NFL game summary for 10/31/1976:
Johnny Musso landed on his own fumble in the end zone for the winning touchdown as the Bears pinned the first loss on the Vikings, the last of the undefeated. Fran Tarkenton, breaking John Unitas' career passing yardage record with 272 yards passing for a 40,421-yard total, drove 80 yards on the next series and scored on a two-yard run to bring the Vikings within one point with 7:42 left in the game.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 139.6 (16) | 188.6 (9) | 328.1 (11) | 15 |
| DEFENSE | 152.6 (19) | 107.7 (4) | 260.3 (4) | 19 | |
 | OFFENSE | 165.4 (10) | 103.3 (26) | 268.7 (22) | 14 |
| DEFENSE | 133.1 (13) | 140.7 (7) | 273.9 (6) | 20 |
Line: Vikings by 6
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Vikings (6-1-1) | 0 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 13 |
| Chicago Bears (4-4-0) | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
( 0- 7) CHI Walter Payton 39 yard rush (Bob Thomas kick)
( 3- 7) MIN Fred Cox 24 yard field goal
( 6- 7) MIN Fred Cox 24 yard field goal
( 6-14) CHI Johnny Musso 3 yard rush (Bob Thomas kick)
(13-14) MIN Fran Tarkenton 2 yard rush (Fred Cox kick)
MIN CHI
First Downs: 23 7
Rushes-yards: 38-106 33-135
Yards/rush: 2.8 4.1
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 24-46-272-2 4-13-59-0
Sacked-yards: 3-24 2-21
Net pass yards: 248 38
Net yards/pass: 5.1 2.5
Total net yards: 354 173
Total plays: 87 (43% run) 48 (68% run)
Yards/play: 4.1 3.6
Fumbles-lost: 1-0 4-1
Turnovers: 2 1
Penalties-yards: 5-47 8-66
Attendance: 53,602
Passing:
MIN: Fran Tarkenton, 24 of 46 for 272 yards (2 int) CHI: Bob Avellini, 3 of 12 for 34 yards; Bob Parsons, 1 of 1 for 25 yards
Rushing:
MIN: Brent McClanahan, 17 for 60 yards; Chuck Foreman, 17 for 35 yards; Robert Miller, 2 for 6 yards; Fran Tarkenton, 2 for 5 yards and 1 TD CHI: Walter Payton, 15 for 67 yards and 1 TD; Johnny Musso, 8 for 29 yards and 1 TD; Roland Harper, 6 for 31 yards; Mike Adamle, 3 for 8 yards; Bob Avellini, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
MIN: Chuck Foreman, 8 for 72 yards; Brent McClanahan, 4 for 23 yards; Stu Voigt, 3 for 77 yards; Bob Grim, 3 for 36 yards; Robert Miller, 3 for 23 yards; Sammy White, 2 for 28 yards; Steve Craig, 1 for 13 yards CHI: James Scott, 2 for 40 yards; Steve Schubert, 1 for 25 yards; Roland Harper, 1 for -6 yards
Kick returns:
MIN: Leonard Willis, 2 for 48 yards CHI: Brian Baschnagel, 2 for 58 yards; Mike Adamle, 2 for 15 yards
Punt returns:
MIN: Autry Beamon, 1 for 0 yards; Leonard Willis, 1 for 0 yards CHI: Virgil Livers, 2 for 19 yards; Brian Baschnagel, 1 for -1 yards
Interceptions:
CHI: Ross Brupbacher, 1 for 21 yards; Doug Plank, 1 for 5 yards
Punting:
MIN: Neil Clabo, 7 for 198 yards CHI: Bob Parsons, 8 for 283 yards
Field Goals:
MIN: Fred Cox, 2/2 CHI: Bob Thomas, 0/1
MIN: Fran Tarkenton, 24 of 46 for 272 yards (2 int) CHI: Bob Avellini, 3 of 12 for 34 yards; Bob Parsons, 1 of 1 for 25 yards
Rushing:
MIN: Brent McClanahan, 17 for 60 yards; Chuck Foreman, 17 for 35 yards; Robert Miller, 2 for 6 yards; Fran Tarkenton, 2 for 5 yards and 1 TD CHI: Walter Payton, 15 for 67 yards and 1 TD; Johnny Musso, 8 for 29 yards and 1 TD; Roland Harper, 6 for 31 yards; Mike Adamle, 3 for 8 yards; Bob Avellini, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
MIN: Chuck Foreman, 8 for 72 yards; Brent McClanahan, 4 for 23 yards; Stu Voigt, 3 for 77 yards; Bob Grim, 3 for 36 yards; Robert Miller, 3 for 23 yards; Sammy White, 2 for 28 yards; Steve Craig, 1 for 13 yards CHI: James Scott, 2 for 40 yards; Steve Schubert, 1 for 25 yards; Roland Harper, 1 for -6 yards
Kick returns:
MIN: Leonard Willis, 2 for 48 yards CHI: Brian Baschnagel, 2 for 58 yards; Mike Adamle, 2 for 15 yards
Punt returns:
MIN: Autry Beamon, 1 for 0 yards; Leonard Willis, 1 for 0 yards CHI: Virgil Livers, 2 for 19 yards; Brian Baschnagel, 1 for -1 yards
Interceptions:
CHI: Ross Brupbacher, 1 for 21 yards; Doug Plank, 1 for 5 yards
Punting:
MIN: Neil Clabo, 7 for 198 yards CHI: Bob Parsons, 8 for 283 yards
Field Goals:
MIN: Fred Cox, 2/2 CHI: Bob Thomas, 0/1