The 49ers face the Minnesota Vikings on 1973-10-14 at Candlestick Park. The 49ers' offensive line continues to anchor the calendar's identity heading into Week 5.
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 Sunday 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.
Inside the conference Week 5 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.
Across the first 4 games the 49ers are tracking the kind of pace that, in calendar 1973, 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 | 4-0 | W4 |
| Cleveland Browns | 3-1 | W2 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 2-2 | L1 |
| Houston Oilers | 0-4 | L4 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Bills | 3-1 | W2 |
| Miami Dolphins | 3-1 | W2 |
| Baltimore Colts | 1-3 | L1 |
| New England Patriots | 1-3 | W1 |
| New York Jets | 1-3 | L2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas City Chiefs | 3-1 | W3 |
| Oakland Raiders | 2-2 | W1 |
| Denver Broncos | 1-3 | L3 |
| San Diego Chargers | 1-3 | L2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Rams | 4-0 | W4 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 2-2 | W1 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 1-3 | L3 |
| New Orleans Saints | 1-3 | W1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Vikings | 4-0 | W4 |
| Green Bay Packers | 2-1-1 | W1 |
| Detroit Lions | 1-2-1 | L1 |
| Chicago Bears | 1-3 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys | 3-1 | L1 |
| Washington Redskins | 3-1 | W2 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 2-2 | L2 |
| New York Giants | 1-2-1 | L2 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 0-3-1 | L2 |
49ers 3, Minnesota Vikings 749ers 6, Minnesota Vikings 1449ers 13, Minnesota Vikings 1449ers 13, Minnesota Vikings 1749ers 13, Minnesota Vikings 17[1]
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Vikings | 7 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 714141717 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 3 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 36131313 |
Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Vikings | John Gilliam 12 yard pass from Fran Tarkenton ( Fred Cox kick) | 7-0 |
| 49ers | Bruce Gossett 28 yard field goal | 7-3 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Vikings | Chuck Foreman 1 yard rush ( Fred Cox kick) | 14-3 |
| 49ers | Bruce Gossett 41 yard field goal | 14-6 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Ken Willard 7 yard pass from Steve Spurrier ( Bruce Gossett kick) | 14-13 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Vikings | Fred Cox 22 yard field goal | 17-13 |
The 49ers lost 13-17 at home the Minnesota Vikings on 1973-10-14. Steve Spurrier went 31 of 48 for 320 yards with 1 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Ken Willard ran for 52 on 10 carries. Gene Washington caught 8 for 118. On the other side Fran Tarkenton went 10 of 22 for 136 yards with 1 touchdowns and 1 interceptions. Chuck Foreman ran for 71 on 22 carries with 1 touchdown.[1]
The 49ers' road effort ended in a 13-17 loss against the Minnesota Vikings on 1973-10-14. Steve Spurrier went 31 of 48 for 320 yards with 1 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Ken Willard ran for 52 on 10 carries. Gene Washington caught 8 for 118.
The Sunday's outcome maps to the kind of game-script the staff has been working through across the calendar's first 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 13, Minnesota Vikings 17. Margin: minus 4. Box score reads: Steve Spurrier went 31 of 48 for 320 yards with 1 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Ken Willard ran for 52 on 10 carries. Gene Washington caught 8 for 118. Danny Abramowicz caught 7 for 87. On the Minnesota Vikings' side: Fran Tarkenton went 10 of 22 for 136 yards with 1 touchdowns and 1 interceptions. Chuck Foreman ran for 71 on 22 carries with 1 touchdown.
A 13-17 home loss to the Minnesota Vikings. The 49ers' calendar continues to shape across the kind of game-script the staff has been projecting.
How it unfolded
Steve Spurrier went 31 of 48 for 320 yards with 1 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Ken Willard ran for 52 on 10 carries. Gene Washington caught 8 for 118. 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 10 of 22 for 136 yards with 1 touchdowns and 1 interceptions for the Minnesota Vikings, and Chuck Foreman ran for 71 on 22 carries with 1 touchdown.
The turning point
The in-game adjustment that, in calendar 1973, 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
Steve Spurrier went 31 of 48 for 320 yards with 1 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. The lead-back rotation: Ken Willard ran for 52 on 10 carries, plus Doug Cunningham ran for 33 on 10 carries. Receiver room: Gene Washington caught 8 for 118, and Danny Abramowicz caught 7 for 87.
Personnel watch
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Steve Spurrier | 31/48 | 320 | 1 | 2 | |
| MIN | |||||
| Fran Tarkenton | 10/22 | 136 | 1 | 1 | |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Ken Willard | 10 | 52 | 0 | 33 |
| Doug Cunningham | 10 | 33 | 0 | 7 |
| Vic Washington | 7 | 20 | 0 | 14 |
| Ted Kwalick | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| MIN | ||||
| Chuck Foreman | 22 | 71 | 1 | 14 |
| Fran Tarkenton | 2 | 13 | 0 | 12 |
| Ed Marinaro | 6 | 12 | 0 | 5 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Gene Washington | 8 | 118 | 0 | 34 |
| Danny Abramowicz | 7 | 87 | 0 | 21 |
| Ted Kwalick | 4 | 54 | 0 | 24 |
| Ken Willard | 8 | 41 | 1 | 12 |
| Doug Cunningham | 2 | 16 | 0 | 10 |
| Vic Washington | 2 | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| MIN | ||||
| John Gilliam | 7 | 107 | 1 | 21 |
| Ed Marinaro | 1 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| Carroll Dale | 1 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| Chuck Foreman | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
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