NFL game summary for 12/16/1979:
Harold Jackson and Stanley Morgan each surpassed the 1,000 mark in season receiving yardage as the Patriots handed the Vikings their ninth loss and first losing season since 1967. Vikings defensive end Jim Marshall closed out a 20-year career with his 282nd straight game, an NFL record.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 107.3 (24) | 189.3 (13) | 296.7 (22) | 40 |
| DEFENSE | 163.8 (26) | 165.0 (9) | 328.8 (18) | 32 | |
 | OFFENSE | 145.5 (12) | 199.7 (10) | 345.3 (6) | 38 |
| DEFENSE | 107.7 (4) | 150.3 (2) | 258.0 (2) | 42 |
Line: Patriots by 6
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Vikings (7-9-0) | 6 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 23 |
| New England Patriots (9-7-0) | 7 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 27 |
( 6- 0) MIN Ted Brown 1 yard rush (kick failed)
( 6- 7) NE Horace Ivory 5 yard pass from Steve Grogan (John Smith kick)
(13- 7) MIN Robert Miller 1 yard rush (Rick Danmeier kick)
(16- 7) MIN Rick Danmeier 24 yard field goal
(16-14) NE Don Calhoun 1 yard rush (John Smith kick)
(16-21) NE Harold Jackson 40 yard pass from Steve Grogan (John Smith kick)
(16-24) NE John Smith 42 yard field goal
(23-24) MIN Rickey Young 13 yard pass from Tommy Kramer (Rick Danmeier kick)
(23-27) NE John Smith 30 yard field goal
MIN NE
First Downs: 30 14
Rushes-yards: 29-154 24-69
Yards/rush: 5.3 2.9
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 35-61-308-1 13-27-228-1
Sacked-yards: 1-9 1-6
Net pass yards: 299 222
Net yards/pass: 4.8 7.9
Total net yards: 453 291
Total plays: 91 (31% run) 52 (46% run)
Yards/play: 5.0 5.6
Fumbles-lost: 0-0 1-0
Turnovers: 1 1
Penalties-yards: 4-52 1-10
Attendance: 54,719
Passing:
MIN: Tommy Kramer, 35 of 61 for 308 yards and 1 TD (1 int) NE: Steve Grogan, 12 of 26 for 204 yards and 2 TDs (1 int); Don Westbrook, 1 of 1 for 24 yards
Rushing:
MIN: Rickey Young, 16 for 80 yards; Ted Brown, 6 for 20 yards and 1 TD; Tommy Kramer, 4 for 50 yards; Robert Miller, 2 for 5 yards and 1 TD; Brent McClanahan, 1 for -1 yards NE: Don Calhoun, 10 for 37 yards and 1 TD; Horace Ivory, 10 for 12 yards; Steve Grogan, 4 for 20 yards
Receiving:
MIN: Rickey Young, 15 for 116 yards and 1 TD; Ahmad Rashad, 8 for 68 yards; Ted Brown, 4 for 35 yards; Sammy White, 3 for 41 yards; Terry LeCount, 2 for 25 yards; Robert Miller, 2 for 9 yards; Bob Tucker, 1 for 14 yards NE: Harold Jackson, 5 for 147 yards and 1 TD; Stanley Morgan, 3 for 29 yards; Don Calhoun, 2 for 16 yards; Horace Ivory, 2 for 12 yards and 1 TD; Don Hasselbeck, 1 for 24 yards
Kick returns:
MIN: Jimmy Edwards, 4 for 106 yards; Brent McClanahan, 1 for 15 yards NE: Allan Clark, 2 for 52 yards; Don Westbrook, 2 for 27 yards; Mosi Tatupu, 1 for 3 yards
Punt returns:
MIN: Kevin Miller, 3 for 28 yards NE: Stanley Morgan, 2 for 11 yards
Interceptions:
MIN: Kurt Knoff, 1 for 10 yards NE: Raymond Clayborn, 1 for 27 yards
Punting:
MIN: Greg Coleman, 5 for 191 yards NE: Eddie Hare, 7 for 253 yards
Field Goals:
MIN: Rick Danmeier, 1/2 NE: John Smith, 2/2
MIN: Tommy Kramer, 35 of 61 for 308 yards and 1 TD (1 int) NE: Steve Grogan, 12 of 26 for 204 yards and 2 TDs (1 int); Don Westbrook, 1 of 1 for 24 yards
Rushing:
MIN: Rickey Young, 16 for 80 yards; Ted Brown, 6 for 20 yards and 1 TD; Tommy Kramer, 4 for 50 yards; Robert Miller, 2 for 5 yards and 1 TD; Brent McClanahan, 1 for -1 yards NE: Don Calhoun, 10 for 37 yards and 1 TD; Horace Ivory, 10 for 12 yards; Steve Grogan, 4 for 20 yards
Receiving:
MIN: Rickey Young, 15 for 116 yards and 1 TD; Ahmad Rashad, 8 for 68 yards; Ted Brown, 4 for 35 yards; Sammy White, 3 for 41 yards; Terry LeCount, 2 for 25 yards; Robert Miller, 2 for 9 yards; Bob Tucker, 1 for 14 yards NE: Harold Jackson, 5 for 147 yards and 1 TD; Stanley Morgan, 3 for 29 yards; Don Calhoun, 2 for 16 yards; Horace Ivory, 2 for 12 yards and 1 TD; Don Hasselbeck, 1 for 24 yards
Kick returns:
MIN: Jimmy Edwards, 4 for 106 yards; Brent McClanahan, 1 for 15 yards NE: Allan Clark, 2 for 52 yards; Don Westbrook, 2 for 27 yards; Mosi Tatupu, 1 for 3 yards
Punt returns:
MIN: Kevin Miller, 3 for 28 yards NE: Stanley Morgan, 2 for 11 yards
Interceptions:
MIN: Kurt Knoff, 1 for 10 yards NE: Raymond Clayborn, 1 for 27 yards
Punting:
MIN: Greg Coleman, 5 for 191 yards NE: Eddie Hare, 7 for 253 yards
Field Goals:
MIN: Rick Danmeier, 1/2 NE: John Smith, 2/2