NFL game summary for 12/02/1973:
Cincinnati won its fourth straight, moved into a three-way tie for the lead in the AFC Central, and handed Minnesota its first shutout defeat in 161 games since 1962. Ken Anderson completed 12 of 17 passes while the Bengals turned an interception and a fumble recovery into scores. The shutout also ended Fred Cox's scoring streak of 151 games as his 49-yard field goal attempt fell short in the fourth quarter.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 170.3 (5) | 147.5 (12) | 317.8 (6) | 21 |
| DEFENSE | 134.8 (10) | 135.2 (12) | 270.0 (10) | 29 | |
 | OFFENSE | 157.7 (8) | 153.5 (8) | 311.3 (7) | 24 |
| DEFENSE | 132.5 (7) | 137.9 (15) | 270.5 (11) | 27 |
Line: Vikings by 6
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Vikings (10-2-0) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cincinnati Bengals (8-4-0) | 0 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 27 |
( 0- 3) CIN Horst Muhlmann 22 yard field goal
( 0-10) CIN Lemar Parrish 23 yard fumble return (Horst Muhlmann kick)
( 0-17) CIN Essex Johnson 40 yard rush (Horst Muhlmann kick)
( 0-20) CIN Horst Muhlmann 38 yard field goal
( 0-27) CIN Bob Trumpy 7 yard pass from Ken Anderson (Horst Muhlmann kick)
MIN CIN
First Downs: 13 17
Rushes-yards: 26-81 39-227
Yards/rush: 3.1 5.8
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 16-29-127-1 12-17-105-0
Sacked-yards: 1-7 0-0
Net pass yards: 120 105
Net yards/pass: 4.0 6.2
Total net yards: 201 332
Total plays: 56 (46% run) 56 (69% run)
Yards/play: 3.6 5.9
Fumbles-lost: 2-2 1-0
Turnovers: 3 0
Penalties-yards: 4-20 3-35
Attendance: 57,859
Passing:
MIN: Fran Tarkenton, 11 of 18 for 73 yards; Bob Berry, 5 of 11 for 54 yards (1 int) CIN: Ken Anderson, 12 of 17 for 105 yards and 1 TD
Rushing:
MIN: Chuck Foreman, 11 for 38 yards; Oscar Reed, 9 for 30 yards; Bill Brown, 3 for 14 yards; Dave Osborn, 2 for 1 yard; Ed Marinaro, 1 for -2 yards CIN: Boobie Clark, 13 for 67 yards; Lenvil Elliott, 11 for 57 yards; Essex Johnson, 9 for 79 yards and 1 TD; Joe Wilson, 3 for 13 yards; Ken Anderson, 3 for 11 yards
Receiving:
MIN: Oscar Reed, 5 for 30 yards; Chuck Foreman, 4 for 28 yards; Carroll Dale, 2 for 16 yards; Stu Voigt, 1 for 18 yards; Jim Lash, 1 for 16 yards; Ed Marinaro, 1 for 9 yards; Bill Brown, 1 for 7 yards; Dave Osborn, 1 for 3 yards CIN: Bob Trumpy, 4 for 37 yards and 1 TD; Boobie Clark, 4 for 30 yards; Essex Johnson, 2 for 14 yards; Charlie Joiner, 1 for 23 yards; Isaac Curtis, 1 for 1 yard
Kick returns:
MIN: Charlie West, 1 for 42 yards; Brent McClanahan, 1 for 26 yards; John Gilliam, 1 for 12 yards CIN: Bernard Jackson, 1 for 28 yards
Punt returns:
MIN: Bobby Bryant, 1 for 5 yards CIN: Lemar Parrish, 3 for 17 yards; Lyle Blackwood, 2 for 6 yards
Interceptions:
CIN: Bill Bergey, 1 for 22 yards
Punting:
MIN: Mike Eischeid, 7 for 297 yards CIN: Dave Lewis, 5 for 210 yards
Field Goals:
MIN: Fred Cox, 0/1 CIN: Horst Muhlmann, 2/2
MIN: Fran Tarkenton, 11 of 18 for 73 yards; Bob Berry, 5 of 11 for 54 yards (1 int) CIN: Ken Anderson, 12 of 17 for 105 yards and 1 TD
Rushing:
MIN: Chuck Foreman, 11 for 38 yards; Oscar Reed, 9 for 30 yards; Bill Brown, 3 for 14 yards; Dave Osborn, 2 for 1 yard; Ed Marinaro, 1 for -2 yards CIN: Boobie Clark, 13 for 67 yards; Lenvil Elliott, 11 for 57 yards; Essex Johnson, 9 for 79 yards and 1 TD; Joe Wilson, 3 for 13 yards; Ken Anderson, 3 for 11 yards
Receiving:
MIN: Oscar Reed, 5 for 30 yards; Chuck Foreman, 4 for 28 yards; Carroll Dale, 2 for 16 yards; Stu Voigt, 1 for 18 yards; Jim Lash, 1 for 16 yards; Ed Marinaro, 1 for 9 yards; Bill Brown, 1 for 7 yards; Dave Osborn, 1 for 3 yards CIN: Bob Trumpy, 4 for 37 yards and 1 TD; Boobie Clark, 4 for 30 yards; Essex Johnson, 2 for 14 yards; Charlie Joiner, 1 for 23 yards; Isaac Curtis, 1 for 1 yard
Kick returns:
MIN: Charlie West, 1 for 42 yards; Brent McClanahan, 1 for 26 yards; John Gilliam, 1 for 12 yards CIN: Bernard Jackson, 1 for 28 yards
Punt returns:
MIN: Bobby Bryant, 1 for 5 yards CIN: Lemar Parrish, 3 for 17 yards; Lyle Blackwood, 2 for 6 yards
Interceptions:
CIN: Bill Bergey, 1 for 22 yards
Punting:
MIN: Mike Eischeid, 7 for 297 yards CIN: Dave Lewis, 5 for 210 yards
Field Goals:
MIN: Fred Cox, 0/1 CIN: Horst Muhlmann, 2/2