The 1965 season was the Minnesota Vikings' fifth in the National Football League (NFL). Under head coach Norm Van Brocklin, the team finished with a 7–7 record.
Offseason
1965 draft
Pro Bowler
1965 Minnesota Vikings DraftDraft orderPlayer namePositionCollegeNotesRoundSelection18Jack SnowWide receiverNotre Dame215Archie SuttonOffensive tackleIllinoisfrom Giants23Lance RentzelWide receiverOklahoma336Traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers451Jim WhalenWide receiverBoston College55Jim HarrisOffensive tackleUtah Statefrom Browns564Traded to the Detroit Lions679Jim GrishamRunning backOklahoma792Traded to the Detroit Lions8100John HankinsonQuarterbackMinnesotafrom 49ers107Jeff JordanDefensive backTulsa9120Frank McClendonOffensive tackleAlabama10135Jerald SchweigerOffensive tackleSuperior State11148John ThomasWide receiverUSC12163Mike TillemanDefensive tackleMontana13176Dave OsbornRunning backNorth Dakota14191Max LeetzowDefensive endIdaho15204Phillip MorganRunning backEast Tennessee State16219Paul LabinskiOffensive tackleSt. John's (MN) 17232Veran SmithRunning backUtah State18247Rich KotiteWide receiverWagner19260Ellis JohnsonRunning backSoutheastern Louisiana20271Cosmo IacavazziRunning backPrinceton
Notes
Roster
Preseason Game Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 August 14 Pittsburgh Steelers W 31–21 1–0 Atlanta Stadium 39,240 2 August 20 Philadelphia Eagles W 35–21 2–0 Metropolitan Stadium 43,125 3 August 28 Washington Redskins W 20–16 3–0 American Legion Memorial Stadium 20,426 4 September 3 Dallas Cowboys W 57–17 4–0 Legion Field 41,500 5 September 11 New York Giants W 24–9 5–0 Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium 14,250
Regular season
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 September 19 at Baltimore Colts L 16–35 0–1 Memorial Stadium 56,562 2 September 26 Detroit Lions L 29–31 0–2 Metropolitan Stadium 46,826 3 October 3 at Los Angeles Rams W 38–35 1–2 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 36,755 4 October 9 New York Giants W 40–14 2–2 Metropolitan Stadium 44,283 5 October 17 Chicago Bears L 37–45 2–3 Metropolitan Stadium 47,426 6 October 24 at San Francisco 49ers W 42–41 3–3 Kezar Stadium 42,680 7 October 31 at Cleveland BrownsW 27–17 4–3 Cleveland Stadium 83,505 8 November 7 Los Angeles RamsW 24–13 5–3 Metropolitan Stadium 47,426 9 November 14 Baltimore ColtsL 21–41 5–4 Metropolitan Stadium 47,426 10 November 21 Green Bay PackersL 13–38 5–5 Metropolitan Stadium 47,426 11 November 28 San Francisco 49ersL 24–45 5–6 Metropolitan Stadium 40,306 12 December 5 at Green Bay Packers L 19–24 5–7 Lambeau Field 50,852 13 December 12 at Detroit Lions W 29–7 6–7 Tiger Stadium 45,420 14 December 19 at Chicago Bears W 24–17 7–7 Wrigley Field 46,604 Note: The game against the Giants, originally scheduled for Sunday, October 10, was brought forward to Saturday night because of the World Series.
Standings
Statistics
Team leaders Category Player(s) Value Passing yards Fran Tarkenton 2,609 Passing touchdowns Fran Tarkenton 19 Rushing yards Bill Brown 699 Rushing touchdowns Tommy Mason 10 Receiving yards Paul Flatley 896 Receiving touchdowns Paul Flatley 7 Points Fred Cox 113 Kickoff return yards Lance Rentzel 602 Punt return yards Tommy Mason 63 Interceptions Ed Sharockman 6SacksJim Marshall7.5 Note that sack totals from 1960 to 1981 are considered unofficial by the NFL.
League rankings Category Total yards Yards per game NFL rank Passing offense 2,546 181.9 8th Rushing offense 2,278 162.7 2nd Total offense 4,824 344.6 4th Passing defense 2,493 178.1 6th Rushing defense 1,755 125.4 9th Total defense 4,248 303.4 7th
References