NFL game summary for 09/11/1978:
Rick Danmeier, who spent the 1977 season on the Vikings' injured reserve list after signing as a free agent, kicked a 44-yard field goal at 2:56 of overtime to give the Vikings their first win of the season. Danmeier's field goals of 24, 46 and 21 yards had given Minnesota a 9-0 lead in the third quarter. Tommy Kramer replaced Fran Tarkenton in the overtime period and took the Vikings 56 yards in 10 plays to set up Danmeier's winning three-pointer. The Broncos tied the game as time ran out in the fourth period on Jim Turner's 25-yard field goal. Substitute quarterback Norris Weese directed the 37-yard drive that led to Turner's tying kick.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 144.0 (13) | 8.0 (28) | 152.0 (27) | 1 |
| DEFENSE | 117.0 (9) | 201.0 (25) | 318.0 (18) | 3 | |
 | OFFENSE | 155.0 (9) | 269.0 (1) | 424.0 (2) | 6 |
| DEFENSE | 138.0 (16) | 183.0 (20) | 321.0 (20) | 1 |
Line: Even
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver Broncos (1-1-0) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| Minnesota Vikings (1-1-0) | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 12 |
( 0- 3) MIN Rick Danmeier 24 yard field goal
( 0- 6) MIN Rick Danmeier 46 yard field goal
( 0- 9) MIN Rick Danmeier 21 yard field goal
( 6- 9) DEN Jon Keyworth 1 yard rush (kick failed)
( 9- 9) DEN Jim Turner 25 yard field goal
( 9-12) MIN Rick Danmeier 44 yard field goal
DEN MIN
First Downs: 18 13
Rushes-yards: 29-102 36-101
Yards/rush: 3.5 2.8
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 15-32-171-3 15-34-120-3
Sacked-yards: 6-42 2-15
Net pass yards: 129 105
Net yards/pass: 3.4 2.9
Total net yards: 231 206
Total plays: 67 (43% run) 72 (50% run)
Yards/play: 3.4 2.9
Fumbles-lost: 4-3 1-0
Turnovers: 6 3
Penalties-yards: 6-50 7-35
Attendance: 46,508
Passing:
DEN: Craig Morton, 9 of 21 for 90 yards (2 int); Norris Weese, 6 of 11 for 81 yards (1 int) MIN: Fran Tarkenton, 13 of 27 for 98 yards (3 int); Tommy Kramer, 2 of 7 for 22 yards
Rushing:
DEN: Otis Armstrong, 14 for 64 yards; Lonnie Perrin, 7 for 22 yards; Jon Keyworth, 6 for 13 yards and 1 TD; Larry Canada, 1 for 3 yards; Craig Morton, 1 for 0 yards MIN: Chuck Foreman, 22 for 59 yards; Rickey Young, 7 for 16 yards; Robert Miller, 5 for 12 yards; Tommy Kramer, 1 for 10 yards; Fran Tarkenton, 1 for 4 yards
Receiving:
DEN: Jon Keyworth, 4 for 27 yards; Haven Moses, 3 for 53 yards; Rick Upchurch, 3 for 30 yards; Riley Odoms, 2 for 41 yards; Ron Egloff, 1 for 15 yards; Otis Armstrong, 1 for 6 yards; Lonnie Perrin, 1 for -1 yards MIN: Chuck Foreman, 4 for 28 yards; Robert Miller, 3 for 31 yards; Rickey Young, 3 for 19 yards; Sammy White, 2 for 27 yards; Ahmad Rashad, 2 for 9 yards; Bob Tucker, 1 for 6 yards
Kick returns:
DEN: Lonnie Perrin, 1 for 22 yards; John Schultz, 1 for 20 yards; Dave Preston, 1 for 19 yards MIN: Brent McClanahan, 2 for 38 yards
Punt returns:
DEN: Rick Upchurch, 4 for 44 yards MIN: Kevin Miller, 2 for -6 yards
Interceptions:
DEN: Joe Rizzo, 1 for 0 yards; Bill Thompson, 1 for 0 yards; Louis Wright, 1 for 0 yards MIN: Nate Wright, 1 for 28 yards; Bobby Bryant, 1 for 0 yards; Tom Hannon, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
DEN: Bucky Dilts, 4 for 132 yards MIN: Mike Wood, 5 for 182 yards
Field Goals:
DEN: Jim Turner, 1/1 MIN: Rick Danmeier, 4/4
DEN: Craig Morton, 9 of 21 for 90 yards (2 int); Norris Weese, 6 of 11 for 81 yards (1 int) MIN: Fran Tarkenton, 13 of 27 for 98 yards (3 int); Tommy Kramer, 2 of 7 for 22 yards
Rushing:
DEN: Otis Armstrong, 14 for 64 yards; Lonnie Perrin, 7 for 22 yards; Jon Keyworth, 6 for 13 yards and 1 TD; Larry Canada, 1 for 3 yards; Craig Morton, 1 for 0 yards MIN: Chuck Foreman, 22 for 59 yards; Rickey Young, 7 for 16 yards; Robert Miller, 5 for 12 yards; Tommy Kramer, 1 for 10 yards; Fran Tarkenton, 1 for 4 yards
Receiving:
DEN: Jon Keyworth, 4 for 27 yards; Haven Moses, 3 for 53 yards; Rick Upchurch, 3 for 30 yards; Riley Odoms, 2 for 41 yards; Ron Egloff, 1 for 15 yards; Otis Armstrong, 1 for 6 yards; Lonnie Perrin, 1 for -1 yards MIN: Chuck Foreman, 4 for 28 yards; Robert Miller, 3 for 31 yards; Rickey Young, 3 for 19 yards; Sammy White, 2 for 27 yards; Ahmad Rashad, 2 for 9 yards; Bob Tucker, 1 for 6 yards
Kick returns:
DEN: Lonnie Perrin, 1 for 22 yards; John Schultz, 1 for 20 yards; Dave Preston, 1 for 19 yards MIN: Brent McClanahan, 2 for 38 yards
Punt returns:
DEN: Rick Upchurch, 4 for 44 yards MIN: Kevin Miller, 2 for -6 yards
Interceptions:
DEN: Joe Rizzo, 1 for 0 yards; Bill Thompson, 1 for 0 yards; Louis Wright, 1 for 0 yards MIN: Nate Wright, 1 for 28 yards; Bobby Bryant, 1 for 0 yards; Tom Hannon, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
DEN: Bucky Dilts, 4 for 132 yards MIN: Mike Wood, 5 for 182 yards
Field Goals:
DEN: Jim Turner, 1/1 MIN: Rick Danmeier, 4/4