NFL game summary for 10/07/1973:
Ed Marinaro caught two short TD passes from Fran Tarkenton in the first quarter after a fumble and bad center snap by Detroit, and Fred Cox added three FGs. Chuck Foreman went over the 100-yard rushing mark again with 114 yards on 16 carries while Tarkenton completed 17 of 24. It was the 11th straight victory for the Vikings over the Lions, whose only scores were three Errol Mann FGs.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 165.7 (8) | 123.0 (16) | 288.7 (11) | 7 |
| DEFENSE | 163.3 (20) | 132.3 (11) | 295.7 (16) | 8 | |
 | OFFENSE | 158.7 (9) | 104.7 (20) | 263.3 (18) | 7 |
| DEFENSE | 178.3 (22) | 108.3 (6) | 286.7 (14) | 9 |
Line: Vikings by 4
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Vikings (4-0-0) | 14 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 23 |
| Detroit Lions (1-2-1) | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 9 |
( 7- 0) MIN Ed Marinaro 12 yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick)
(14- 0) MIN Ed Marinaro 8 yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick)
(14- 3) DET Errol Mann 37 yard field goal
(14- 6) DET Errol Mann 15 yard field goal
(17- 6) MIN Fred Cox 38 yard field goal
(20- 6) MIN Fred Cox 37 yard field goal
(20- 9) DET Errol Mann 33 yard field goal
(23- 9) MIN Fred Cox 27 yard field goal
MIN DET
First Downs: 17 15
Rushes-yards: 31-147 30-154
Yards/rush: 4.7 5.1
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 17-24-199-2 18-31-131-3
Sacked-yards: 3-20 5-40
Net pass yards: 179 91
Net yards/pass: 6.6 2.5
Total net yards: 326 245
Total plays: 58 (53% run) 66 (45% run)
Yards/play: 5.6 3.7
Fumbles-lost: 3-1 3-1
Turnovers: 3 4
Penalties-yards: 5-42 2-18
Attendance: 49,544
Passing:
MIN: Fran Tarkenton, 17 of 24 for 199 yards and 2 TDs (2 int) DET: Greg Landry, 14 of 24 for 110 yards (3 int); Bill Munson, 4 of 7 for 21 yards
Rushing:
MIN: Chuck Foreman, 16 for 114 yards; Oscar Reed, 6 for 17 yards; Ed Marinaro, 6 for 12 yards; Brent McClanahan, 2 for 4 yards; Fran Tarkenton, 1 for 0 yards DET: Altie Taylor, 12 for 29 yards; Mel Farr, 11 for 52 yards; Greg Landry, 4 for 19 yards; Larry Walton, 1 for 26 yards; Ron Jessie, 1 for 17 yards; Bill Munson, 1 for 11 yards
Receiving:
MIN: John Gilliam, 5 for 79 yards; Ed Marinaro, 5 for 31 yards and 2 TDs; Carroll Dale, 2 for 25 yards; Chuck Foreman, 2 for 24 yards; Oscar Reed, 2 for 18 yards; Stu Voigt, 1 for 22 yards DET: Mel Farr, 11 for 85 yards; Altie Taylor, 4 for 20 yards; Charlie Sanders, 2 for 19 yards; Larry Walton, 1 for 7 yards
Kick returns:
MIN: Brent McClanahan, 1 for 20 yards; Oscar Reed, 1 for 14 yards; John Gilliam, 1 for 10 yards DET: Dick Jauron, 3 for 68 yards; Al Barnes, 1 for 0 yards; Willie Germany, 1 for 0 yards
Punt returns:
MIN: Bobby Bryant, 1 for 15 yards DET: Lem Barney, 3 for 40 yards
Interceptions:
MIN: Jeff Siemon, 1 for 3 yards; Paul Krause, 1 for 0 yards; Nate Wright, 1 for 0 yards DET: Levi Johnson, 2 for 37 yards
Punting:
MIN: Mike Eischeid, 4 for 160 yards DET: Herman Weaver, 2 for 109 yards
Field Goals:
MIN: Fred Cox, 3/3 DET: Errol Mann, 3/3
MIN: Fran Tarkenton, 17 of 24 for 199 yards and 2 TDs (2 int) DET: Greg Landry, 14 of 24 for 110 yards (3 int); Bill Munson, 4 of 7 for 21 yards
Rushing:
MIN: Chuck Foreman, 16 for 114 yards; Oscar Reed, 6 for 17 yards; Ed Marinaro, 6 for 12 yards; Brent McClanahan, 2 for 4 yards; Fran Tarkenton, 1 for 0 yards DET: Altie Taylor, 12 for 29 yards; Mel Farr, 11 for 52 yards; Greg Landry, 4 for 19 yards; Larry Walton, 1 for 26 yards; Ron Jessie, 1 for 17 yards; Bill Munson, 1 for 11 yards
Receiving:
MIN: John Gilliam, 5 for 79 yards; Ed Marinaro, 5 for 31 yards and 2 TDs; Carroll Dale, 2 for 25 yards; Chuck Foreman, 2 for 24 yards; Oscar Reed, 2 for 18 yards; Stu Voigt, 1 for 22 yards DET: Mel Farr, 11 for 85 yards; Altie Taylor, 4 for 20 yards; Charlie Sanders, 2 for 19 yards; Larry Walton, 1 for 7 yards
Kick returns:
MIN: Brent McClanahan, 1 for 20 yards; Oscar Reed, 1 for 14 yards; John Gilliam, 1 for 10 yards DET: Dick Jauron, 3 for 68 yards; Al Barnes, 1 for 0 yards; Willie Germany, 1 for 0 yards
Punt returns:
MIN: Bobby Bryant, 1 for 15 yards DET: Lem Barney, 3 for 40 yards
Interceptions:
MIN: Jeff Siemon, 1 for 3 yards; Paul Krause, 1 for 0 yards; Nate Wright, 1 for 0 yards DET: Levi Johnson, 2 for 37 yards
Punting:
MIN: Mike Eischeid, 4 for 160 yards DET: Herman Weaver, 2 for 109 yards
Field Goals:
MIN: Fred Cox, 3/3 DET: Errol Mann, 3/3