchdown.
You live in the slot to the right.
Rolling to the right immediately.
Right in the numbers. He couldn't have dropped that one. So there's the first turnover in the game with the slant pass Joe is trying to hit his wide receiver Lash or Gilliam on a
real quick slant pattern rollout right. You got to hit it in that crease. Good play by the middle linebacker. Time out. No score in the ballgame.
That's why for one minute on the Vikings KSTP radio network.
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Well the first turnover the football game kills the Vikings first real threat and gives the Cardinals a ball back on their own 22 yard line.
Left field has been in interception only twelve times all year passing to seven teams touchdown.
Tim Hart had only eight passes intercepted and threw for 20
And now on the ship they bring Earl Thomas, formerly the Chicago Bears, wide to the near
side.
Now Metcalf gets into the slot to the right.
Double wing right.
Hart drops back to pass on first and ten.
Lines up, pops, falls.
Incomplete, overshooting Mel Gray who is covered by three Vikings at about the 35 yard line,
almost a stop and hook pattern.
That was a turn in Joe and it's a good thing I think Hart may have thrown that away on
purpose because if he would have been on target, Nate Wright had an excellent opportunity to
get that.
He was guessing on the turn in, they were in a zone on that side so he could really guess
because he knew he had deep help from Paul Krause and I really had it covered.
He had the turn in covered.
And it would have been thrown close to the receiver.
Nate Wright had a shot at the interception.
J.B.
Kane alternating with Thomas on every other play, wide to the right.
Gray wide to the near side, second down ten.
St. Louis on their own 22 and motion to the far side right goes Mel Gray.
Hart, inside handoff, breaking into the corner, Otis across the 30, up to the 34 before he's
upended in the secondary.
Jim Otis on a quick pop right up the middle on trap blocking, got free.
Roy Winston finally caught him in the Vikings secondary but it's a big 12 yard gate on the
ground, first down St. Louis.
Speaking of the Vikings secondary, I noticed Paul Krause, of course you're familiar with
Minnesota Viking football, you know he is one of the excellent free safeties that ever
played a game.
Today he's playing a little bit deeper.
Now the reason for this, on that last snap, Krause looks like a center fielder.
He's standing about 13 to 15 yards deep from the line of scrimmage.
What happens when he feels like this, he wants that extra yard or two so he can cover the
deep patterns on the outside.
Right back to Krause, swings went out the right flat, caught by Mel Gray who stepped
immediately at the 37 yard line and apparently dropped the ball after contact was made.
Good hit by Jeff Wright.
Jeff Wright jarred it loose.
It would have been only a three yard gain had he held on so it will be second down 10.
The clock is stopped with 5.07 to go here in the scoreless first period.
And this game is now on the ball twice.
And again, Vikings rolled on a zone on Mel Gray's side Joe and I think that's exactly
the way the Vikings defense is going to play against.
They're going to give Earl Thomas all the outs he wants but they're going to try to roll
a zone on most occasions against Mel Gray because he is their big play receiver.
That was a penalty.
There was a penalty flag thrown in that play.
Offside against the Cardinals declined.
So it's second and 10 St. Louis on their own 34.
Otis who picked up 12 yards a moment ago was the ninth leading rusher in the NSC with
664 yards and an average of 4.2.
He's had a fine year.
He started with Kansas City.
High formation.
Now they shift into a double wing right.
Looks almost like a triple wing, Paul.
One running back.
All right, back to pass, brings it out in the right block, caught by Gray.
Drops again at the 40 yard line.
It's squirreled right over his left shoulder.
It's a little cold out there.
Get those hands loose.
And Joe, it is very difficult.
Now this is not a real cold day as we mentioned here in Minnesota.
But it's something about catching at football.
If you start thinking about your hands being cold on a day like this, invariably you're
going to drop a few of them.
All right, it's third down and 10.
St. Louis on their own 34 yard line.
There have been several dropped passes on both sides of the line here in the first period.
Jim Hart led the best percentage as far as touchdown passes thrown as opposed to interceptions
in Pearl's football this year.
Brings them up.
Thomas Wye to the right.
Now Metcalf gets into the slot to the right.
Double wing right.
Here's the call now by Hart on third and 10.
