NFL game summary for 11/12/1972:
After fumbling the ball away twice within the Lions' 5-yard line, the Vikings came back to score their 10th straight victory over Detroit. Linebacker Roy Winston picked up a fumble by Charlie Sanders and raced 19 yards to Detroit's 19. Four plays later, Fred Cox kicked a 23-yard field goal (his third of the game) to provide the winning margin. Viking cornerback Bobby Bryant blocked a 33-yard FG attempt by Detroit's Errol Mann on the final play of the game.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 154.5 (7) | 144.6 (16) | 299.1 (15) | 17 |
| DEFENSE | 147.8 (20) | 119.4 (5) | 267.1 (6) | 14 | |
 | OFFENSE | 137.6 (15) | 176.4 (7) | 314.0 (10) | 17 |
| DEFENSE | 130.6 (11) | 120.8 (6) | 251.4 (3) | 22 |
Line: Vikings by 7
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit Lions (5-4-0) | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| Minnesota Vikings (5-4-0) | 3 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 16 |
( 0- 3) MIN Fred Cox 41 yard field goal
( 0-10) MIN Oscar Reed 20 yard rush (Fred Cox kick)
( 7-10) DET Larry Walton 48 yard pass from Greg Landry (Errol Mann kick)
(14-10) DET Larry Walton 20 yard pass from Greg Landry (Errol Mann kick)
(14-13) MIN Fred Cox 18 yard field goal
(14-16) MIN Fred Cox 23 yard field goal
DET MIN
First Downs: 9 17
Rushes-yards: 24-102 40-177
Yards/rush: 4.2 4.4
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 11-18-132-0 15-27-121-0
Sacked-yards: 4-6 0-0
Net pass yards: 126 121
Net yards/pass: 5.7 4.5
Total net yards: 228 298
Total plays: 46 (52% run) 67 (59% run)
Yards/play: 5.0 4.4
Fumbles-lost: 1-1 4-3
Turnovers: 1 3
Penalties-yards: 4-39 2-10
Attendance: 49,784
Passing:
DET: Greg Landry, 11 of 18 for 132 yards and 2 TDs MIN: Fran Tarkenton, 15 of 27 for 121 yards
Rushing:
DET: Altie Taylor, 13 for 54 yards; Steve Owens, 8 for 26 yards; Greg Landry, 3 for 22 yards MIN: Oscar Reed, 23 for 124 yards and 1 TD; Ed Marinaro, 10 for 34 yards; Bill Brown, 3 for 10 yards; Dave Osborn, 3 for 9 yards; John Gilliam, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
DET: Larry Walton, 4 for 97 yards and 2 TDs; Altie Taylor, 3 for 7 yards; Charlie Sanders, 2 for 8 yards; Earl McCullouch, 1 for 18 yards; Steve Owens, 1 for 2 yards MIN: Ed Marinaro, 4 for 25 yards; Gene Washington, 3 for 35 yards; Oscar Reed, 3 for 10 yards; John Gilliam, 2 for 30 yards; Dave Osborn, 1 for 10 yards; John Beasley, 1 for 6 yards; Bill Brown, 1 for 5 yards
Kick returns:
DET: Mickey Zofko, 3 for 82 yards; Ron Jessie, 2 for 31 yards MIN: John Gilliam, 1 for 27 yards; Charlie West, 1 for 25 yards
Punt returns:
DET: Lem Barney, 2 for 15 yards MIN: Charlie West, 2 for 10 yards
Interceptions:
Punting:
DET: Herman Weaver, 6 for 226 yards MIN: Mike Eischeid, 2 for 99 yards
Field Goals:
DET: Errol Mann, 0/1 MIN: Fred Cox, 3/4
DET: Greg Landry, 11 of 18 for 132 yards and 2 TDs MIN: Fran Tarkenton, 15 of 27 for 121 yards
Rushing:
DET: Altie Taylor, 13 for 54 yards; Steve Owens, 8 for 26 yards; Greg Landry, 3 for 22 yards MIN: Oscar Reed, 23 for 124 yards and 1 TD; Ed Marinaro, 10 for 34 yards; Bill Brown, 3 for 10 yards; Dave Osborn, 3 for 9 yards; John Gilliam, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
DET: Larry Walton, 4 for 97 yards and 2 TDs; Altie Taylor, 3 for 7 yards; Charlie Sanders, 2 for 8 yards; Earl McCullouch, 1 for 18 yards; Steve Owens, 1 for 2 yards MIN: Ed Marinaro, 4 for 25 yards; Gene Washington, 3 for 35 yards; Oscar Reed, 3 for 10 yards; John Gilliam, 2 for 30 yards; Dave Osborn, 1 for 10 yards; John Beasley, 1 for 6 yards; Bill Brown, 1 for 5 yards
Kick returns:
DET: Mickey Zofko, 3 for 82 yards; Ron Jessie, 2 for 31 yards MIN: John Gilliam, 1 for 27 yards; Charlie West, 1 for 25 yards
Punt returns:
DET: Lem Barney, 2 for 15 yards MIN: Charlie West, 2 for 10 yards
Interceptions:
Punting:
DET: Herman Weaver, 6 for 226 yards MIN: Mike Eischeid, 2 for 99 yards
Field Goals:
DET: Errol Mann, 0/1 MIN: Fred Cox, 3/4