NFL game summary for 11/11/1973:
Bill Brown gained 101 yards on 19 carries and Fran Tarkenton completed 11 of 15 passes in Minnesota's ninth straight victory, which clinched the NFC Central title. Detroit took an early lead but the Vikings came back to tie and then go ahead when Wally Hilgenberg scored after recovering a Detroit fumble. Dave Osborn gained 79 yards and Ed Marinaro 52 in Minnesota's 248-yard ground attack.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 176.0 (5) | 137.9 (13) | 313.9 (8) | 22 |
| DEFENSE | 143.5 (13) | 137.0 (13) | 280.5 (14) | 24 | |
 | OFFENSE | 167.5 (7) | 135.9 (14) | 303.4 (10) | 14 |
| DEFENSE | 129.9 (8) | 142.5 (14) | 272.4 (12) | 22 |
Line: Vikings by 10
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit Lions (3-5-1) | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Minnesota Vikings (9-0-0) | 7 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 28 |
( 7- 0) DET Ron Jessie 33 yard pass from Bill Munson (Jim O'Brien kick)
( 7- 7) MIN Bill Brown 1 yard rush (Fred Cox kick)
( 7-14) MIN Wally Hilgenberg 2 yard fumble return (Fred Cox kick)
( 7-21) MIN Ed Marinaro 7 yard rush (Fred Cox kick)
( 7-28) MIN John Gilliam 33 yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick)
DET MIN
First Downs: 17 23
Rushes-yards: 24-127 48-248
Yards/rush: 5.3 5.2
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 16-34-152-1 11-16-177-1
Sacked-yards: 4-33 3-22
Net pass yards: 119 155
Net yards/pass: 3.1 8.2
Total net yards: 246 403
Total plays: 62 (38% run) 67 (71% run)
Yards/play: 4.0 6.0
Fumbles-lost: 2-1 3-0
Turnovers: 2 1
Penalties-yards: 3-40 3-45
Attendance: 47,911
Passing:
DET: Bill Munson, 16 of 34 for 152 yards and 1 TD (1 int) MIN: Fran Tarkenton, 11 of 15 for 177 yards and 1 TD; Bob Berry, 0 of 1 for 0 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
DET: Altie Taylor, 9 for 49 yards; Mel Farr, 6 for 20 yards; Jim Hooks, 4 for 32 yards; Steve Owens, 4 for 27 yards; Larry Walton, 1 for -1 yards MIN: Bill Brown, 19 for 101 yards and 1 TD; Dave Osborn, 14 for 79 yards; Ed Marinaro, 10 for 52 yards and 1 TD; Brent McClanahan, 3 for 16 yards; John Gilliam, 1 for 1 yard; Fran Tarkenton, 1 for -1 yards
Receiving:
DET: Ron Jessie, 5 for 71 yards and 1 TD; Mel Farr, 4 for 17 yards; Larry Walton, 3 for 41 yards; Altie Taylor, 2 for 8 yards; Steve Owens, 1 for 8 yards; Charlie Sanders, 1 for 7 yards MIN: John Gilliam, 5 for 129 yards and 1 TD; Ed Marinaro, 2 for 17 yards; Stu Voigt, 2 for 12 yards; Doug Kingsriter, 1 for 13 yards; Bill Brown, 1 for 6 yards
Kick returns:
DET: Altie Taylor, 1 for 26 yards; Jim Thrower, 1 for 23 yards; Dick Jauron, 1 for 19 yards MIN: John Gilliam, 2 for 46 yards
Punt returns:
DET: Larry Walton, 1 for 9 yards MIN: Bobby Bryant, 4 for 24 yards
Interceptions:
DET: Miller Farr, 1 for 0 yards MIN: Nate Wright, 1 for 6 yards
Punting:
DET: Herman Weaver, 6 for 303 yards MIN: Mike Eischeid, 4 for 141 yards
Field Goals:
MIN: Fred Cox, 0/1
DET: Bill Munson, 16 of 34 for 152 yards and 1 TD (1 int) MIN: Fran Tarkenton, 11 of 15 for 177 yards and 1 TD; Bob Berry, 0 of 1 for 0 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
DET: Altie Taylor, 9 for 49 yards; Mel Farr, 6 for 20 yards; Jim Hooks, 4 for 32 yards; Steve Owens, 4 for 27 yards; Larry Walton, 1 for -1 yards MIN: Bill Brown, 19 for 101 yards and 1 TD; Dave Osborn, 14 for 79 yards; Ed Marinaro, 10 for 52 yards and 1 TD; Brent McClanahan, 3 for 16 yards; John Gilliam, 1 for 1 yard; Fran Tarkenton, 1 for -1 yards
Receiving:
DET: Ron Jessie, 5 for 71 yards and 1 TD; Mel Farr, 4 for 17 yards; Larry Walton, 3 for 41 yards; Altie Taylor, 2 for 8 yards; Steve Owens, 1 for 8 yards; Charlie Sanders, 1 for 7 yards MIN: John Gilliam, 5 for 129 yards and 1 TD; Ed Marinaro, 2 for 17 yards; Stu Voigt, 2 for 12 yards; Doug Kingsriter, 1 for 13 yards; Bill Brown, 1 for 6 yards
Kick returns:
DET: Altie Taylor, 1 for 26 yards; Jim Thrower, 1 for 23 yards; Dick Jauron, 1 for 19 yards MIN: John Gilliam, 2 for 46 yards
Punt returns:
DET: Larry Walton, 1 for 9 yards MIN: Bobby Bryant, 4 for 24 yards
Interceptions:
DET: Miller Farr, 1 for 0 yards MIN: Nate Wright, 1 for 6 yards
Punting:
DET: Herman Weaver, 6 for 303 yards MIN: Mike Eischeid, 4 for 141 yards
Field Goals:
MIN: Fred Cox, 0/1