Dropping back to pass.
That's up deep.
Now going down the right sidelines instead of a Metcalf who makes the circus grab at
the Vikings' 38 yard line.
Right over Paul Krause's shoulder.
Oh, what a catch by Metcalf.
Metcalf made a streak right down the right hash mark, cut to the corner patterns, what
it's called, Joe.
And he made a great catch.
Hart was right on target.
Beautiful pass, too.
First down, St. Louis on their Viking 37.
That was a big gainer.
27 yard pick up.
Metcalf caught 50 passes, just three less than our own Chuck Foreman during the year.
He did not catch him for much distance, 377 yards.
But that one was a big 27 yarder.
Mel Gray wide to the near side.
J.B. Kane wide to the right.
First down, St. Louis.
Their second possession in Viking territory.
Hart dropped back to pass.
Looks long.
Throws a long bomb down the middle.
And it is incomplete.
And for Mel Gray and both Jackie Wallace and Jeff Wright were back there.
And I thought for a moment one of the Vikes would come up with the interception.
Well, Gray had a step on both of them.
But the free safety, in this occasion, they had a double coverage.
Wallace and Jeff Wright both had a chance at the interception.
Hart hung it up just a little bit.
It'll be second down 10 from the Viking 37 yard line as they sent Gray on a post pattern deep in the end zone.
Well, he's not worried about it.
He's just come out throwing here after that first series of plays.
It's only a pick up of about 10 yards by Jim Otis got the first down.
Outside of that, he's one out of five for 28 yards.
That was a big one that got the Cardinals to the Viking 37 to Metcalf.
Now Gray comes in motion to the near side left.
Here's the call on second and 10.
Quick pitch, not a Metcalf.
Right to sweep on the left side.
Cuts back in. Gets to the 35 to the 34.
Triple team stacked up and thrown back.
Jimmy Marshall was around his ankles.
Wally Hilgenberg hit him high along with Jeff Wright and first and back.
Marshall made a real fine play there.
Defensive right in.
He was actually, they tried to cut him down.
Tight in.
Marshall got away from it.
Thomas out.
J.B. Kane is in.
Kane's on a 40 yard touchdown pass against the Vikings earlier in the season.
Now here comes Terry Brown, Bob Lurchner.
Here goes the Bob Lurchner.
The Vikes will go with a five man front and six defensive backs.
This has been very successful.
Third down, seven.
The ball of the Vikings, 34 yard line.
Gray wide to the right.
Kane wide to the near side left.
Back to pass. That's a quick lift.
He goes on as Bob Lurchner landed on his back at the 40 yard line.
Lurchner right over the top.
He came in from the defensive right side position.
He comes in.
Jim Marshall goes out.
And Lurchner was being hugged around the sidelines.
Coming up with a big sack here.
The Vikings defense.
Three man rush. Not too many teams used it.
You remember we talked about this in the past.
After the Los Angeles Rams were so successful against the three man rush.
Bud Grant really kind of threw it to the winds.
Although last week he just threw it in.
And the reason he had a three man rush last week, Joe, is it gives St. Louis a little something more to work on.
Al Roberts in the putt. He'll try to kick it out near the corner.
We have three men deep.
Nate Wright on the left side.
McCollum on the near side.
And in the middle is Jackie Wallace at about the 10 yard line.
There's a snap.
There's a kick.
And he hits it right down the middle.
I'll see where it bounces.
And it's going to roll down.
One of the Vikings tried to block the cardinals away from the end zone.
And I think he did.
I think the ball.
Now we'll wait and see.
It's down near the goal line.
One of the Vikings blocked the cardinals away from the ball.
Trying to keep it from downing it.
But it's going to be touched down at the one yard line.
It died before it could get to the end zone after it landed on that soft turf.
Time out.
I think it hit Billy Brown real quick, Joe.
I think he had to recover it right there.
Well, it could be.
He tried to block that cardinal away so the ball would roll into the end zone.
But the Vikings will have it on their own one yard line following this time out.
More from the men in 60 seconds.
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First down for the Bikes on the wrong one, slot to the near side right, Gilliam lining up inside Jim Lass.
A 39-yard kick by Hal Roberts.
Hand off, and it goes out to about the four-yard line, Chuck Foreman picking up about three.
