NFL game summary for 12/02/1979:
Holder Nolan Cromwell ran five yards for a touchdown on a fake field goal after 6:53 of overtime to help the Rams to a one-game lead in the NFC West. Joe Harris' 31-yard return of a blocked punt, Cullen Bryant's two-yard run, and Preston Dennard's 41-yard reception provided the Rams regulation time touchdowns. Minnesota quarterback Tommy Kramer's 22-yard scoring pass to Ahmad Rashad sent the game into overtime. Bob Lee returned against his former teammates in the second half to march the Rams into position for the winning score.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 106.5 (25) | 189.8 (13) | 296.3 (20) | 35 |
| DEFENSE | 171.2 (27) | 162.7 (9) | 333.9 (19) | 27 | |
 | OFFENSE | 152.8 (8) | 169.8 (16) | 322.7 (13) | 38 |
| DEFENSE | 113.2 (6) | 146.4 (2) | 259.6 (2) | 28 |
Line: Rams by 7
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Vikings (6-8-0) | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
| Los Angeles Rams (8-6-0) | 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 27 |
( 0- 7) LA Joe Harris 31 yard return of blocked punt (Frank Corral kick)
( 7- 7) MIN Terry LeCount 36 yard pass from Tommy Kramer (Rick Danmeier kick)
(14- 7) MIN Sammy White 6 yard pass from Tommy Kramer (Rick Danmeier kick)
(14-14) LA Cullen Bryant 2 yard rush (Frank Corral kick)
(14-21) LA Preston Dennard 41 yard pass from Bob Lee (Frank Corral kick)
(21-21) MIN Ahmad Rashad 22 yard pass from Tommy Kramer (Rick Danmeier kick)
(21-27) LA Nolan Cromwell 5 yard rush
MIN LA
First Downs: 26 14
Rushes-yards: 38-141 38-126
Yards/rush: 3.7 3.3
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 21-42-297-3 12-25-213-2
Sacked-yards: 5-29 4-39
Net pass yards: 268 174
Net yards/pass: 5.7 6.0
Total net yards: 409 300
Total plays: 85 (44% run) 67 (56% run)
Yards/play: 4.8 4.5
Fumbles-lost: 1-1 3-1
Turnovers: 4 3
Penalties-yards: 7-65 9-90
Attendance: 56,700
Passing:
MIN: Tommy Kramer, 21 of 42 for 297 yards and 3 TDs (3 int) LA: Bob Lee, 7 of 14 for 161 yards and 1 TD (1 int); Vince Ferragamo, 4 of 10 for 22 yards (1 int); Ken Clark, 1 of 1 for 30 yards
Rushing:
MIN: Ted Brown, 18 for 52 yards; Rickey Young, 16 for 70 yards; Tommy Kramer, 2 for 15 yards; Robert Miller, 1 for 2 yards; Brent McClanahan, 1 for 2 yards LA: Cullen Bryant, 14 for 44 yards and 1 TD; Wendell Tyler, 13 for 36 yards; Lawrence McCutcheon, 7 for 39 yards; Bob Lee, 2 for 0 yards; Nolan Cromwell, 1 for 5 yards and 1 TD; Vince Ferragamo, 1 for 2 yards
Receiving:
MIN: Ahmad Rashad, 6 for 102 yards and 1 TD; Ted Brown, 5 for 56 yards; Sammy White, 4 for 55 yards and 1 TD; Rickey Young, 3 for 27 yards; Terry LeCount, 1 for 36 yards and 1 TD; Stu Voigt, 1 for 13 yards; Bob Tucker, 1 for 8 yards LA: Ron Smith, 3 for 99 yards; Wendell Tyler, 3 for 17 yards; Preston Dennard, 2 for 57 yards and 1 TD; Cullen Bryant, 1 for 20 yards; Lawrence McCutcheon, 1 for 9 yards; Charle Young, 1 for 6 yards; Billy Waddy, 1 for 5 yards
Kick returns:
MIN: Jimmy Edwards, 2 for 47 yards LA: Eddie Hill, 4 for 50 yards; Jim Jodat, 1 for 19 yards
Punt returns:
MIN: Kevin Miller, 8 for 30 yards; John Turner, 1 for 0 yards LA: Eddie Brown, 4 for 25 yards
Interceptions:
MIN: Paul Krause, 2 for 33 yards LA: Eddie Brown, 2 for 32 yards; Dwayne O'Steen, 1 for 36 yards
Punting:
MIN: Greg Coleman, 6 for 271 yards LA: Ken Clark, 10 for 404 yards
Field Goals:
MIN: Rick Danmeier, 0/2 LA: Frank Corral, 0/1
MIN: Tommy Kramer, 21 of 42 for 297 yards and 3 TDs (3 int) LA: Bob Lee, 7 of 14 for 161 yards and 1 TD (1 int); Vince Ferragamo, 4 of 10 for 22 yards (1 int); Ken Clark, 1 of 1 for 30 yards
Rushing:
MIN: Ted Brown, 18 for 52 yards; Rickey Young, 16 for 70 yards; Tommy Kramer, 2 for 15 yards; Robert Miller, 1 for 2 yards; Brent McClanahan, 1 for 2 yards LA: Cullen Bryant, 14 for 44 yards and 1 TD; Wendell Tyler, 13 for 36 yards; Lawrence McCutcheon, 7 for 39 yards; Bob Lee, 2 for 0 yards; Nolan Cromwell, 1 for 5 yards and 1 TD; Vince Ferragamo, 1 for 2 yards
Receiving:
MIN: Ahmad Rashad, 6 for 102 yards and 1 TD; Ted Brown, 5 for 56 yards; Sammy White, 4 for 55 yards and 1 TD; Rickey Young, 3 for 27 yards; Terry LeCount, 1 for 36 yards and 1 TD; Stu Voigt, 1 for 13 yards; Bob Tucker, 1 for 8 yards LA: Ron Smith, 3 for 99 yards; Wendell Tyler, 3 for 17 yards; Preston Dennard, 2 for 57 yards and 1 TD; Cullen Bryant, 1 for 20 yards; Lawrence McCutcheon, 1 for 9 yards; Charle Young, 1 for 6 yards; Billy Waddy, 1 for 5 yards
Kick returns:
MIN: Jimmy Edwards, 2 for 47 yards LA: Eddie Hill, 4 for 50 yards; Jim Jodat, 1 for 19 yards
Punt returns:
MIN: Kevin Miller, 8 for 30 yards; John Turner, 1 for 0 yards LA: Eddie Brown, 4 for 25 yards
Interceptions:
MIN: Paul Krause, 2 for 33 yards LA: Eddie Brown, 2 for 32 yards; Dwayne O'Steen, 1 for 36 yards
Punting:
MIN: Greg Coleman, 6 for 271 yards LA: Ken Clark, 10 for 404 yards
Field Goals:
MIN: Rick Danmeier, 0/2 LA: Frank Corral, 0/1