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Post by NFL Historian on Nov 19, 2024 19:49:05 GMT 10
Monday Dec 26, 1977 Start Time: 6:00pm
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Post by NFL Historian on Nov 19, 2024 19:58:52 GMT 10
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Post by NFL Historian on Nov 19, 2024 19:59:59 GMT 10
Game information The Rams had easily defeated an aging Vikings team in the regular season 35–3 in October on the nationally televised Monday Night Football, and after years of frustrating playoff losses in the cold of Minnesota, the Rams finally had a home playoff game against the Vikings. In addition, Viking quarterback Fran Tarkenton was injured in that Monday night game. However, as luck would have it, Los Angeles was engulfed in a torrential rainstorm, and the game became known as “The Mud Bowl”. Running back Chuck Foreman led the Vikings to a victory by recording 101 rushing yards on the heavy field. Minnesota head coach Bud Grant’s strategy was to have quarterback Bob Lee throw early before the field lost traction. By the end of the game, the Rams had three turnovers, while the Vikings didn't have any.
The Rams took the opening kickoff and moved the ball to the Minnesota 31. However, Alan Page ended the drive by dropping RB Lawrence McCutcheon for a 1-yard loss on 4th down and 2. The Vikings took over and drove 70 yards, with Lee completing 5/5 passes, to a 7-0 lead on a 5-yard scoring run by Foreman. Lee threw only five more passes the remainder of the game (completing zero) as the field conditions worsened and the Vikings went strictly into "control the clock" mode.
From that point on until the fourth quarter, both teams remained scoreless while the field turned into a quagmire. The Rams had two chances to score, but quarterback Pat Haden threw an interception to Nate Allen in the end zone and kicker Rafael Septién missed a field goal. Early in the final period, Vikings running back Manfred Moore returned a punt 21 yards to set up Sammy Johnson's 1-yard rushing touchdown. With less than a minute left in the game, Haden threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to Harold Jackson to cut the score 14–7. The Rams then recovered the ensuing onside kick, but safety Jeff Wright intercepted Haden's desperate pass in the end zone on the game's final play.
This was the fourth postseason meeting between the Vikings and Rams. Minnesota won all three previous meetings.
Wikipedia
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Post by NFL Historian on Nov 19, 2024 20:01:32 GMT 10
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