NFL game summary for 12/16/1972:
Quarterback John Brodie, idled by torn ankle ligaments in the 49ers fifth game and a spectator to Steve Spurrier's fine play following his recovery, returned to action in the third period as San Francisco trailed 17-6, and led a pair of touchdown drives that lifted the 49ers to their third straight NFC Western Division title and a place in the postseason playoffs. A 24-yard TD pass to Gene Washington closed a 99-yard march, and a two-yard completion for a TD to Dick Witcher with 25 seconds remaining clinched the victory and brought Brodie's game production to 10 completions in 15 attempts for 165 yards, including two TDs.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 120.2 (20) | 186.7 (3) | 306.9 (9) | 30 |
| DEFENSE | 142.2 (16) | 113.1 (1) | 255.2 (3) | 33 | |
 | OFFENSE | 112.5 (21) | 192.8 (2) | 305.2 (13) | 30 |
| DEFENSE | 128.5 (11) | 160.2 (18) | 288.7 (13) | 34 |
Line: 49ers by 6
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Vikings (7-7-0) | 7 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 17 |
| San Francisco 49ers (8-5-1) | 0 | 6 | 0 | 14 | 20 |
( 7- 0) MIN Ed Marinaro 18 yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick)
( 7- 3) SF Bruce Gossett 14 yard field goal
( 7- 6) SF Bruce Gossett 37 yard field goal
(10- 6) MIN Fred Cox 43 yard field goal
(17- 6) MIN John Gilliam 31 yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick)
(17-13) SF Gene Washington 24 yard pass from John Brodie (Bruce Gossett kick)
(17-20) SF Dick Witcher 2 yard pass from John Brodie (Bruce Gossett kick)
MIN SF
First Downs: 17 18
Rushes-yards: 38-177 33-154
Yards/rush: 4.7 4.7
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 11-25-144-2 17-30-241-5
Sacked-yards: 4-48 2-12
Net pass yards: 96 229
Net yards/pass: 3.3 7.2
Total net yards: 273 383
Total plays: 67 (56% run) 65 (50% run)
Yards/play: 4.1 5.9
Fumbles-lost: 1-0 5-2
Turnovers: 2 7
Penalties-yards: 6-67 3-21
Attendance: 61,214
Passing:
MIN: Fran Tarkenton, 11 of 25 for 144 yards and 2 TDs (2 int) SF: John Brodie, 10 of 15 for 165 yards and 2 TDs (2 int); Steve Spurrier, 7 of 14 for 76 yards (3 int); John Isenbarger, 0 of 1 for 0 yards
Rushing:
MIN: Ed Marinaro, 16 for 70 yards; Bill Brown, 10 for 41 yards; Oscar Reed, 7 for 30 yards; Fran Tarkenton, 2 for 28 yards; John Gilliam, 2 for 21 yards; Mike Eischeid, 1 for -13 yards SF: Larry Schreiber, 12 for 67 yards; Vic Washington, 10 for 43 yards; Ken Willard, 5 for 25 yards; Jimmy Thomas, 4 for 7 yards; John Isenbarger, 2 for 12 yards
Receiving:
MIN: John Gilliam, 4 for 62 yards and 1 TD; Bill Brown, 3 for 54 yards; Ed Marinaro, 3 for 22 yards and 1 TD; Oscar Reed, 1 for 6 yards SF: Gene Washington, 4 for 119 yards and 1 TD; Vic Washington, 4 for 36 yards; Ted Kwalick, 2 for 31 yards; Ken Willard, 2 for 19 yards; Larry Schreiber, 2 for 17 yards; John Isenbarger, 1 for 12 yards; Preston Riley, 1 for 5 yards; Dick Witcher, 1 for 2 yards and 1 TD
Kick returns:
MIN: Clint Jones, 2 for 67 yards; Bill Brown, 2 for 10 yards; Jim Lindsey, 1 for 17 yards SF: Vic Washington, 2 for 78 yards; Frank Nunley, 1 for 21 yards
Punt returns:
MIN: Charlie West, 1 for -1 yards SF: Ralph McGill, 2 for 17 yards; Bruce Taylor, 1 for -2 yards
Interceptions:
MIN: Paul Krause, 2 for 25 yards; Jeff Siemon, 2 for 23 yards; Charlie West, 1 for -1 yards SF: Dave Wilcox, 1 for 2 yards; Mike Simpson, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
MIN: Mike Eischeid, 6 for 254 yards SF: Jim McCann, 3 for 116 yards
Field Goals:
MIN: Fred Cox, 1/3 SF: Bruce Gossett, 2/2
MIN: Fran Tarkenton, 11 of 25 for 144 yards and 2 TDs (2 int) SF: John Brodie, 10 of 15 for 165 yards and 2 TDs (2 int); Steve Spurrier, 7 of 14 for 76 yards (3 int); John Isenbarger, 0 of 1 for 0 yards
Rushing:
MIN: Ed Marinaro, 16 for 70 yards; Bill Brown, 10 for 41 yards; Oscar Reed, 7 for 30 yards; Fran Tarkenton, 2 for 28 yards; John Gilliam, 2 for 21 yards; Mike Eischeid, 1 for -13 yards SF: Larry Schreiber, 12 for 67 yards; Vic Washington, 10 for 43 yards; Ken Willard, 5 for 25 yards; Jimmy Thomas, 4 for 7 yards; John Isenbarger, 2 for 12 yards
Receiving:
MIN: John Gilliam, 4 for 62 yards and 1 TD; Bill Brown, 3 for 54 yards; Ed Marinaro, 3 for 22 yards and 1 TD; Oscar Reed, 1 for 6 yards SF: Gene Washington, 4 for 119 yards and 1 TD; Vic Washington, 4 for 36 yards; Ted Kwalick, 2 for 31 yards; Ken Willard, 2 for 19 yards; Larry Schreiber, 2 for 17 yards; John Isenbarger, 1 for 12 yards; Preston Riley, 1 for 5 yards; Dick Witcher, 1 for 2 yards and 1 TD
Kick returns:
MIN: Clint Jones, 2 for 67 yards; Bill Brown, 2 for 10 yards; Jim Lindsey, 1 for 17 yards SF: Vic Washington, 2 for 78 yards; Frank Nunley, 1 for 21 yards
Punt returns:
MIN: Charlie West, 1 for -1 yards SF: Ralph McGill, 2 for 17 yards; Bruce Taylor, 1 for -2 yards
Interceptions:
MIN: Paul Krause, 2 for 25 yards; Jeff Siemon, 2 for 23 yards; Charlie West, 1 for -1 yards SF: Dave Wilcox, 1 for 2 yards; Mike Simpson, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
MIN: Mike Eischeid, 6 for 254 yards SF: Jim McCann, 3 for 116 yards
Field Goals:
MIN: Fred Cox, 1/3 SF: Bruce Gossett, 2/2