NFL game summary for 10/23/1972:
A fumble recovery and interception by Chicago linebacker Dick Butkus set up the Bears' touchdown and the second of Mac Percival's two field goals. Chicago executed 42 offensive ball control plays to Minnesota's nine while taking a 10-7 halftime lead. A five-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton to John Beasley for the apparent go-ahead TD with 20 seconds remaining was erased when an illegal receiver was detected in the end zone. Two plays later Fred Cox's 27-yard FG attempt for a tie was wide.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 150.0 (9) | 151.0 (13) | 301.0 (12) | 9 |
| DEFENSE | 125.0 (11) | 128.6 (7) | 253.6 (6) | 10 | |
 | OFFENSE | 201.2 (1) | 68.4 (26) | 269.6 (20) | 12 |
| DEFENSE | 122.8 (8) | 138.4 (9) | 261.2 (7) | 8 |
Line: Vikings by 7
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Vikings (2-4-0) | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 |
| Chicago Bears (2-3-1) | 0 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 13 |
( 7- 0) MIN John Gilliam 44 yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick)
( 7- 3) CHI Mac Percival 21 yard field goal
( 7-10) CHI Jim Harrison 4 yard pass from Bobby Douglass (Mac Percival kick)
(10-10) MIN Fred Cox 21 yard field goal
(10-13) CHI Mac Percival 20 yard field goal
MIN CHI
First Downs: 12 17
Rushes-yards: 19-51 53-195
Yards/rush: 2.7 3.7
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 17-25-244-1 4-6-56-1
Sacked-yards: 2-13 2-10
Net pass yards: 231 46
Net yards/pass: 8.6 5.8
Total net yards: 282 241
Total plays: 46 (41% run) 61 (86% run)
Yards/play: 6.1 4.0
Fumbles-lost: 3-3 4-3
Turnovers: 4 4
Penalties-yards: 2-20 0-0
Attendance: 55,701
Passing:
MIN: Fran Tarkenton, 17 of 25 for 244 yards and 1 TD (1 int) CHI: Bobby Douglass, 3 of 5 for 33 yards and 1 TD (1 int); Bobby Joe Green, 1 of 1 for 23 yards
Rushing:
MIN: Bill Brown, 8 for 23 yards; Fran Tarkenton, 3 for 18 yards; Oscar Reed, 3 for 7 yards; Clint Jones, 3 for 2 yards; Ed Marinaro, 2 for 1 yard CHI: Jim Harrison, 31 for 103 yards; Bobby Douglass, 11 for 66 yards; Cyril Pinder, 11 for 26 yards
Receiving:
MIN: John Beasley, 4 for 35 yards; John Gilliam, 3 for 85 yards and 1 TD; Ed Marinaro, 3 for 26 yards; Oscar Reed, 2 for 42 yards; John Henderson, 2 for 33 yards; Clint Jones, 2 for 14 yards; Gene Washington, 1 for 6 yards CHI: Cecil Turner, 2 for 35 yards; Jim Seymour, 1 for 17 yards; Jim Harrison, 1 for 4 yards and 1 TD
Kick returns:
MIN: Clint Jones, 1 for 23 yards; Charlie West, 1 for 21 yards CHI: Ron Smith, 1 for 22 yards; Cecil Turner, 1 for 4 yards
Punt returns:
MIN: Bobby Bryant, 1 for 5 yards CHI: Ron Smith, 2 for 7 yards
Interceptions:
MIN: Nate Wright, 1 for 10 yards CHI: Dick Butkus, 1 for 14 yards
Punting:
MIN: Mike Eischeid, 2 for 76 yards CHI: Bobby Joe Green, 2 for 95 yards
Field Goals:
MIN: Fred Cox, 1/2 CHI: Mac Percival, 2/2
MIN: Fran Tarkenton, 17 of 25 for 244 yards and 1 TD (1 int) CHI: Bobby Douglass, 3 of 5 for 33 yards and 1 TD (1 int); Bobby Joe Green, 1 of 1 for 23 yards
Rushing:
MIN: Bill Brown, 8 for 23 yards; Fran Tarkenton, 3 for 18 yards; Oscar Reed, 3 for 7 yards; Clint Jones, 3 for 2 yards; Ed Marinaro, 2 for 1 yard CHI: Jim Harrison, 31 for 103 yards; Bobby Douglass, 11 for 66 yards; Cyril Pinder, 11 for 26 yards
Receiving:
MIN: John Beasley, 4 for 35 yards; John Gilliam, 3 for 85 yards and 1 TD; Ed Marinaro, 3 for 26 yards; Oscar Reed, 2 for 42 yards; John Henderson, 2 for 33 yards; Clint Jones, 2 for 14 yards; Gene Washington, 1 for 6 yards CHI: Cecil Turner, 2 for 35 yards; Jim Seymour, 1 for 17 yards; Jim Harrison, 1 for 4 yards and 1 TD
Kick returns:
MIN: Clint Jones, 1 for 23 yards; Charlie West, 1 for 21 yards CHI: Ron Smith, 1 for 22 yards; Cecil Turner, 1 for 4 yards
Punt returns:
MIN: Bobby Bryant, 1 for 5 yards CHI: Ron Smith, 2 for 7 yards
Interceptions:
MIN: Nate Wright, 1 for 10 yards CHI: Dick Butkus, 1 for 14 yards
Punting:
MIN: Mike Eischeid, 2 for 76 yards CHI: Bobby Joe Green, 2 for 95 yards
Field Goals:
MIN: Fred Cox, 1/2 CHI: Mac Percival, 2/2