NFL game summary for 12/17/1978:
Fred Biletnikoff and Charles Phillips scored touchdowns 27 seconds apart as Oakland built an early 21-0 lead. Ken Stabler passed 31 yards to Biletnikoff for a score and Phillips ran 31 yards with Chuck Foreman's fumble. Mark van Eeghen rushed 28 times for 92 yards to go over 1,000 yards (1,080) for the third straight year. Van Eeghen is the only Raider ever to reach the mark more than once. Despite the loss, Minnesota gained its sixth consecutive playoff appearance, winning the NFC Central title as Green Bay lost to Los Angeles.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 96.4 (28) | 196.3 (3) | 292.7 (16) | 44 |
| DEFENSE | 129.9 (10) | 169.8 (21) | 299.7 (15) | 41 | |
 | OFFENSE | 134.5 (17) | 172.3 (9) | 306.8 (10) | 41 |
| DEFENSE | 139.5 (15) | 160.8 (18) | 300.3 (16) | 36 |
Line: Raiders by 3
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Vikings (8-7-1) | 0 | 6 | 0 | 14 | 20 |
| Oakland Raiders (9-7-0) | 21 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 27 |
( 0- 7) OAK Fred Biletnikoff 13 yard pass from Ken Stabler (Errol Mann kick) ( 0-14) OAK Charlie Phillips 31 yard fumble return (Errol Mann kick) ( 0-21) OAK Mark van Eeghen 4 yard rush (Errol Mann kick) ( 6-21) MIN Ahmad Rashad 58 yard pass from Fran Trakenton (kick failed) ( 6-24) OAK Errol Mann 30 yard field goal (13-24) MIN Rickey Young 9 yard pass from Fran Trakenton (Rick Danmeier kick) (13-27) OAK Errol Mann 45 yard field goal (20-27) MIN Ahmad Rashad 24 yard pass from Fran Trakenton (Rick Danmeier kick)
MIN OAK
First Downs: 21 16
Rushes-yards: 21-90 50-168
Yards/rush: 4.3 3.4
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 23-38-316-5 16-27-154-0
Sacked-yards: 1-17 1-11
Net pass yards: 299 143
Net yards/pass: 7.7 5.1
Total net yards: 389 311
Total plays: 60 (35% run) 78 (64% run)
Yards/play: 6.5 4.0
Fumbles-lost: 2-2 2-2
Turnovers: 7 2
Penalties-yards: 5-35 8-55
Attendance: 44,643
Passing:
MIN: Fran Tarkenton, 23 of 38 for 316 yards and 3 TDs (5 int) OAK: Ken Stabler, 9 of 15 for 88 yards and 1 TD; David Humm, 7 of 11 for 66 yards; Dave Casper, 0 of 1 for 0 yards
Rushing:
MIN: Chuck Foreman, 13 for 41 yards; Robert Miller, 5 for 29 yards; Rickey Young, 3 for 20 yards OAK: Mark van Eeghen, 28 for 92 yards and 1 TD; Arthur Whittington, 13 for 61 yards; Pete Banaszak, 4 for 18 yards; David Humm, 4 for -3 yards; Booker Russell, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
MIN: Rickey Young, 7 for 65 yards and 1 TD; Ahmad Rashad, 5 for 115 yards and 2 TDs; Chuck Foreman, 4 for 26 yards; Bob Tucker, 3 for 45 yards; Robert Miller, 2 for 40 yards; Sammy White, 1 for 18 yards; Steve Craig, 1 for 7 yards OAK: Cliff Branch, 4 for 45 yards; Fred Biletnikoff, 3 for 34 yards and 1 TD; Dave Casper, 2 for 29 yards; Arthur Whittington, 2 for 9 yards; Mark van Eeghen, 2 for 8 yards; Morris Bradshaw, 1 for 15 yards; Raymond Chester, 1 for 10 yards; Pete Banaszak, 1 for 4 yards
Kick returns:
MIN: Kevin Miller, 3 for 51 yards; Robert Miller, 1 for 13 yards OAK: Joe Stewart, 1 for 56 yards; Derrick Ramsey, 1 for 9 yards; Arthur Whittington, 1 for -2 yards
Punt returns:
MIN: Kevin Miller, 1 for 6 yards OAK: Neal Colzie, 1 for 14 yards
Interceptions:
OAK: Lester Hayes, 2 for 1 yard; Ted Hendricks, 1 for 9 yards; Mike Davis, 1 for 0 yards; Monte Jackson, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
MIN: Greg Coleman, 4 for 139 yards OAK: Ray Guy, 6 for 235 yards
Field Goals:
OAK: Errol Mann, 2/2
MIN: Fran Tarkenton, 23 of 38 for 316 yards and 3 TDs (5 int) OAK: Ken Stabler, 9 of 15 for 88 yards and 1 TD; David Humm, 7 of 11 for 66 yards; Dave Casper, 0 of 1 for 0 yards
Rushing:
MIN: Chuck Foreman, 13 for 41 yards; Robert Miller, 5 for 29 yards; Rickey Young, 3 for 20 yards OAK: Mark van Eeghen, 28 for 92 yards and 1 TD; Arthur Whittington, 13 for 61 yards; Pete Banaszak, 4 for 18 yards; David Humm, 4 for -3 yards; Booker Russell, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
MIN: Rickey Young, 7 for 65 yards and 1 TD; Ahmad Rashad, 5 for 115 yards and 2 TDs; Chuck Foreman, 4 for 26 yards; Bob Tucker, 3 for 45 yards; Robert Miller, 2 for 40 yards; Sammy White, 1 for 18 yards; Steve Craig, 1 for 7 yards OAK: Cliff Branch, 4 for 45 yards; Fred Biletnikoff, 3 for 34 yards and 1 TD; Dave Casper, 2 for 29 yards; Arthur Whittington, 2 for 9 yards; Mark van Eeghen, 2 for 8 yards; Morris Bradshaw, 1 for 15 yards; Raymond Chester, 1 for 10 yards; Pete Banaszak, 1 for 4 yards
Kick returns:
MIN: Kevin Miller, 3 for 51 yards; Robert Miller, 1 for 13 yards OAK: Joe Stewart, 1 for 56 yards; Derrick Ramsey, 1 for 9 yards; Arthur Whittington, 1 for -2 yards
Punt returns:
MIN: Kevin Miller, 1 for 6 yards OAK: Neal Colzie, 1 for 14 yards
Interceptions:
OAK: Lester Hayes, 2 for 1 yard; Ted Hendricks, 1 for 9 yards; Mike Davis, 1 for 0 yards; Monte Jackson, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
MIN: Greg Coleman, 4 for 139 yards OAK: Ray Guy, 6 for 235 yards
Field Goals:
OAK: Errol Mann, 2/2