NFL game summary for 09/24/1972:
The Vikings converted three of four pass interceptions into third period scores and Dave Osborn scored three touchdowns as Minnesota scored its ninth straight victory over the Lions since 1968. John Gilliam caught four passes from Fran Tarkenton for 109 yards, including a 30-yard TD pass.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 182.0 (8) | 200.0 (8) | 382.0 (5) | 2 |
| DEFENSE | 146.0 (16) | 57.0 (1) | 203.0 (5) | 1 | |
 | OFFENSE | 192.0 (6) | 200.0 (8) | 392.0 (3) | 0 |
| DEFENSE | 112.0 (10) | 133.0 (10) | 245.0 (6) | 2 |
Line: Vikings by 2
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Vikings (1-1-0) | 3 | 14 | 17 | 0 | 34 |
| Detroit Lions (1-1-0) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
( 0- 3) DET Errol Mann 36 yard field goal
( 3- 3) MIN Fred Cox 35 yard field goal
(10- 3) MIN Dave Osborn 14 yard rush (Fred Cox kick)
(17- 3) MIN John Gilliam 40 yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick)
(20- 3) MIN Fred Cox 37 yard field goal
(27- 3) MIN Dave Osborn 1 yard rush (Fred Cox kick)
(34- 3) MIN Dave Osborn 13 yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick)
(34-10) DET Altie Taylor 3 yard rush (Errol Mann kick)
MIN DET
First Downs: 13 16
Rushes-yards: 36-130 25-89
Yards/rush: 3.6 3.6
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 8-16-158-0 17-40-128-4
Sacked-yards: 1-2 2-4
Net pass yards: 156 124
Net yards/pass: 9.2 3.0
Total net yards: 286 213
Total plays: 53 (67% run) 67 (37% run)
Yards/play: 5.4 3.2
Fumbles-lost: 0-0 2-1
Turnovers: 0 5
Penalties-yards: 7-53 2-10
Attendance: 54,418
Passing:
MIN: Fran Tarkenton, 8 of 15 for 158 yards and 2 TDs; Bob Lee, 0 of 1 for 0 yards DET: Bill Munson, 14 of 25 for 89 yards (1 int); Greg Landry, 3 of 15 for 39 yards (3 int)
Rushing:
MIN: Dave Osborn, 10 for 48 yards and 2 TDs; Oscar Reed, 10 for 23 yards; Clint Jones, 10 for 21 yards; Bill Brown, 4 for 19 yards; Fran Tarkenton, 2 for 19 yards DET: Steve Owens, 16 for 53 yards; Altie Taylor, 7 for 33 yards and 1 TD; Greg Landry, 1 for 3 yards; Bill Munson, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
MIN: John Gilliam, 4 for 109 yards and 1 TD; Bill Brown, 2 for 26 yards; Dave Osborn, 2 for 23 yards and 1 TD DET: Altie Taylor, 6 for 27 yards; Steve Owens, 4 for 22 yards; John Hilton, 2 for 13 yards; Larry Walton, 1 for 19 yards; Al Barnes, 1 for 17 yards; Ron Jessie, 1 for 17 yards; Earl McCullouch, 1 for 7 yards; Craig Cotton, 1 for 6 yards
Kick returns:
MIN: Clint Jones, 2 for 38 yards; Charlie West, 1 for 31 yards DET: Mickey Zofko, 4 for 121 yards; Ron Jessie, 2 for 46 yards
Punt returns:
DET: Lem Barney, 4 for 31 yards; Larry Walton, 1 for -1 yards
Interceptions:
MIN: Bobby Bryant, 1 for 34 yards; Roy Winston, 1 for 23 yards; Karl Kassulke, 1 for 22 yards; Lonnie Warwick, 1 for 6 yards
Punting:
MIN: Mike Eischeid, 5 for 206 yards DET: Herman Weaver, 2 for 68 yards
Field Goals:
MIN: Fred Cox, 2/3 DET: Errol Mann, 1/2
MIN: Fran Tarkenton, 8 of 15 for 158 yards and 2 TDs; Bob Lee, 0 of 1 for 0 yards DET: Bill Munson, 14 of 25 for 89 yards (1 int); Greg Landry, 3 of 15 for 39 yards (3 int)
Rushing:
MIN: Dave Osborn, 10 for 48 yards and 2 TDs; Oscar Reed, 10 for 23 yards; Clint Jones, 10 for 21 yards; Bill Brown, 4 for 19 yards; Fran Tarkenton, 2 for 19 yards DET: Steve Owens, 16 for 53 yards; Altie Taylor, 7 for 33 yards and 1 TD; Greg Landry, 1 for 3 yards; Bill Munson, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
MIN: John Gilliam, 4 for 109 yards and 1 TD; Bill Brown, 2 for 26 yards; Dave Osborn, 2 for 23 yards and 1 TD DET: Altie Taylor, 6 for 27 yards; Steve Owens, 4 for 22 yards; John Hilton, 2 for 13 yards; Larry Walton, 1 for 19 yards; Al Barnes, 1 for 17 yards; Ron Jessie, 1 for 17 yards; Earl McCullouch, 1 for 7 yards; Craig Cotton, 1 for 6 yards
Kick returns:
MIN: Clint Jones, 2 for 38 yards; Charlie West, 1 for 31 yards DET: Mickey Zofko, 4 for 121 yards; Ron Jessie, 2 for 46 yards
Punt returns:
DET: Lem Barney, 4 for 31 yards; Larry Walton, 1 for -1 yards
Interceptions:
MIN: Bobby Bryant, 1 for 34 yards; Roy Winston, 1 for 23 yards; Karl Kassulke, 1 for 22 yards; Lonnie Warwick, 1 for 6 yards
Punting:
MIN: Mike Eischeid, 5 for 206 yards DET: Herman Weaver, 2 for 68 yards
Field Goals:
MIN: Fred Cox, 2/3 DET: Errol Mann, 1/2