NFL game summary for 12/30/1973:
A 54-yard Fran Tarkenton to John Gilliam touchdown pass and Bobby Bryant's 63-yard interception return for another score provided the impetus as Minnesota defeated Dallas 27-10 in the 1973 NFC championship game on a clear, sunny, 60-degree day in Texas Stadium. After Minnesota built a 10-0 halftime lead, Dallas pulled within three points on Golden Richards' 63-yard punt return for a touchdown in the third period.
But 1:03 later, Tarkenton connected with Gilliam to ease the pressure. Then cornerback Bryant, who had two of Minnesota's four interceptions, picked off a Roger Staubach pass and sprinted down the sideline for a touchdown, which lifted the Vikings' advantage to 24-10 early in the fourth period. The Vikings' defense limited the Cowboys to 153 yards and forced six turnovers. Minnesota's offense ran 72 plays to only 49 by the Cowboys.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 162.5 (6) | 139.7 (14) | 302.2 (7) | 26 |
| DEFENSE | 141.0 (11) | 135.3 (12) | 276.3 (11) | 36 | |
 | OFFENSE | 172.7 (5) | 166.6 (7) | 339.4 (4) | 28 |
| DEFENSE | 105.1 (3) | 142.5 (16) | 247.6 (5) | 41 |
Line: Cowboys by 1
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Vikings (14-2-0) | 3 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 27 |
| Dallas Cowboys (11-5-0) | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
( 3- 0) MIN Fred Cox 44 yard field goal
(10- 0) MIN Chuck Foreman 5 yard rush (Fred Cox kick)
(10- 7) DAL Golden Richards 63 yard punt return (Toni Fritsch kick)
(17- 7) MIN John Gilliam 54 yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick)
(17-10) DAL Toni Fritsch 17 yard field goal
(24-10) MIN Bobby Bryant 63 yard interception return (Fred Cox kick)
(27-10) MIN Fred Cox 34 yard field goal
MIN DAL
First Downs: 20 9
Rushes-yards: 47-203 25-80
Yards/rush: 4.3 3.2
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 10-21-133-1 20-21-89-4
Sacked-yards: 4-30 3-26
Net pass yards: 103 63
Net yards/pass: 4.1 2.6
Total net yards: 306 143
Total plays: 72 (65% run) 49 (51% run)
Yards/play: 4.2 2.9
Fumbles-lost: 4-3 2-2
Turnovers: 4 6
Penalties-yards: 3-33 2-20
Attendance: 59,688
Passing:
MIN: Fran Tarkenton, 10 of 21 for 133 yards and 1 TD (1 int) DAL: Roger Staubach, 10 of 21 for 89 yards (4 int)
Rushing:
MIN: Chuck Foreman, 19 for 76 yards and 1 TD; Oscar Reed, 18 for 75 yards; Dave Osborn, 4 for 27 yards; Fran Tarkenton, 4 for 16 yards; Bill Brown, 2 for 9 yards DAL: Robert Newhouse, 14 for 50 yards; Roger Staubach, 5 for 30 yards; Walt Garrison, 5 for 9 yards; Jean Fugett, 1 for 1 yard
Receiving:
MIN: Chuck Foreman, 4 for 28 yards; John Gilliam, 2 for 63 yards and 1 TD; Stu Voigt, 2 for 23 yards; Jim Lash, 1 for 11 yards; Oscar Reed, 1 for 8 yards DAL: Bob Hayes, 2 for 25 yards; Drew Pearson, 2 for 24 yards; Mike Montgomery, 2 for 15 yards; Billy Joe DuPree, 1 for 20 yards; Walt Garrison, 1 for 10 yards; Jean Fugett, 1 for -1 yards; Robert Newhouse, 1 for -4 yards
Kick returns:
MIN: Charlie West, 2 for 45 yards; John Gilliam, 1 for 21 yards DAL: Cliff Harris, 2 for 54 yards; Charlie Waters, 1 for 18 yards
Punt returns:
MIN: Bobby Bryant, 1 for 0 yards DAL: Golden Richards, 1 for 63 yards and 1 TD
Interceptions:
MIN: Bobby Bryant, 2 for 63 yards and 1 TD; Jeff Wright, 1 for 13 yards; Jeff Siemon, 1 for 0 yards DAL: Charlie Waters, 1 for 1 yard
Punting:
MIN: Mike Eischeid, 3 for 130 yards DAL: Marv Bateman, 4 for 158 yards
Field Goals:
MIN: Fred Cox, 2/2 DAL: Toni Fritsch, 1/1
MIN: Fran Tarkenton, 10 of 21 for 133 yards and 1 TD (1 int) DAL: Roger Staubach, 10 of 21 for 89 yards (4 int)
Rushing:
MIN: Chuck Foreman, 19 for 76 yards and 1 TD; Oscar Reed, 18 for 75 yards; Dave Osborn, 4 for 27 yards; Fran Tarkenton, 4 for 16 yards; Bill Brown, 2 for 9 yards DAL: Robert Newhouse, 14 for 50 yards; Roger Staubach, 5 for 30 yards; Walt Garrison, 5 for 9 yards; Jean Fugett, 1 for 1 yard
Receiving:
MIN: Chuck Foreman, 4 for 28 yards; John Gilliam, 2 for 63 yards and 1 TD; Stu Voigt, 2 for 23 yards; Jim Lash, 1 for 11 yards; Oscar Reed, 1 for 8 yards DAL: Bob Hayes, 2 for 25 yards; Drew Pearson, 2 for 24 yards; Mike Montgomery, 2 for 15 yards; Billy Joe DuPree, 1 for 20 yards; Walt Garrison, 1 for 10 yards; Jean Fugett, 1 for -1 yards; Robert Newhouse, 1 for -4 yards
Kick returns:
MIN: Charlie West, 2 for 45 yards; John Gilliam, 1 for 21 yards DAL: Cliff Harris, 2 for 54 yards; Charlie Waters, 1 for 18 yards
Punt returns:
MIN: Bobby Bryant, 1 for 0 yards DAL: Golden Richards, 1 for 63 yards and 1 TD
Interceptions:
MIN: Bobby Bryant, 2 for 63 yards and 1 TD; Jeff Wright, 1 for 13 yards; Jeff Siemon, 1 for 0 yards DAL: Charlie Waters, 1 for 1 yard
Punting:
MIN: Mike Eischeid, 3 for 130 yards DAL: Marv Bateman, 4 for 158 yards
Field Goals:
MIN: Fred Cox, 2/2 DAL: Toni Fritsch, 1/1