NFL game summary for 09/18/1972:
Reserve wide receiver and special teams player Bill Malinchak blocked a Minnesota punt at the conclusion of the Vikings' first offensive series, picked up the ball and ran 16 yards for a touchdown to give Washington a 7-0 lead. Minnesota rebounded to take a 14-10 advantage, but the Redskins scored a pair of touchdowns within 85 seconds at the outset of the final period to achieve the victory. Washington running back Larry Brown ran for 105 yards. It marked the seventh straight opening-game win for George Allen, whose teams never have lost an inaugural.
Line: Vikings by 4
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Washington Redskins (1-0-0) | 7 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 24 |
 Minnesota Vikings (0-1-0) | 0 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
( 7- 0) WAS Bill Malinchak 16 yard return of blocked punt (Curt Knight kick)
( 7- 7) MIN Clint Jones 1 yard rush (Fred Cox kick)
(10- 7) WAS Curt Knight 30 yard field goal
(10-14) MIN John Gilliam 11 yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick)
(17-14) WAS Larry Brown 3 yard rush (Curt Knight kick)
(24-14) WAS Charlie Harraway 9 yard rush (Curt Knight kick)
(24-21) MIN Bill Brown 4 yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick)
WAS MIN
First Downs: 11 26
Rushes-yards: 31-146 43-182
Yards/rush: 4.7 4.2
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 7-17-57-1 18-31-233-0
Sacked-yards: 0-0 4-33
Net pass yards: 57 200
Net yards/pass: 3.4 5.7
Total net yards: 203 382
Total plays: 48 (64% run) 78 (55% run)
Yards/play: 4.2 4.9
Fumbles-lost: 1-0 3-2
Turnovers: 1 2
Penalties-yards: 5-41 4-34
Attendance: 47,900
Passing:
WAS: Billy Kilmer, 7 of 17 for 57 yards (1 int) MIN: Fran Tarkenton, 18 of 31 for 233 yards and 2 TDs
Rushing:
WAS: Larry Brown, 21 for 105 yards and 1 TD; Charlie Harraway, 9 for 42 yards and 1 TD; Billy Kilmer, 1 for -1 yards MIN: Clint Jones, 21 for 66 yards and 1 TD; Oscar Reed, 12 for 68 yards; Bill Brown, 5 for 22 yards; Fran Tarkenton, 3 for 35 yards; Dave Osborn, 1 for 4 yards; John Gilliam, 1 for -13 yards
Receiving:
WAS: Roy Jefferson, 4 for 38 yards; Charley Taylor, 2 for 9 yards; Larry Brown, 1 for 10 yards MIN: Bill Brown, 5 for 47 yards and 1 TD; John Gilliam, 4 for 53 yards and 1 TD; Gene Washington, 3 for 70 yards; John Beasley, 3 for 28 yards; Clint Jones, 2 for 14 yards; Oscar Reed, 1 for 21 yards
Kick returns:
WAS: Speedy Duncan, 3 for 63 yards; Rusty Tillman, 1 for 0 yards MIN: Clint Jones, 2 for 37 yards; Charlie West, 1 for 14 yards
Punt returns:
WAS: Ted Vactor, 2 for 12 yards; Speedy Duncan, 1 for 11 yards MIN: Charlie West, 2 for 2 yards
Interceptions:
MIN: Karl Kassulke, 1 for 3 yards
Punting:
WAS: Mike Bragg, 4 for 158 yards MIN: Mike Eischeid, 4 for 123 yards
Field Goals:
WAS: Curt Knight, 1/2 MIN: Fred Cox, 0/2
WAS: Billy Kilmer, 7 of 17 for 57 yards (1 int) MIN: Fran Tarkenton, 18 of 31 for 233 yards and 2 TDs
Rushing:
WAS: Larry Brown, 21 for 105 yards and 1 TD; Charlie Harraway, 9 for 42 yards and 1 TD; Billy Kilmer, 1 for -1 yards MIN: Clint Jones, 21 for 66 yards and 1 TD; Oscar Reed, 12 for 68 yards; Bill Brown, 5 for 22 yards; Fran Tarkenton, 3 for 35 yards; Dave Osborn, 1 for 4 yards; John Gilliam, 1 for -13 yards
Receiving:
WAS: Roy Jefferson, 4 for 38 yards; Charley Taylor, 2 for 9 yards; Larry Brown, 1 for 10 yards MIN: Bill Brown, 5 for 47 yards and 1 TD; John Gilliam, 4 for 53 yards and 1 TD; Gene Washington, 3 for 70 yards; John Beasley, 3 for 28 yards; Clint Jones, 2 for 14 yards; Oscar Reed, 1 for 21 yards
Kick returns:
WAS: Speedy Duncan, 3 for 63 yards; Rusty Tillman, 1 for 0 yards MIN: Clint Jones, 2 for 37 yards; Charlie West, 1 for 14 yards
Punt returns:
WAS: Ted Vactor, 2 for 12 yards; Speedy Duncan, 1 for 11 yards MIN: Charlie West, 2 for 2 yards
Interceptions:
MIN: Karl Kassulke, 1 for 3 yards
Punting:
WAS: Mike Bragg, 4 for 158 yards MIN: Mike Eischeid, 4 for 123 yards
Field Goals:
WAS: Curt Knight, 1/2 MIN: Fred Cox, 0/2