All NFL game summaries for 12/29/1974:

On an unseasonable, sunny, 30-degree December day, the Minnesota Vikings won their second straight NFC championship and the third in the club's 14-year history. Minnesota held a 7-3 lead in the third period when a series of plays developed which proved to be the most decisive in the game. Los Angeles quarterback James Harris slipped from the grasp of two Minnesota tacklers and connected with Harold Jackson for a 73-yard gain to the Vikings' 2-yard line. On second-and-goal at the one, Rams' guard Tom Mack was called for illegal procedure and the ball was moved back to the 6. Harris ran for four to the 2. On third down, Harris' pass was deflected by Vikings' cornerback Jackie Wallace into the hands of Minnesota linebacker Wally Hilgenberg in the end zone for a touchback.

The Vikings then marched 80 yards in 15 plays to build their advantage to 14-3 on Dave Osborn's one-yard run with 12:29 remaining. Los Angeles pulled within the final margin on a 44-yard Harris to Jackson touchdown pass three minutes later. But Minnesota, after two exchanges of possession, ran out the final 5:37 to earn its third trip to the Super Bowl. Chuck Foreman rushed for 80 yards and Dave Osborn 76. Fran Tarkenton completed 10 of 20 passes for 123 yards. Minnesota's defense held NFC rushing champion Lawrence McCutcheon to 32 yards. Harris produced 248 yards, with 13 completions in 23 pass attempts.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Rams by 4

                     LA              MIN
First Downs:         15              18
Rushes-yards:        33-121          47-164
Yards/rush:          3.7             3.5
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     13-23-248-2     10-20-123-1
Sacked-yards:        2-29            2-18
Net pass yards:      219             105
Net yards/pass:      8.8             4.8
Total net yards:     340             269
Total plays:         58 (56% run)    69 (68% run)  
Yards/play:          5.9             3.9
Fumbles-lost:        3-3             5-2
Turnovers:           5               3
Penalties-yards:     7-70            2-20

Attendance: 47,404

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Pittsburgh won its first conference championship in 42 years of membership in the National Football League with a 21-point final quarter. Franco Harris ripped through the Oakland defense for 111 yards and two touchdowns, and Rocky Bleier gained 98 yards rushing. Terry Bradshaw directed the Steelers' 224-yard ground attack while the Pittsburgh defense shut off the Raiders with only 29 yards rushing. Bradshaw also completed 8 of 17 passes for 95 yards and a touchdown to rookie Lynn Swann.

Ken Stabler hit with 19 of 36 for 271 yards and one Oakland score, but was intercepted three times, twice by Jack Ham and finally by J. T. Thomas in the final minute. Cliff Branch set an AFC championship game record by catching nine passes for 186 yards and the lone Oakland touchdown. George Blanda also extended his own records with his ninth game, 59 total points and six field goals in AFC title games.

Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):

Line: Raiders by 5½

                     PIT             OAK
First Downs:         20              15
Rushes-yards:        50-224          21-29
Yards/rush:          4.5             1.4
Comp-Att-Yd-INT:     8-17-95-1       19-36-271-3
Sacked-yards:        1-14            2-22
Net pass yards:      81              249
Net yards/pass:      4.5             6.6
Total net yards:     305             278
Total plays:         68 (73% run)    59 (35% run)  
Yards/play:          4.5             4.7
Fumbles-lost:        3-2             0-0
Turnovers:           3               3
Penalties-yards:     4-30            5-60

Attendance: 53,515

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