NFL game summary for 12/11/1971:
Vikings linebacker Roy Winston intercepted a Greg Landry pass on the third play from scrimmage and raced 29 yards for a touchdown that ignited a superior defensive effort as Minnesota clinched its fourth consecutive NFC Central Division title. Minnesota had three interceptions, two fumble recoveries and blocked a Detroit punt for a safety.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 177.9 (2) | 158.0 (10) | 335.9 (3) | 27 |
| DEFENSE | 129.8 (15) | 150.8 (12) | 280.7 (12) | 30 | |
 | OFFENSE | 122.1 (16) | 116.8 (25) | 238.9 (22) | 25 |
| DEFENSE | 115.8 (6) | 122.6 (3) | 238.3 (2) | 40 |
Line: n/a
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit Lions (7-5-1) | 3 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 10 |
| Minnesota Vikings (10-3-0) | 7 | 7 | 3 | 12 | 29 |
( 0- 7) MIN Roy Winston 29 yard interception return (Fred Cox kick)
( 3- 7) DET Errol Mann 35 yard field goal
( 3-14) MIN Clint Jones 3 yard rush (Fred Cox kick)
( 3-17) MIN Fred Cox 10 yard field goal
(10-17) DET Larry Walton 4 yard pass from Bill Munson (Errol Mann kick)
(10-19) MIN Safety, Alan Page blocked punt through end zone
(10-22) MIN Fred Cox 32 yard field goal
(10-29) MIN Jim Lindsey 0 yard fumble return (Fred Cox kick)
DET MIN
First Downs: 17 7
Rushes-yards: 32-107 32-113
Yards/rush: 3.3 3.5
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 15-32-149-3 4-15-21-2
Sacked-yards: 2-20 0-0
Net pass yards: 129 21
Net yards/pass: 3.8 1.4
Total net yards: 236 134
Total plays: 66 (48% run) 47 (68% run)
Yards/play: 3.6 2.9
Fumbles-lost: 5-2 1-0
Turnovers: 5 2
Penalties-yards: 4-59 13-105
Attendance: 49,784
Passing:
DET: Bill Munson, 9 of 16 for 107 yards and 1 TD (1 int); Greg Landry, 6 of 16 for 42 yards (2 int) MIN: Gary Cuozzo, 4 of 15 for 21 yards (2 int)
Rushing:
DET: Steve Owens, 17 for 65 yards; Altie Taylor, 11 for 34 yards; Greg Landry, 4 for 8 yards MIN: Clint Jones, 16 for 53 yards and 1 TD; Dave Osborn, 7 for 20 yards; Oscar Reed, 6 for 28 yards; Bill Brown, 2 for 0 yards; Bob Grim, 1 for 12 yards
Receiving:
DET: Craig Cotton, 5 for 79 yards; Steve Owens, 4 for 22 yards; Altie Taylor, 3 for 24 yards; Larry Walton, 3 for 24 yards and 1 TD MIN: Oscar Reed, 2 for 10 yards; Gene Washington, 1 for 9 yards; Bill Brown, 1 for 2 yards
Kick returns:
DET: Ron Jessie, 3 for 57 yards; Lem Barney, 2 for 39 yards; Bill Triplett, 1 for 13 yards MIN: Charlie West, 3 for 63 yards; Clint Jones, 1 for 16 yards
Punt returns:
DET: Lem Barney, 3 for 7 yards MIN: Charlie West, 1 for 1 yard
Interceptions:
DET: Lem Barney, 1 for 27 yards; Wayne Rasmussen, 1 for 2 yards MIN: Ed Sharockman, 1 for 33 yards; Roy Winston, 1 for 29 yards and 1 TD; Wally Hilgenberg, 1 for 6 yards
Punting:
DET: Herman Weaver, 5 for 144 yards MIN: Bob Lee, 6 for 245 yards
Field Goals:
DET: Errol Mann, 1/2 MIN: Fred Cox, 2/3
DET: Bill Munson, 9 of 16 for 107 yards and 1 TD (1 int); Greg Landry, 6 of 16 for 42 yards (2 int) MIN: Gary Cuozzo, 4 of 15 for 21 yards (2 int)
Rushing:
DET: Steve Owens, 17 for 65 yards; Altie Taylor, 11 for 34 yards; Greg Landry, 4 for 8 yards MIN: Clint Jones, 16 for 53 yards and 1 TD; Dave Osborn, 7 for 20 yards; Oscar Reed, 6 for 28 yards; Bill Brown, 2 for 0 yards; Bob Grim, 1 for 12 yards
Receiving:
DET: Craig Cotton, 5 for 79 yards; Steve Owens, 4 for 22 yards; Altie Taylor, 3 for 24 yards; Larry Walton, 3 for 24 yards and 1 TD MIN: Oscar Reed, 2 for 10 yards; Gene Washington, 1 for 9 yards; Bill Brown, 1 for 2 yards
Kick returns:
DET: Ron Jessie, 3 for 57 yards; Lem Barney, 2 for 39 yards; Bill Triplett, 1 for 13 yards MIN: Charlie West, 3 for 63 yards; Clint Jones, 1 for 16 yards
Punt returns:
DET: Lem Barney, 3 for 7 yards MIN: Charlie West, 1 for 1 yard
Interceptions:
DET: Lem Barney, 1 for 27 yards; Wayne Rasmussen, 1 for 2 yards MIN: Ed Sharockman, 1 for 33 yards; Roy Winston, 1 for 29 yards and 1 TD; Wally Hilgenberg, 1 for 6 yards
Punting:
DET: Herman Weaver, 5 for 144 yards MIN: Bob Lee, 6 for 245 yards
Field Goals:
DET: Errol Mann, 1/2 MIN: Fred Cox, 2/3