NFL game summary for 10/03/1971:
The Vikings' defense trapped Bills passers seven times for losses of 59 yards and set a pair of Minnesota team records by limiting Buffalo to 64 yards overall and a net of eight passing. Norm Snead started his first game at quarterback for Minnesota and completed 12 of 21 for 150 yards. Dave Osborn rushed for 93 yards and caught five passes for 65.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 98.5 (17) | 235.5 (2) | 334.0 (6) | 7 |
| DEFENSE | 193.0 (25) | 180.5 (18) | 373.5 (24) | 1 | |
 | OFFENSE | 63.5 (23) | 189.0 (10) | 252.5 (20) | 5 |
| DEFENSE | 118.0 (14) | 150.0 (12) | 268.0 (10) | 5 |
Line: Vikings by 16
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Bills (0-3-0) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Minnesota Vikings (2-1-0) | 0 | 12 | 0 | 7 | 19 |
( 0- 7) MIN Dave Osborn 1 yard rush (Fred Cox kick)
( 0-10) MIN Fred Cox 40 yard field goal
( 0-12) MIN Safety, Dennis Shaw tackled in end zone by Alan Page
( 0-19) MIN Norm Snead 1 yard rush (Fred Cox kick)
BUF MIN
First Downs: 7 23
Rushes-yards: 18-56 52-193
Yards/rush: 3.1 3.7
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 12-20-67-2 12-21-150-2
Sacked-yards: 7-59 2-17
Net pass yards: 8 133
Net yards/pass: 0.3 5.8
Total net yards: 64 326
Total plays: 45 (40% run) 75 (69% run)
Yards/play: 1.4 4.3
Fumbles-lost: 5-1 1-1
Turnovers: 3 3
Penalties-yards: 2-8 6-47
Attendance: 47,900
Passing:
BUF: Dennis Shaw, 12 of 20 for 67 yards (2 int) MIN: Norm Snead, 12 of 21 for 150 yards (2 int)
Rushing:
BUF: O.J. Simpson, 12 for 45 yards; Wayne Patrick, 3 for -7 yards; Dennis Shaw, 2 for 7 yards; Greg Jones, 1 for 11 yards MIN: Clint Jones, 27 for 71 yards; Dave Osborn, 19 for 93 yards and 1 TD; Bill Brown, 3 for 0 yards; Norm Snead, 2 for 4 yards and 1 TD; Bob Grim, 1 for 25 yards
Receiving:
BUF: Jim Braxton, 3 for 23 yards; O.J. Simpson, 3 for 9 yards; Marlin Briscoe, 2 for 14 yards; Jan White, 2 for 10 yards; Ted Koy, 1 for 7 yards; Haven Moses, 1 for 4 yards MIN: Dave Osborn, 5 for 65 yards; Clint Jones, 4 for 46 yards; Stu Voigt, 2 for 23 yards; Bob Grim, 1 for 16 yards
Kick returns:
BUF: Tim Beamer, 3 for 60 yards; Alvin Wyatt, 1 for 17 yards MIN: Clint Jones, 1 for 36 yards; Bob Grim, 1 for 0 yards
Punt returns:
BUF: Alvin Wyatt, 1 for 0 yards MIN: Charlie West, 1 for 7 yards; Bob Grim, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
BUF: Edgar Chandler, 1 for 13 yards; John Pitts, 1 for 0 yards MIN: Charlie West, 1 for 31 yards; Wally Hilgenberg, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
BUF: Spike Jones, 5 for 208 yards MIN: Bob Lee, 4 for 123 yards
Field Goals:
BUF: Grant Guthrie, 0/1 MIN: Fred Cox, 1/2
BUF: Dennis Shaw, 12 of 20 for 67 yards (2 int) MIN: Norm Snead, 12 of 21 for 150 yards (2 int)
Rushing:
BUF: O.J. Simpson, 12 for 45 yards; Wayne Patrick, 3 for -7 yards; Dennis Shaw, 2 for 7 yards; Greg Jones, 1 for 11 yards MIN: Clint Jones, 27 for 71 yards; Dave Osborn, 19 for 93 yards and 1 TD; Bill Brown, 3 for 0 yards; Norm Snead, 2 for 4 yards and 1 TD; Bob Grim, 1 for 25 yards
Receiving:
BUF: Jim Braxton, 3 for 23 yards; O.J. Simpson, 3 for 9 yards; Marlin Briscoe, 2 for 14 yards; Jan White, 2 for 10 yards; Ted Koy, 1 for 7 yards; Haven Moses, 1 for 4 yards MIN: Dave Osborn, 5 for 65 yards; Clint Jones, 4 for 46 yards; Stu Voigt, 2 for 23 yards; Bob Grim, 1 for 16 yards
Kick returns:
BUF: Tim Beamer, 3 for 60 yards; Alvin Wyatt, 1 for 17 yards MIN: Clint Jones, 1 for 36 yards; Bob Grim, 1 for 0 yards
Punt returns:
BUF: Alvin Wyatt, 1 for 0 yards MIN: Charlie West, 1 for 7 yards; Bob Grim, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
BUF: Edgar Chandler, 1 for 13 yards; John Pitts, 1 for 0 yards MIN: Charlie West, 1 for 31 yards; Wally Hilgenberg, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
BUF: Spike Jones, 5 for 208 yards MIN: Bob Lee, 4 for 123 yards
Field Goals:
BUF: Grant Guthrie, 0/1 MIN: Fred Cox, 1/2