A clarification on that punt, Billy Brown got back down there.
He was initially going to try to block one of the cardinals away from it.
Well, when the ball hit the ground, it bounced into Browning, and he had to dive on it to recover it.
Otherwise, it might have been a St. Louis ball at the one-yard line.
Now, it's second down, seven.
Vikings on their own four-yard line.
A little friend wants to either give them a different play or a different counter.
Gilliam wide to the left, Lash wide to the near side, second down, seven.
The Bikes on their own four-yard line.
Cardinals stunning at the line, a handoff performance.
It goes out to about the eight-yard line.
A big first down, Vikings can get it here.
Foreman on the two straight carries.
Inside, the ball rested inside the one-yard line.
Now, it's short of the ten-yard line, called to nine.
Third down, two, yes, two-plus to go.
Leo Brooks made the stop, along with Mark Darnes in the middle linebacker.
Very, very big possession for the Vikings now, and third down, along, two to go, and they're on nine.
I still say, of course, nothing to nothing.
They take too many chances, straight passing down right here.
Lash wide to the left, Gilliam wide to the near side right.
Fran gives it to Ozzie, and he did not make the first down.
As the roofs came in on about the ten-yard line.
It's going to be fourth down about one, but the Vikings did give Eishide a little room to punt the ball.
Well, they tried to defensive left side, Arnis in the middle linebacker right there.
Brooks and Council Rudolph also in a real tight situation.
The ball is just over the ten-yard line, but it's going to be short.
Yeah, at least two feet.
Fourth down, less than a yard, and the punting unit comes in,
and Eishide will be forced to kick it away from his own end zone against the southwesternly wind at eight to twelve miles an hour.
I'm telling you, Terry Metcalf will probably be the only man back deep.
They'll probably rush ten.
Jackie Wallace, usually on the punt, splits way to the right, so he'll bring one man with him.
Oh, he's in there tight now.
I'd like to see Eishide kick it away from Wallace, or rather from Metcalf.
He's back at about the forty-five in Viking territory.
Eishide will kick it away from his own goal line.
The Vikings are in trouble.
There's a snap, takes his time, gets the kick away.
It's a high one right down the middle.
Metcalf waits for it at the forty-seven.
He heads to the far side, spins, gets away from one man.
A clip is thrown, pays it to forty, hands it away, and gets down, spinning, twisting out of bounds at the thirty-five yard line,
but a penalty flag was thrown.
I'll tell you, he was hit after he went out of bounds, and I don't know if he's hurt.
There's a flag down about the forty-nine yard line, Joe,
and I think that was a real late hit by one of the Vikings.
He hit Metcalf after he went out of bounds.
And he hit him right in.
There's the flag down there, too.
That was a good call.
Yeah, it was a late hit.
And it was a rather needless one after the penalty flag was thrown,
and the guy who did it picked a very dangerous spot to do it right in the middle of the Cardinal bench.
It might have been Brent McClanahan who hit Metcalf a little bit late.
So we may have offsetting penalties here, which would be a big break for St. Louis, really,
because they had clipped way, way early in the play.
A clip, offsetting penalties.
And an unnecessary hit after Metcalf out of bounds.
A referee penalty on the Vikings.
What are they putting it back for?
I don't know what they're doing now.
They're bringing it back.
They're putting the ball back into St. Louis territory.
I don't understand this.
I don't either.
The ball club is just kind of milling around right now in midfield.
The officials started back across the 50-yard line, and now they put it at the Minnesota 46-yard line.
Matt Blair apparently was the man who got the late hit.
A clipping penalty in the Cardinals was called against number 52, Jack Lavec.
Jack Lavec on the Cardinals special unit was called for the clip.
And Blair, offsetting penalties, and they'll give St. Louis the ball to 46.
Now, I thought they'd kick it over in a situation like that.
I would, I would too. I'm going to have to get a...
Well, I'll just soon take it right here.
First down St. Louis at the 46-yard line in Viking territory.
Thomas wide to the near side.
Grace put wide to the right.
High formation, left cap and Otis to the running backs.
Jim Hart to quarterbacks, had his finest season.
And he fakes to Otis, throws over the middle, and complete!
