NFL game summary for 11/05/1972:
The Vikings' point total (37) was their highest since the final game of the 1970 season. Oscar Reed paced the offense, rushing for 93 yards, while Fran Tarkenton threw two touchdown passes. Cornerback Jeff Wright, making his first NFL start, intercepted two New Orleans passes.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 76.6 (26) | 170.4 (9) | 247.0 (23) | 21 |
| DEFENSE | 156.0 (22) | 167.3 (19) | 323.3 (20) | 21 | |
 | OFFENSE | 136.1 (14) | 168.3 (11) | 304.4 (10) | 16 |
| DEFENSE | 131.7 (12) | 117.0 (5) | 248.7 (3) | 18 |
Line: Vikings by 16
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans Saints (1-6-1) | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| Minnesota Vikings (4-4-0) | 7 | 13 | 7 | 10 | 37 |
( 0- 7) MIN Oscar Reed 1 yard rush (Fred Cox kick)
( 0-10) MIN Fred Cox 29 yard field goal
( 0-17) MIN John Beasley 9 yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick)
( 0-20) MIN Fred Cox 32 yard field goal
( 3-20) NO Charlie Durkee 14 yard field goal
( 3-27) MIN Bill Brown 3 yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick)
( 6-27) NO Charlie Durkee 36 yard field goal
( 6-30) MIN Fred Cox 45 yard field goal
( 6-37) MIN John Gilliam 2 yard pass from Bob Lee (Fred Cox kick)
NO MIN
First Downs: 16 23
Rushes-yards: 21-123 32-148
Yards/rush: 5.9 4.6
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 19-35-155-3 22-31-253-1
Sacked-yards: 1-8 2-20
Net pass yards: 147 233
Net yards/pass: 4.1 7.1
Total net yards: 270 381
Total plays: 57 (36% run) 65 (49% run)
Yards/play: 4.7 5.9
Fumbles-lost: 3-1 1-0
Turnovers: 4 1
Penalties-yards: 5-31 6-60
Attendance: 49,784
Passing:
NO: Archie Manning, 19 of 35 for 155 yards (3 int) MIN: Fran Tarkenton, 19 of 26 for 178 yards and 2 TDs (1 int); Bob Lee, 3 of 5 for 75 yards and 1 TD
Rushing:
NO: Archie Manning, 9 for 73 yards; Bob Gresham, 5 for 33 yards; Jim Strong, 3 for 12 yards; Bill Butler, 2 for 6 yards; Joe Williams, 2 for -1 yards MIN: Oscar Reed, 16 for 93 yards and 1 TD; Ed Marinaro, 8 for 14 yards; Dave Osborn, 4 for 13 yards; Bill Brown, 3 for 27 yards; Fran Tarkenton, 1 for 1 yard
Receiving:
NO: Danny Abramowicz, 5 for 50 yards; Bob Brown, 3 for 43 yards; Jim Strong, 3 for 24 yards; Bob Newland, 3 for 16 yards; Bob Gresham, 2 for 5 yards; Creston Whitaker, 1 for 6 yards; Margene Adkins, 1 for 6 yards; Bill Butler, 1 for 5 yards MIN: John Gilliam, 5 for 111 yards and 1 TD; John Beasley, 4 for 34 yards and 1 TD; Ed Marinaro, 4 for 32 yards; Jim Lindsey, 3 for 28 yards; Oscar Reed, 3 for 23 yards; Gene Washington, 1 for 15 yards; Dave Osborn, 1 for 7 yards; Bill Brown, 1 for 3 yards and 1 TD
Kick returns:
NO: Margene Adkins, 5 for 126 yards; Joe Williams, 1 for 15 yards; Bill Butler, 1 for 14 yards MIN: John Gilliam, 2 for 73 yards; Charlie West, 1 for 25 yards
Punt returns:
NO: Tom Myers, 1 for 0 yards MIN: Charlie West, 4 for 57 yards
Interceptions:
NO: Tom Roussel, 1 for 11 yards MIN: Jeff Wright, 2 for 31 yards; Charlie West, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
NO: Julian Fagan, 4 for 192 yards MIN: Mike Eischeid, 3 for 131 yards
Field Goals:
NO: Charlie Durkee, 2/3 MIN: Fred Cox, 3/3
NO: Archie Manning, 19 of 35 for 155 yards (3 int) MIN: Fran Tarkenton, 19 of 26 for 178 yards and 2 TDs (1 int); Bob Lee, 3 of 5 for 75 yards and 1 TD
Rushing:
NO: Archie Manning, 9 for 73 yards; Bob Gresham, 5 for 33 yards; Jim Strong, 3 for 12 yards; Bill Butler, 2 for 6 yards; Joe Williams, 2 for -1 yards MIN: Oscar Reed, 16 for 93 yards and 1 TD; Ed Marinaro, 8 for 14 yards; Dave Osborn, 4 for 13 yards; Bill Brown, 3 for 27 yards; Fran Tarkenton, 1 for 1 yard
Receiving:
NO: Danny Abramowicz, 5 for 50 yards; Bob Brown, 3 for 43 yards; Jim Strong, 3 for 24 yards; Bob Newland, 3 for 16 yards; Bob Gresham, 2 for 5 yards; Creston Whitaker, 1 for 6 yards; Margene Adkins, 1 for 6 yards; Bill Butler, 1 for 5 yards MIN: John Gilliam, 5 for 111 yards and 1 TD; John Beasley, 4 for 34 yards and 1 TD; Ed Marinaro, 4 for 32 yards; Jim Lindsey, 3 for 28 yards; Oscar Reed, 3 for 23 yards; Gene Washington, 1 for 15 yards; Dave Osborn, 1 for 7 yards; Bill Brown, 1 for 3 yards and 1 TD
Kick returns:
NO: Margene Adkins, 5 for 126 yards; Joe Williams, 1 for 15 yards; Bill Butler, 1 for 14 yards MIN: John Gilliam, 2 for 73 yards; Charlie West, 1 for 25 yards
Punt returns:
NO: Tom Myers, 1 for 0 yards MIN: Charlie West, 4 for 57 yards
Interceptions:
NO: Tom Roussel, 1 for 11 yards MIN: Jeff Wright, 2 for 31 yards; Charlie West, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
NO: Julian Fagan, 4 for 192 yards MIN: Mike Eischeid, 3 for 131 yards
Field Goals:
NO: Charlie Durkee, 2/3 MIN: Fred Cox, 3/3