NFL game summary for 09/26/1976:
Nate Allen's block of a bobbled conversion attempt provided Minnesota's winning margin in a game controlled by the defenses. The Lions' and Vikings' defenses gave up 168 and 251 yards, respectively. Both teams were shut out in the first half and were deadlocked 3-3 after three quarters. Chuck Foreman, the game's leading rusher with 94 yards, scored on the first play of the fourth quarter on a five-yard draw before Detroit got its final score with 2:01 left in the game. Greg Landry completed 13 of 24 passes for 198 yards including a one-yard TD pass to Charlie Sanders.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 123.5 (18) | 282.5 (1) | 406.0 (4) | 4 |
| DEFENSE | 155.5 (17) | 107.5 (5) | 263.0 (10) | 6 | |
 | OFFENSE | 153.5 (14) | 115.5 (22) | 269.0 (20) | 3 |
| DEFENSE | 145.5 (14) | 92.5 (2) | 238.0 (6) | 5 |
Line: Vikings by 8
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Vikings (2-0-1) | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 10 |
| Detroit Lions (1-2-0) | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 9 |
( 3- 0) MIN Fred Cox 49 yard field goal ( 3- 3) DET Errol Mann 49 yard field goal (10- 3) MIN Chuck Foreman 5 yard rush (Fred Cox kick) (10- 9) DET Charlie Sanders 1 yard pass from Greg Landry (kick failed)
MIN DET
First Downs: 10 14
Rushes-yards: 35-116 33-101
Yards/rush: 3.3 3.1
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 10-20-72-0 13-24-198-0
Sacked-yards: 2-20 7-48
Net pass yards: 52 150
Net yards/pass: 2.4 4.8
Total net yards: 168 251
Total plays: 57 (61% run) 64 (51% run)
Yards/play: 2.9 3.9
Fumbles-lost: 1-0 3-2
Turnovers: 0 2
Penalties-yards: 6-36 5-39
Attendance: 76,914
Passing:
MIN: Fran Tarkenton, 7 of 16 for 47 yards; Bob Lee, 3 of 4 for 25 yards DET: Greg Landry, 13 of 24 for 198 yards and 1 TD
Rushing:
MIN: Chuck Foreman, 25 for 94 yards and 1 TD; Brent McClanahan, 10 for 22 yards DET: Horace King, 12 for 57 yards; Dexter Bussey, 9 for 13 yards; Lawrence Gaines, 8 for 28 yards; Greg Landry, 4 for 3 yards
Receiving:
MIN: Chuck Foreman, 3 for 14 yards; Ahmad Rashad, 2 for 35 yards; Stu Voigt, 2 for 12 yards; Brent McClanahan, 2 for 10 yards; Sammy White, 1 for 1 yard DET: Charlie Sanders, 4 for 64 yards and 1 TD; Ray Jarvis, 3 for 49 yards; Bobby Thompson, 2 for 43 yards; Dexter Bussey, 2 for 17 yards; Horace King, 1 for 18 yards; Larry Walton, 1 for 7 yards
Kick returns:
MIN: Mark Kellar, 1 for 22 yards; Sammy White, 1 for 0 yards DET: James Hunter, 3 for 73 yards
Punt returns:
MIN: Leonard Willis, 2 for 26 yards DET: Lem Barney, 3 for 40 yards
Interceptions:
Punting:
MIN: Neil Clabo, 10 for 409 yards DET: Herman Weaver, 7 for 278 yards
Field Goals:
MIN: Fred Cox, 1/2 DET: Errol Mann, 1/2
MIN: Fran Tarkenton, 7 of 16 for 47 yards; Bob Lee, 3 of 4 for 25 yards DET: Greg Landry, 13 of 24 for 198 yards and 1 TD
Rushing:
MIN: Chuck Foreman, 25 for 94 yards and 1 TD; Brent McClanahan, 10 for 22 yards DET: Horace King, 12 for 57 yards; Dexter Bussey, 9 for 13 yards; Lawrence Gaines, 8 for 28 yards; Greg Landry, 4 for 3 yards
Receiving:
MIN: Chuck Foreman, 3 for 14 yards; Ahmad Rashad, 2 for 35 yards; Stu Voigt, 2 for 12 yards; Brent McClanahan, 2 for 10 yards; Sammy White, 1 for 1 yard DET: Charlie Sanders, 4 for 64 yards and 1 TD; Ray Jarvis, 3 for 49 yards; Bobby Thompson, 2 for 43 yards; Dexter Bussey, 2 for 17 yards; Horace King, 1 for 18 yards; Larry Walton, 1 for 7 yards
Kick returns:
MIN: Mark Kellar, 1 for 22 yards; Sammy White, 1 for 0 yards DET: James Hunter, 3 for 73 yards
Punt returns:
MIN: Leonard Willis, 2 for 26 yards DET: Lem Barney, 3 for 40 yards
Interceptions:
Punting:
MIN: Neil Clabo, 10 for 409 yards DET: Herman Weaver, 7 for 278 yards
Field Goals:
MIN: Fred Cox, 1/2 DET: Errol Mann, 1/2