Almost intercepted on the deflection.
A quick slide in to the wide receiver, Earl Thomas.
He couldn't hang on, and Kraus was there along with four or five of the Vikings.
And Hildenberg almost came up with a deflected interception,
but it falls in completed second and ten.
Models wise, receivers, they do not like that play, Joe.
When it's a quick slam over the middle, the safety man, if he can pick it up,
they can just tear your head off.
Second down, ten.
Big red on the Viking 46-yard line.
We have 52 seconds left to go in his scoreless first period.
J.V. Kane wide to the near side, left.
He'll be working against Jackie Wallace.
Wide to the right, Mel Gray.
He'll be operating against cornerback Nate Wright.
Loose backfield.
Now Gray comes in motion to the near side, left.
Hart fakes the outside pitch, gives to Otis.
Up the middle, he's hooked with a 43-yard line.
A great tackle.
Sutherland.
Oh, Doug Sutherland made a beautiful tackle that play.
As he caught it from an angle and dropped it,
a gain of about two and a half.
Third down and a long seven.
Again, Thomas in with a play from head coach Don Coriel,
who's done a masterful job in turning this Cardinal franchise around.
Here comes fence runner Bob Lurchner in with an offensive backfield.
A goal with a five-man rush for the six defensive backs.
Terry Brown and Randy Pohl will come in in this situation.
Now we've got six defensive backs and five down liners.
Well, he used it once before and got a sack.
Hart back to pass.
He's got 20 a time this time.
Wings it out.
It's a play to save for Earl Thomas.
He was hit by Jackie Wallace.
He dropped it on the 29-yard line.
Getting a little cold down there.
He's got to just relax those hands.
He might have been out of bounds anyway, Joe.
I think he lost the sidelines there.
Jackie played that one very well.
Jackie played it, timed it beautifully.
Fourth down, seven.
Ten seconds left to go in the first period.
The ball at the Viking, 43.
And Roberts, who hit a soft one down the middle to the Viking one-yard line a moment ago,
will try it again.
Again, the Vikings drop three.
Wallace in the middle.
Nate right on the left side and protecting that corner.
And Sam McCullum protecting the near corner on the right side.
Roberts standing a little bit deeper than average.
Gets the snap.
Moves forward.
There's the kick.
High floater.
Again, down the middle.
The Vikings want to let it go.
This time it bounces out of bounds at the one-yard line.
It was saved.
It was saved down there by Steve Jones, who tipped the ball before it crossed the goal line.
Cut.
Like he's in a hole again, Joe.
Beautiful play by Steve Jones that time.
There's the end of the first quarter.
No score in the ball game with the Vikings deep in the bottle.
A 41-yard kick on that play, and the Vikings will have it on their own two-yard line when the second period resumes.
No score in the game.
Play continues in one minute on the Minnesota Vikings KSTP Radio Network.
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Think happy today.
That's what Christmas is all about.
Well, the Vikings start their second period back on their own two-yard line.
For the second time early in the ball game, the Cardinals have been able to set the ball out near the goal line.
That time it was a great play by the down man, Steve Jones, a reserve running back,
who actually caught up with the punters who was about to cross the goal line.
And he just batted the ball out of bounds.
Of course, where he touched it, it was rolled out, and that's at the Viking two-yard line.
Steve Jones earned his salary probably, Joe, right on that one play as far as the Cardinal organization is concerned.
Ball's inside the two.
The Viking's milling around now, talking with these hands in front of his pants.
It's always the warmest spot to sit in your body.
It is. It's a natural thing. You always see football players go right there.
I didn't say anything.
All right, first down, Vikings on their own two-yard line.
That's actually about one and a half. It's closer to the one than the two.
Swat right, Gilliam lining up inside, Jim Rice running back to Ozzie and Foreman.
Parkinson hands off to Ozzie, and he gets maybe two.
He was stacked up right in the center of that big red defensive line.
There's the late, of course, the whistle blew. I think he lost control of the football.
Cardinals came up with it, but it's going to continue to be Viking football.
They mark it at the five, so Ozzie picked up about three and a half.
It's second down, and completely zone blocking, trying to wedge them out, Joe,
and that ball's inside the one.
They double-team one of the defensive down line on the tackle there.
