Up through the regional finals, better seed gets home field, home field for play in games settled by coin flip. (Having now played a few games, it takes a couple to settle in on a format)
Play In Game:
1977 NFC CHAMPION MINNESOTA VIKINGS AT 1983 DALLAS COWBOYS
1983 DALLAS COWBOYS
Record: 12-4
Pythag Record: 11-5
Offense: 2nd pts/gm
Defense: 20th pts/gm
2nd NFC East
Lost WC Rams 24-17
HC: Tom Landry, DC: Ernie Staunter
Offense (Pro Bowl in bold, All Pro designated)
QB Danny White (31)
RB Tony Dorsett (29)
FB Ron Springs (27)
WR Tony Hill (27)
WR Drew Pearson (32)
TE Doug Cosbie (27)
LT Pat Donovan (30)
LG Herbert Scott (30)
C Tom Rafferty (29)
RG Kurt Petersen (26)
RT Jim Cooper (28)
Defense
LDE Too Tall Jones (32)
LDT John Dutton (32)
RDT Randy White (30) ALL PRO
RDE Harvey Martin (33)
LLB Mike Hegman (30)
MLB Bob Breunig (30)
RLB Anthony Dickerson (26)
LCB Everson Walls (24) ALL PRO
RCB Dennis Thurman (27)
SS Dexter Clinkscale (25)
FS Michael Downs (24)
PK Rafael Septien (30)
P John Warren (23-Rookie)
1974 NFC CHAMPION MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Record: 10-4
Pythag Record: 11-3
Off: 5th pts scored/gm
Def: 3rd pts allowed/gm
1st NFC Central
d. Cards 30-14 Division Rnd
d. Rams 14-10 NFC Title
Lost Super Bowl Steelers 16-6
HC: Bud Grant, OC: Jerry Burns, DC: Neill Armstrong
Offense (Pro Bowl in bold, All Pro designated)
QB Fran Tarkenton (34)
RB Dave Osborn (31)
FB Chuck Foreman (24)
WR John Gilliam (29)
WR Jim Lash (23)
TE Stu Voigt (26)
LT Charles Goodrum (24)
LG Ed White (27)
C Mick Tingelhoff (34)
RG Andy Maurer (26)
RT Ron Yary (28) -- ALL PRO
Defense
LDE Carl Eller (32)
LDT Doug Southerland (26)
RDT Alan Page (29)--ALL PRO
RDE Jim Marshall (37)
LLB Roy Winston (34)
MLB Jeff Siemon (24)
RLB Wally Hilgenberg (32)
LCB Nate Wright (27)
RCB Jackie Wallace (23-Rookie)
SS Jeff Wright (24)
FS Paul Krause (32)
PK Fred Cox (36)
P Mike Eischeid (34)
First Quarter:
Dallas kicks. Vikes start at their own 34.
1st/10 - Chuck Foreman runs for 2 yds.
2nd/8 - Toss to Foreman, he picks up 5.
3rd/3 - Foreman goes off tackle to the right side for 8 yards and a first down.
1st down. Vikes at their own 41. 12:47 left in the first.
1st/10 - Too Tall Jones, a Pro Bowler at the age of 32, blasts in for a sack on Tarkenton, who loses 8.
2nd/18- Foreman draw play, 8 up the middle.
3rd/10- Pitch to Dave Osborn - he gets only a yard and the Vikes punt. Dallas returns to their 26 where they take over with 10:34 to go in the first.
1st/10 - Dorsett, 1 yard.
2nd/9 - Dorsett, 1 yard.
3rd/8 - Big play - Paul Krause picks off Danny White - returns it to the Dallas 38 yard line and the Vikes will start tthere with 9:01 left in the qtr.
1st/10 - Foreman, 6 yards.
2nd/4 - Tarkenton to Osborn in the flat for four yards and a first down at the Dallas 28.
1st/10 - Foreman busts one, 24 yards and the Vikings have first and goal at the 4.
1st/goal - Tarkenton rolling right - firing over the middle to Jim Lash in the back of the endzone - TOUCHDOWN VIKINGS. The kick is good, at 6:45 left in the qtr, Vikes go up 7-0. Dallas will take over at their own 31. 6:38 left.
1st/10 - Alan Page is the best player on the Vikings; he sacks White for a loss of 6.
2nd/16 - Ron Springs runs for 4.
3rd/12- Pass in the flat to Dorsett, he gets 5 and the Cowboys punt - Vikes will take over at their own 34 with 4:15 left in the qtr.
1st/10 - Foreman for 3.
2nd/7 - Osborn for 7 and a first down at their own 44, 2:58 left in the 1st.
1st/10- Broken play, Tarkenton keeps it alive and finds the TE Stu Voigt for 15 - the Vikes are at the Cowboy 41. 2:14 left in the first.
