The 1970 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 10th in the National Football League and the first season following the AFL–NFL merger. In their fourth year under head coach Bud Grant, they finished with a 12–2 record and won the first ever NFC Central title before losing to the San Francisco 49ers 17–14 at home in the NFC Divisional Playoff game. The Vikings' defense became the second defense in the history of the NFL to lead the league in fewest points allowed and fewest total yards allowed for two consecutive seasons.The Best Show in Football: The 1946–1955 Cleveland Browns, p. 294, Andy Piascik, Taylor Trade Publishing, 2007,
Offseason
1970 draft
1970 Minnesota Vikings Draft Draft order Player name Position College Notes Round Selection125John WardOffensive tackleOklahoma State251Bill CapplemanQuarterbackFlorida State377Chuck BurgoonLinebackerNorth Park4103Traded to the New Orleans Saints5129Greg JonesRunning backUCLA6155Traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers7181Hap FarberLinebackerOle Miss8207Mike CarrollGuardMissouri9233George MorrowDefensive endOle Miss10259Stu VoigtTight endWisconsin11285Godfrey ZaunbrecherCenterLSU12311James HollandDefensive backJackson State13337Robert PearceDefensive backStephen F. Austin14363Tommy SpinksWide receiverLouisiana Tech15389Bennie FrancisDefensive endChadron State16415Bruce CeroneWide receiverEmporia State17441Brian HealyDefensive backMichigan
Notes
Roster
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 August 8 New Orleans Saints L 13–14 0–1 Fawcett Stadium 17,932 2 August 15 Pittsburgh Steelers L 13–20 0–2 Metropolitan Stadium 45,591 3 August 22 at Houston Oilers W 14–7 1–2 Astrodome 44,563 4 August 30 New York Jets W 52–21 2–2 Metropolitan Stadium 47,900 5 September 5 at Cleveland Browns W 24–21 3–2 Cleveland Stadium 83,043 6 September 11 at Chicago Bears W 31–30 4–2 Soldier Field 46,630
Regular season
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 September 20 Kansas City Chiefs W 27–10 1–0 Metropolitan Stadium 47,900 2 September 27 New Orleans Saints W 26–0 2–0 Metropolitan Stadium 47,900 3 October 4 at Green Bay Packers L 10–13 2–1 Milwaukee County Stadium 47,967 4 October 11 at Chicago Bears W 24–0 3–1 Wrigley Field 45,485 5 October 18 Dallas Cowboys W 54–13 4–1 Metropolitan Stadium 47,900 6 October 26 Los Angeles Rams W 13–3 5–1 Metropolitan Stadium 47,900 7 November 1 at Detroit Lions W 30–17 6–1 Tiger Stadium 58,210 8 November 8 at Washington Redskins W 19–10 7–1 Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium 50,415 9 November 15 Detroit Lions W 24–20 8–1 Metropolitan Stadium 47,900 10 November 22 Green Bay Packers W 10–3 9–1 Metropolitan Stadium 47,900 11 November 29 at New York Jets L 10–20 9–2 Shea Stadium 62,333 12 December 5 Chicago Bears W 16–13 10–2 Metropolitan Stadium 47,900 13 December 13 at Boston Patriots W 35–14 11–2 Harvard Stadium 37,819 14 December 20 at Atlanta Falcons W 37–7 12–2 Atlanta Stadium 57,992
Game summaries
Week 1: vs Kansas City Chiefs The Vikings opened up the season in a rematch of Super Bowl IV against the Chiefs. This time, the Vikings exacted revenge in a 27-10 win.
Standings
Postseason Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Divisional December 27 San Francisco 49ers L 14–17 0–1 Metropolitan Stadium 46,050
Statistics Team leaders Category Player(s) Value Passing yards Gary Cuozzo 1,720 Passing touchdowns Gary Cuozzo 7 Rushing yards Dave Osborn 681 Rushing touchdowns Clint Jones 9 Receiving yards Gene Washington 702 Receiving touchdowns Gene Washington 4 Points Fred Cox 125 Kickoff return yards Clint Jones 452 Punt return yards Charlie West 169 Interceptions Ed Sharockman 7
League rankings Category Total yards Yards per game NFL rank Passing offense 2,181 155.8 14th Rushing offense 1,634 116.7 14th Total offense 3,815 272.5 19th Passing defense 1,438 102.7 1st Rushing defense 1,365 97.5 5th Total defense 2,803 200.2 1st
References