I just hope they pick up three or four.
Second and short seven. Now they have a slot to the near side left.
Gilliam lining up inside, Jim Lash.
Now they go to a double wing, with Ozzie as a wing back to the right.
To give it to Foreman. Foreman looking for running room, and falls forward to the nine-yard line.
Stop, almost standing straight up at the six, and all of a sudden runs forward
and picked up an extra three yards. Very big.
Now it'll be third down and about two and a half. The ball at the Viking nine.
I'll tell you, it's a dangerous running back, Joe, on third and two, third and one,
because most of your linebackers almost take themselves out of the play
as far as pursuit is concerned.
Now a guy like Foreman gets a little trap block, gets by that first flow,
could break it for a long, long run.
All right, again, slot left, Gilliam inside, Lash. Third down, a long two.
The Vikings on their own nine-yard line.
First possession in the second period, no score.
To give is to Foreman, he struggles, he didn't make it.
He tried the right side, he was hit just across the ten and shoved back,
and they'll see where they mark it, but I think he's going to be at least a half-yard shy at best.
It'll be close.
First quarter stats, Minnesota and the Cardinals both had three first downs.
Rushing, St. Louis 37, Minnesota 27.
Passing yards, St. Louis 23, Minnesota 30.
So net yards very, very close. The Cardinals were 60, Minnesota was 57.
Fran was three out of six for 30 yards in the first quarter.
Hart, one out of seven, had at least two or three dropped.
Now they're measuring. Oh, they got it. I didn't think there was any way.
First down for the Vikes five. What a big first down.
Had to be a lace in the ball somewhere.
The ball was just across the 11-yard line.
So the Vikings pick up a big first down.
13-31 left to go, no score in the first half.
Now Lash wide to the right, Gilliam comes wide to the near side left.
See if Fran now opens it up a little bit.
Cardinals gapping the line on the defense, Fran back to pass, half time.
Swings it out, caught by Foreman, gets the block.
He's at the 15, twisting to the 19-yard line.
Andy Maurer gave him a great block out on the right flat.
He cut back inside Maurer and cut a field about the 19-yard line on a great twisting run.
Well, that's the third catch for Chuck Foreman today.
Transcompleted four, Joe. All three I'm going to Chuck Foreman.
Second down, two. The ball just shy of the Viking 20-yard line.
The other pass, Frank Completed was to Ozzie.
So he's going to his backs on all his completions.
Wide to the near side, Gilliam flip wide to the right.
This is a good passing down and second and short.
Said he gives to Ozzie, who gets to the 20, just across the 20.
And he got chopped down right there and a flag is thrown.
On the right side too, I think it was number 62.
That would be Ed White.
Bob Roran, Jankowski made the tackle for St. Louis.
And it's going to be a penalty against the Vikes.
Holding call, and that will move the ball from the 19 back to the 9 and make it second down and about 12 to go.
St. Louis, I'm sure, will take the penalty.
Ed White is the man.
Yep, they're going to bring it back.
Well, it's at the 10.
So that makes it now, second down and a short 12.
12 and a half minutes to go here in the first half.
No score.
The Vikings, after a drive, it took them to the St. Louis 22-yard line,
where they were intercepted by middle linebacker Mark Arneson, who did not pick up a pass all year.
They've been bottled up ever since then with a kick out of bounds on their one and a kick out of bounds on the two.
Gilliam wide to the right, flash wide to the near side left.
Second down, 12.
The Vikes on their own 10-yard line.
A grand, gives to Foreman.
Sliding to the right, comes back, in, angles the top to 15, escapes one man, his hip, and shoved back.
He got to about the 17-yard line.
Foreman, eluding the first couple of would-be tacklers, Duren finally caught him and drove him back.
But they'll spot the ball at the Viking 17 and a half, make it the 18-yard line.
So now it'll be third down and four.
So the Vikings are within striking distance of the first down.
Big run by Foreman, who's beginning to pick up a few yards on the ground now to go with his pass receptions.
He's got three already today.
He's got 56 yards in total offense.
He's caught three for 28.
He's run the ball nine times for 28.
Locked to the near side left, Gilliam lining up inside, second-year man Jim Lash.
Third down, four.