1st/10 - Tarkenton scramble gets 3
2nd/7 - Foreman is buried in the backfield by Randy White for a four yard loss.
3rd/11 - Tarkenton finds John Gilliam on the slideline for a 23 yard gain - the Vikes have a first down at the Cowboy 19, 5 seconds left in the qtr.
1st/10 - Foreman stopped at the line of scrimmage in the last play of the qtr.
Second Quarter:
Vikes have 2nd and 10 at the Dallas 29.
2nd/10-Osborn picks up 8 yards off tackle left.
3rd/2 - Tarkenton rolling right - finds Osborn in the back of the end zone - deflected by Everson Walls. Fred Cox lines up for a 28 yard field goal - and he misses it - the Cowboy defense holds and Dallas takes over at their own 20 with 14:11 left.
3 and out for the Cowboys. Vikes take over at their own 46 with 12:05 left.
3 and out for the Vikes. Dallas takes over at their own 25 with 9:52 left.
1st/10 - Timmy Newsome is on for Dorsett and he breaks a big one, 43 yards down to the Viking 32. 9:02 left.
1st/10 - Here's Dorsett, he picks up 7.
2nd/3 - Ron Springs now with the carry, he's brought down by Carl Eller for a 3 yard loss and its 3rd and 6 at the Viking 28, 7:45 left in the half.
3rd/6 - Dorsett - tough running, 8 yards to the 20.
1st/10 - Page brings down Newhouse for a 2 yard loss.
2nd/12 - Newhouse again, he picks up 4 yards.
3rd/8 - Danny White finds Tony Hill crossing over the middle - he breaks a tackle and is headed to the endzone TOUCHDOWN COWBOYS. The kick is good and this game is tied 7-7. Aftet the kick, the Vikes take over at their own 25 with 5:29 left in the half.
Tarkenton hit Gilliam for a 9 yard gain; a play later, Foreman picked up the first down on a 2 yard run. Vikes at their own 36 with 3:21 left. On second and 9, John Dutton sacks Tarketon for a 7 yard loss, the Vikes will punt a play later - the 23 year old punt returner out of Hawaii, Gary Allen, returns it back to the Minnesota 33 where Dallas takes over with 1:40 left.
After 2 incomplete passes White finds Doug Cosbie for a 14 yard gain to the 19. 1:23 left.
On second and ten, White hits Hill for four yards - Page comes through with a big sack on third down; Rafael Septien hits a 37 yard FG to give Dallas a 10-7 lead. After the kick, the Vikes take over at their own 31 with 56 seconds left.
Foreman took a swing pass and rumbled for 44 yards down the sideline -- but it's called back for holding. Tarkenton hits Voigt for 6 on first and 20; they run a simple handoff then to Osborn - but Randy White forces a fumble - it's scooped up by DD Lewis and with 35 seconds left in the half, the Cowboys have the ball at the Viking 35.
A couple of Dorsett runs net 4 yards, White throws an incomplete pass on 3rd/6 - Septien hits a 42 yard FG with 18 seconds left and the Cowboys are going to go into the locker room up 13-7 at the half.
Third Quarter:
After the kick, Dallas opens at their own 29 - on second and 9, Danny White hits a streaking Butch Johnson down the right sideline, he breaks a tackle -- and he is going to go - Butch Johnson all the way to the end zone on the second play of the half - TOUCHDOWN COWBOYS. The kick is good and Dallas goes up 20-7.
After the kick, Minnesota starts at their own 24, 13:57 left.
1st/10 - Tarkenton to Osborn, 11 yds.
1st/10 - Osborn stopped at the line.
2nd/10 - Foreman breaks a 38 yarder to the Cowboy 27 yard line. 11:56 left in the third.
Dallas offsides.
1st/5 - incomplete
2nd/5 - Tarkenton to Lash for 11 and a first down at the Dallas 11 with 11:10 left.
1st/10-Foreman 1 yard.
2nd/9 - Tarkenton finds Osborn at the goal line - he surges ahead and is in the endzone TOUCHDOWN VIKINGS. The kick is good and it's 20-13 Cowboys; after the kick Dallas will start at their own 15 with 10:22 left in the third.
1st/10 - Dorsett 1 yd
2nd/9 - White to Cosbie, 14 yards to the Cowboy 30. First down.
1st/10 - A 4 yard pass to Dorsett is wiped out by Dallas offensive pass interference
1/20 - Dorsett loses 4 yards.
2/24 - 10 yard pass to Springs.
3/14 - incomplete.
The Cowboys punt, a Minnesota holding call on the return takes the ball back 10 yards, at 7:13 left in the third, Vikes take over at their own 25 yard line trailing 20-14.
1/10 - Osborn runs for 18 yards to the Viking 43.
