The road slate continues against the Minnesota Vikings on 1972-12-16 at Candlestick Park. The 49ers' offensive line continues to anchor the calendar's identity heading into Week 14.
The roster's lead back rotation and receiver room project the kind of game-script the staff has been working through. The Minnesota Vikings arrive tracking their own divisional standing.[1]
The week of preparation has built toward the matchup against the Minnesota Vikings is the kind of home game where the offensive line has the matchup the coaching staff has been pointing toward all week. The Sunday's biggest unknown is the front rotation against the Minnesota Vikings' offensive line. The week of preparation produced the kind of game-plan continuity the staff has been building toward.
The slate's Week 14 games continues to shape the playoff race. The conference's projected leaders carry through the calendar with the kind of pace the wire copy has been writing into. The home matchup with the Minnesota Vikings is the calendar's sense-check on the 49ers' divisional posture. The Sunday-night and Monday-night games close the week with their own playoff implications.
The first 13 games have shown the 49ers are tracking the kind of pace that, in calendar 1972, defines the divisional posture. The lead back's rushing workload is the staff's projected call. The receiver room's distribution is the offense's signature. The Minnesota Vikings are tracking their own standing. Vegas opens the lines accordingly. A figure to follow: the offensive line's pass-protection rate.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 10-3 | W3 |
| Cleveland Browns | 9-4 | W1 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 7-6 | L1 |
| Houston Oilers | 1-12 | L10 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Miami Dolphins | 13-0 | W13 |
| New York Jets | 7-6 | L1 |
| Baltimore Colts | 5-8 | L1 |
| Buffalo Bills | 3-9-1 | T1 |
| New England Patriots | 3-10 | W1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Oakland Raiders | 9-3-1 | W5 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 7-6 | W2 |
| San Diego Chargers | 4-8-1 | L2 |
| Denver Broncos | 4-9 | W1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco 49ers | 7-5-1 | W1 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 7-6 | L1 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 6-6-1 | L1 |
| New Orleans Saints | 2-10-1 | L2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Green Bay Packers | 9-4 | W2 |
| Detroit Lions | 7-5-1 | T1 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 7-6 | L1 |
| Chicago Bears | 4-8-1 | W1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Washington Redskins | 11-2 | L1 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 10-3 | W2 |
| New York Giants | 7-6 | L2 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 3-9-1 | W1 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 2-10-1 | L4 |
1972 Minnesota Vikings
49ers vs Vikings 1972 Division Title #49ersfaithful #49ersfan #minnesotavikings 5
49ers vs Vikings 1972 Division Title #49ersfaithful #49ersfan #minnesotavikings 7
49ers vs Vikings 1972 Division Title #49ersfaithful #49ersfan #minnesotavikings 15
49ers vs Vikings 1972 Division Title #49ersfaithful #49ersfan #minnesotavikings 13
49ers vs Vikings 1972 Division Title #49ersfaithful #49ersfan #minnesotavikings 17
49ers vs Vikings 1972 Division Title #49ersfaithful #49ersfan #minnesotavikings 8
49ers vs Vikings 1972 Division Title #49ersfaithful #49ersfan #minnesotavikings 2
One Of The Most Disappointing Minnesota Vikings Seasons (1972)
49ers vs Vikings 1972 Division Title #49ersfaithful #49ersfan #minnesotavikings 11
49ers vs Vikings 1972 Division Title #49ersfaithful #49ersfan #minnesotavikings 9
The MOST SURPRISING Touchdown Catch in San Francisco 49ers HISTORY | Vikings @ 49ers (1972)
1972 Vikings vs Steelers CBS Original Broadcast49ers 0, Minnesota Vikings 749ers 6, Minnesota Vikings 749ers 6, Minnesota Vikings 1749ers 20, Minnesota Vikings 1749ers 20, Minnesota Vikings 17[1]
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Vikings | 7 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 77171717 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 0 | 6 | 0 | 14 | 0662020 |
Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Vikings | Ed Marinaro 18 yard pass from Fran Tarkenton ( Fred Cox kick) | 7-0 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Bruce Gossett 14 yard field goal | 7-3 |
| 49ers | Bruce Gossett 37 yard field goal | 7-6 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Vikings | Fred Cox 43 yard field goal | 10-6 |
| Vikings | John Gilliam 31 yard pass from Fran Tarkenton ( Fred Cox kick) | 17-6 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Gene Washington 24 yard pass from John Brodie ( Bruce Gossett kick) | 17-13 |
| 49ers | Dick Witcher 2 yard pass from John Brodie ( Bruce Gossett kick) | 17-20 |
The 49ers' offense produced 20 points at home over the Minnesota Vikings on 1972-12-16. John Brodie went 10 of 15 for 165 yards with 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Larry Schreiber ran for 67 on 12 carries. Gene Washington caught 4 for 119 with 1 touchdown. On the other side Fran Tarkenton went 11 of 25 for 144 yards with 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Ed Marinaro ran for 70 on 16 carries.[1]
San Francisco's offense produced 20 points against the Minnesota Vikings on 1972-12-16. John Brodie went 10 of 15 for 165 yards with 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Larry Schreiber ran for 67 on 12 carries. Gene Washington caught 4 for 119 with 1 touchdown.