Big play for the Vikes on their own 18-yard line.
Grand up, back to pass, half-time.
Balls, overshoots Ozzie at the 21-yard line.
He was covered by Stallings.
Grand seemed to have plenty of time on that play and went to Ozzie, looping out of the right flat.
Gilliam looked like he was open down the middle deep.
He was deep, but he had two men back there, Joe, and it would have to be at least a 50-to-55-yard pass.
And those defensive secondary men can really react when the ball's in the air that long.
Now that's fourth down and four, and the Vikings might have had a burst down had it not been for the penalty flag.
Forced to kick it away.
Eyes shied for the first time today as the wind at his back.
Metcalf back in single safety.
There's a snap.
There's the kick.
High hanging kick, not too deep, but there shouldn't be a return.
Metcalf with a fair grab with the Viking, 49.
Now that is a 29-yard punt.
Timeout with 11.32 left to go and a scoreless first half.
More from the Met in 60 seconds.
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The game continues at the beginning of side two.
Okay.
Oh, what a break for the Hikes! That came after the play was already over!
It's gonna be a first down.
It'll be a first down, but it'll move it back from the 9, probably to the 24 yard line.
Take a late hit, or a late block on Jeff Byrne.
That's what it was.
15 big whips.
Oh, what a break for the Hikes! And the ball goes back to the Minnesota 24 yard line.
What do we do now?
Might do a third down. How are we gonna rule it?
He had the first down made.
Oh, he's still got the third down, much of it.
On the near sideline. So it will be third down again, and eight yards to go.
Oh, what a break!
Conrad Dobler, the right offensive guard, was the man who was building his own fraction of it.
That might well be the biggest penalty of the game.
No question about it.
Now it's third down and eight for St. Lawrence at the back end, 24.
William Auburn of Eastside.
Now it's a quick wide to left down hit fence.
Line's up to the double wing right.
Mark drops back to pass.
And the Mets, that's it! He's got running on! He's 15!
And he's up and in at the 14 yard line. He's got the first down.
Number one drop back. Mark steps up inside, running the rush.
Had nothing but wide open mail in front of him.
The late right flanker came up to offend him at the 14 yard line, but it should be enough for the first down.
It is.
Let's pause 10 seconds for space identification on the Vikings, KSEP radio network.
20 degrees in the front side, east southwest winds at 12, with light snow falling at 1 o'clock.
KSEP central, in the network.
Oh, big play by Jim Hart.
Now, J.B. Kane, wide to the east side. Wide to left to south side.
He comes in motion again.
To the near side right.
He drops to the back of the 14. Handle from Mets back.
Pushing.
Down at the 15 yard line.
The Wally Hilgenberg, great ankle tackle as he leaned over the blocker.
And caught.
Hips off as he faked to the outside and tried to cut back inside the blocker.
His second down line. The blowout breaking 13.
Kane Jones, so right at the point of attack, Jones.
Great lateral movement, Alan Page.
Amazing, 245 pounds. You know, sticking, when it's night, I ran into Wally Chambers, who,
in my estimation, plays as close to Alan Page as anybody in professional football.
Wally's up there visiting Chuck Foreman.
They're very, very good friends.
They made an appearance in the All-Star game a couple years ago.
Second down line.
Well, wide to the near side.
Wide to the left of the left side. It's the bottom of the Viking 14 yard line.
And, he's got the pass. It's hard.
It goes without a cut. And, it's a touchdown.
He might do the trade and Jackie Smith will hit the way and get the number.
No, it's Alan Thomas. Alan Thomas slid in.
And, it was cut right to the left.
He's got a headwind across the field.
Made the drive at the side yard line and barely got it across the goal line.
And, the Cardinals were taking a six-up and right here at the Boston Stadium.
It was finally time to go in the first half.
And, it was a second down play. A 13-yard touchdown pass.
From Jim Huck. Plenty of protection, Joe. He just waited for Thomas.
Coming across from the left side. Declared a linebacker.
He put it right on the money. It's a four-yard line. He went in from there.
A little bit of a last-court play.
A plenty of opportunities. A kick by Huck in his head.
And, it's going out. St. Louis 7, Minnesota Vikings, nothing.
We'll pause right now on the Minnesota Vikings.
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