1975 Minnesota Vikings season

The 1975 Minnesota Vikings season was the franchise's 15th season in the National Football League.

The Vikings began with ten wins before losing by one point to the Washington Redskins, though there was generally very little expectation they would equal the 1972 Dolphins’ perfect season.^[1] The 1975 Vikings had an even easier schedule than the often-criticised schedule of the unbeaten Dolphin team, with their fourteen opponents having a weighted average winning percentage of .332 and nine being 4–10 or worse.^[2] Football journalists noted during their streak how the Vikings had been playing very weak schedules for several years and flattered thereby.^[3] Their 10–0 start was not subsequently equalled until the 1984 Miami Dolphins began 11–0.^[4] Only the Super Bowl-winning 1999 Rams had since, according to Pro Football Reference, a weaker schedule than the 1975 Vikings, playing only one opponent with a winning record during the regular season.^[5]

They sealed their third straight NFC Central title on Thanksgiving Day in this same week when the Detroit Lions lost to the Los Angeles Rams.

The Vikings finished with a record of 12 wins and two losses, before losing to the Dallas Cowboys, 17–14 in the NFC Divisional Playoff Game at home due to a play known as the “Hail Mary”. Earlier in the season, the New York Jets made their first appearance in Minnesota in a much-anticipated match between Super Bowl quarterbacks Fran Tarkenton and Joe Namath, in what was the first regular season game sold out during the summer.^[6]

Offseason

1975 Draft

^{^[a]} Minnesota originally chose 51st overall but passed allowing Pittsburgh to move up and Minnesota to choose 52nd overall.

^{^[b]} Detroit traded their 3rd round selection (63rd overall) to Minnesota for CB Charlie West.

^{^[c]} Minnesota traded Detroit's third round selection (63rd overall) to New Orleans for OL Andy Maurer.

^{^[d]} The details of this trade are unknown.

^{^[e]} Minnesota originally chose 259th overall but moved up to the 258th overall selection when Oakland passed.

^{^[f]} Minnesota originally chose 337th overall but moved up to the 336th overall selection when Washington passed on the 334th overall selection and allowed Miami, San Diego, Minnesota, Pittsburgh, Miami, Baltimore, Atlanta, Cleveland, Chicago, and New Orleans to move up.

^{^[g]} Minnesota originally chose 389th overall but moved up to the 388th overall selection when Oakland passed.

^{^[h]} Minnesota originally chose 415th overall but moved up to the 414th overall selection when Baltimore passed and allowed Minnesota and Pittsburgh to move up.

Regular season

Schedule

Game summaries

Week 1

^[7]

Playoffs

NFC Divisional Playoff

Standings

Awards and records

• Fran Tarkenton, Bert Bell Award,^[8] and AP MVP
• AP First Team All-Pro selections: RB Chuck Foreman, S Paul Krause, DT Alan Page, QB Fran Tarkenton and T Ron Yary
• Chuck Foreman, set an NFL record with 73 receptions, most by a running back
• DE Jim Marshall, recovered 26th fumble, a new league record
• Pro Bowl selections: Bobby Bryant, Chuck Foreman, John Gilliam, Paul Krause, Alan Page, Jeff Siemon, Fran Tarkenton, Ed White and Ron Yary

Statistics

Team leaders

• Vikings single season record.

League rankings

References