NFL game summary for 12/03/1972:
In sub-zero temperature with a wind-chill factor of 26-below, the Vikings' defense limited the Bears to 91 yards total offense -- including a Minnesota club record low yield of one yard net passing -- and cornerback Bobby Bryant ran 24 yards for a touchdown with a recovered fumble and intercepted a pass in the end zone. John Gilliam caught five passes for 111 yards -- his fifth 100-yard day of the season -- and set a Minnesota receiving yardage record of 930 for the season.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 172.2 (4) | 94.4 (26) | 266.5 (19) | 27 |
| DEFENSE | 127.0 (9) | 145.1 (9) | 272.1 (9) | 24 | |
 | OFFENSE | 129.9 (18) | 188.7 (3) | 318.6 (7) | 23 |
| DEFENSE | 140.4 (16) | 128.5 (3) | 268.8 (5) | 28 |
Line: Vikings by 13
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears (3-8-1) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
| Minnesota Vikings (7-5-0) | 3 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 23 |
( 0- 3) MIN Fred Cox 19 yard field goal
( 0- 6) MIN Fred Cox 24 yard field goal
( 0-13) MIN John Henderson 15 yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick)
( 3-13) CHI Mac Percival 27 yard field goal
( 3-20) MIN Bobby Bryant 24 yard fumble return (Fred Cox kick)
( 3-23) MIN Fred Cox 14 yard field goal
(10-23) CHI Gary Kosins 7 yard pass from Bobby Douglass (Mac Percival kick)
CHI MIN
First Downs: 5 19
Rushes-yards: 27-90 35-80
Yards/rush: 3.3 2.3
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 2-13-8-1 21-39-261-1
Sacked-yards: 3-7 0-0
Net pass yards: 1 261
Net yards/pass: 0.1 6.7
Total net yards: 91 341
Total plays: 43 (62% run) 74 (47% run)
Yards/play: 2.1 4.6
Fumbles-lost: 2-2 5-2
Turnovers: 3 3
Penalties-yards: 2-20 0-0
Attendance: 49,784
Passing:
CHI: Bobby Douglass, 2 of 13 for 8 yards and 1 TD (1 int) MIN: Fran Tarkenton, 21 of 39 for 261 yards and 1 TD (1 int)
Rushing:
CHI: Jim Harrison, 13 for 55 yards; Don Shy, 7 for 3 yards; Bobby Douglass, 5 for 23 yards; Cyril Pinder, 2 for 9 yards MIN: Oscar Reed, 18 for 50 yards; Dave Osborn, 15 for 40 yards; Bill Brown, 1 for 2 yards; John Gilliam, 1 for -12 yards
Receiving:
CHI: Gary Kosins, 1 for 7 yards and 1 TD; Earl Thomas, 1 for 1 yard MIN: Dave Osborn, 7 for 66 yards; John Gilliam, 5 for 111 yards; John Henderson, 4 for 45 yards and 1 TD; Oscar Reed, 4 for 24 yards; John Beasley, 1 for 15 yards
Kick returns:
CHI: Cecil Turner, 3 for 90 yards; Glen Holloway, 1 for 28 yards; Ron Smith, 1 for 25 yards; Cyril Pinder, 1 for 14 yards MIN: John Gilliam, 2 for 64 yards; Stu Voigt, 1 for 2 yards
Punt returns:
CHI: Ron Smith, 1 for 29 yards MIN: Charlie West, 1 for 1 yard
Interceptions:
CHI: Bob Jeter, 1 for 0 yards MIN: Bobby Bryant, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
CHI: Bobby Joe Green, 7 for 239 yards MIN: Mike Eischeid, 4 for 180 yards
Field Goals:
CHI: Mac Percival, 1/2 MIN: Fred Cox, 3/4
CHI: Bobby Douglass, 2 of 13 for 8 yards and 1 TD (1 int) MIN: Fran Tarkenton, 21 of 39 for 261 yards and 1 TD (1 int)
Rushing:
CHI: Jim Harrison, 13 for 55 yards; Don Shy, 7 for 3 yards; Bobby Douglass, 5 for 23 yards; Cyril Pinder, 2 for 9 yards MIN: Oscar Reed, 18 for 50 yards; Dave Osborn, 15 for 40 yards; Bill Brown, 1 for 2 yards; John Gilliam, 1 for -12 yards
Receiving:
CHI: Gary Kosins, 1 for 7 yards and 1 TD; Earl Thomas, 1 for 1 yard MIN: Dave Osborn, 7 for 66 yards; John Gilliam, 5 for 111 yards; John Henderson, 4 for 45 yards and 1 TD; Oscar Reed, 4 for 24 yards; John Beasley, 1 for 15 yards
Kick returns:
CHI: Cecil Turner, 3 for 90 yards; Glen Holloway, 1 for 28 yards; Ron Smith, 1 for 25 yards; Cyril Pinder, 1 for 14 yards MIN: John Gilliam, 2 for 64 yards; Stu Voigt, 1 for 2 yards
Punt returns:
CHI: Ron Smith, 1 for 29 yards MIN: Charlie West, 1 for 1 yard
Interceptions:
CHI: Bob Jeter, 1 for 0 yards MIN: Bobby Bryant, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
CHI: Bobby Joe Green, 7 for 239 yards MIN: Mike Eischeid, 4 for 180 yards
Field Goals:
CHI: Mac Percival, 1/2 MIN: Fred Cox, 3/4