1/10 - Inc
2/10-Foreman 2 yard un
3/8 - Inc - and the Vikings punt, at 5:32, Dallas regains at their own 27.
1/10-Danny White gains 4 on a busted play.
2/6 - White to Cosbie for 6 and the first down.
1/10-Inc
2/10-Dorsett for 4
3/6 - 7 yards for Ron Springs and another Dallas first. They're up to their own 48 with 2:52 left in the third.
1/10-Alan Page with his third sack of the game, White loses 6.
2/16 - Dorsett stuffed.
3/16 - Paul Krause comes through with his second interception of the day - the Vikings will take possession at their 43 yard line with 1:17 to go in the third, trailing 20-14.
1/10 - Big run by Osborn, 31 yards all the way to the Dallas 26.
1/10 - Oscar Reed gains a yard, that's the end of the quarter.
Fourth Quarter
Vikings ball, 2nd and 9 at the Dallas 25. Cowboys lead 20-14
2/9-Inc
3/9-Tarkenton to Gilliam for 12 - big, big first down and the Vikes are at the Cowboy 13.
1/10- Foreman gains a yard.
2/9-Tarkenton to Voigt over the middle - he gets to the goal and is stopped just short - Minnesota has first and goal with about a foot to go.
1/10-Play action - Tarkenton rolls out - flips to Foreman in the end zone -- TOUCHDOWN VIKINGS and Minnesota kicks the XP to take a 21-20 lead.
After the kick, Dallas takes over at their own 22, 12:32 left, down 1
1/10-Dorsett gains 2
2/8-White's flushed, manages to gain a yard.
3/7-White finds Tony Hill for 16, that's a first down and the Cowboys are on their own 41 with 10:29 left.
1/10-Dorsett, 13 yards. First down at the Vikings 46.
1/10-Dorsett gains 3.
2/7-White hits Springs, he is out of bounds with a 7 yard gain and a first down at the Vikings 36 yard line with 8:35 to play.
1/10-Dorsett for 1.
2/9-Inc
3/9-Inc.
Well, game decision here for Landry. Dallas is down by a point at the Viking 35, that's a 52 yard FG attempt. Or a punt. Or...they go for it. Which Dallas decides to do. Heck of a way to start the tournament.
4/9 - White finds Tony Hill for 15 - huge, huge first down and with 7:06 left Dallas is at the 20.
1/10-White to Springs for 12.
1st and Goal at the 8. Marshall stops Springs at the line. Loss of a yard.
2nd and Goal at the 9. White to Springs - he gains 6, brought down at the 3.
3rd and goal, 5:04 left. The pitch is to Dorsett, Dorsett breaks a tackle in the backfield - and Dorsett is going to score! TOUCHDOWN COWBOYS!! The 2 pt conversion is available in the tournament - Dallas fails. After the kickoff - Minnesota will take over at their own 32 yard line, Dallas 26 Minnesota 21, 4:53 left. Are we about to see an Alcoa Fantastic Finish?
1/10 - Foreman is stopped at the line. Minnesota is then backed up 5 on a false start.
2/15 - Foreman for 3.
3/12 - Incomplete.
So, Vikes are up against it. 4th and 12 at their own 30, 3:28 left.
4/12 - Tarkenton hits Gilliam for 18 and the huge first down. Minnesota matches Dallas's 4th down conversion and they've got 1st down at their own 48 with 2:39 left.
1/10- Osborn for 4.
2/6-Tarkenton finds Sam McCullum, the rookie from Michigan St, for a 14 yard gain, Minnesota is at the Dallas 34 with 2:03 left, trailing by 5.
1/10-Tarkenton to Lash, 8 yard gain.
2/2 - Tarkenton runs for 4. That's a first down at the Dallas 22 yard line, 1:52 to go.
1/10-Osborn gets 1. Vikes call time out.
2/9 - Incomplete, Walls with the big pass breakup.
3/9-Takenton is hounded - scrambles - throws - incomplete.
1:37 left. 4th down and 9 at the Cowboy 21.
4/9 - Tarkenton is under heavy pressure - he's met by both Randy White and Harvey Martin, they crunch him to the turf for an 8 yard loss - and Dallas takes possession at their own 29 yard line with 1:32 left.
1/10 - Dorsett gains a dozen - that will do it, White can kneel down the rest of the way and the Dallas Cowboys win the play in game
FINAL: COWBOYS 26 VIKINGS 21
White: 12/22 192 yards 2 TD/2 INT
Tarkenton: 16/26 162 yards 3 TD
Dorsett: 18 carries/58 yards/1 TD
Foreman: 16 carries/94 yards
Hill: 4 catches/53 yards/1 TD
Gilliam: 4 catches 62 yards
Krause 2 INT, Page 3 sacks
PLAYER OF THE GAME: RANDY WHITE