The Sunday's outcome maps to the kind of game-script the staff has been working through across the calendar's closing weeks. The offensive line's pocket time produced the dropbacks the playbook calls. The defensive unit's pressure produced the kind of takeaway the unit has been generating. The Sunday's outcome sets the next week's posture across the divisional standings.
The Minnesota Vikings produced the kind of game-script the wire copy projected. The next-week matchup is the calendar's next sense-check on the 49ers' divisional pacing.
49ers 20, Minnesota Vikings 17. Margin: plus 3. Box score reads: John Brodie went 10 of 15 for 165 yards with 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Larry Schreiber ran for 67 on 12 carries. Gene Washington caught 4 for 119 with 1 touchdown. Vic Washington caught 4 for 36. On the Minnesota Vikings' side: Fran Tarkenton went 11 of 25 for 144 yards with 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Ed Marinaro ran for 70 on 16 carries.
A 20-17 home win over the Minnesota Vikings. The 49ers' calendar continues to shape across the kind of game-script the staff has been projecting.
How it unfolded
John Brodie went 10 of 15 for 165 yards with 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Larry Schreiber ran for 67 on 12 carries. Gene Washington caught 4 for 119 with 1 touchdown. The Sunday's offensive output produced the kind of full-sixty pace the playbook has been working through. On the defensive side Fran Tarkenton went 11 of 25 for 144 yards with 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions for the Minnesota Vikings, and Ed Marinaro ran for 70 on 16 carries.
The turning point
The in-game adjustment that, in calendar 1972, decided the closing two quarters. The defensive front's pressure on the third-down dropbacks produced the kind of pass-rush volume the unit has been generating across the year. The receiver room's route distribution produced the kind of timing-route conversions the playbook calls.
By the numbers
John Brodie went 10 of 15 for 165 yards with 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. The lead-back rotation: Larry Schreiber ran for 67 on 12 carries, plus Vic Washington ran for 43 on 10 carries. Receiver room: Gene Washington caught 4 for 119 with 1 touchdown, and Vic Washington caught 4 for 36.
Personnel watch
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| John Brodie | 10/15 | 165 | 2 | 2 | |
| Steve Spurrier | 7/14 | 76 | 0 | 3 | |
| John Isenbarger | 0/1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| MIN | |||||
| Fran Tarkenton | 11/25 | 144 | 2 | 2 | |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Larry Schreiber | 12 | 67 | 0 | 20 |
| Vic Washington | 10 | 43 | 0 | 16 |
| Ken Willard | 5 | 25 | 0 | 16 |
| John Isenbarger | 2 | 12 | 0 | 7 |
| Jimmy Thomas | 4 | 7 | 0 | 5 |
| MIN | ||||
| Ed Marinaro | 16 | 70 | 0 | 18 |
| Bill Brown | 10 | 41 | 0 | 11 |
| Oscar Reed | 7 | 30 | 0 | 8 |
| Fran Tarkenton | 2 | 28 | 0 | 21 |
| John Gilliam | 2 | 21 | 0 | 14 |
| Mike Eischeid | 1 | -13 | 0 | -13 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Gene Washington | 4 | 119 | 1 | 53 |
| Vic Washington | 4 | 36 | 0 | 18 |
| Ted Kwalick | 2 | 31 | 0 | 17 |
| Ken Willard | 2 | 19 | 0 | 15 |
| Larry Schreiber | 2 | 17 | 0 | 10 |
| John Isenbarger | 1 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| Preston Riley | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| Dick Witcher | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| MIN | ||||
| John Gilliam | 4 | 62 | 1 | 31 |
| Bill Brown | 3 | 54 | 0 | 31 |
| Ed Marinaro | 3 | 22 | 1 | 18 |
| Oscar Reed | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
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