NFC Divisional Playoffs
Minnesota Vikings (12-2) vs.
Washington Redskins (10-4)
Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, MN
After a one year absence from the playoffs, the Minnesota Vikings returned with a much improved offense. Fran Tarkenton had made his return to the Vikings after a five year stint as a Giant, and rookie running back Chuck Foreman had begun to show the ability to punish defenses late in the season. Their defense was still dominant, with The Purple People Eaters still in place. Meanwhile, the Redskins were a year older, and with Sonny Jurgenson and Billy Kilmer splitting time at quarterback, no one was quite certain who would start in the playoffs. Larry Brown, last season's MVP, had also taken a few steps backward, meaning that this game would be even more difficult for Washington.
Sure enough, the Vikings came out firing early and often in the first quarter. After Washington punted on their first possession, Tarkenton used Foreman both on the ground and through the air to batter the Washington defenders. On his third carry and fourth touch of the drive, the young runner found a seam in the middle of the Redskin line and went 21 yards for a touchdown. The next time the Vikings had the ball, Tarkenton found receiver John Gilliam for 50 yards on two receptions and Carroll Dale for a 16 yarder that got Minnesota to the Washington 2. Backup running back Oscar Reed took it in from there, and at the end of the first quarter, the Vikings led 14-0.
The second quarter was more of the same for the Redskins. Although the finally were able to mount an effort against the Vikings, a Charley Taylor touchdown reception was brought back due to a holding penalty, and the Redskins were forced to settle for a field goal. Minnesota would make the Redskins pay for their missed touchdown just three plays later, when Tarkenton found Ed Marinaro streaking across the middle of the field. Somehow, Washington forgot how to tackle, and 61 yards later, Marinaro had scored and the Vikings led 21-3. From there, both defenses stood up and allowed neither team to score again in the half, leaving the Vikings 18 points up and the Redskins searching for answers.
Those answers would not come to Washington on this day. They were completely dominated in the second half, with their only scoring chance ending when Billy Kilmer was intercepted by Nate Wright at the Minnesota 20 yard line. Tarkenton would throw his second touchdown of the game on the next drive, and the rout was officially on. Washington could not move the ball far enough to even attempt a second field goal, but Minnesota could, and added three more points midway through the fourth quarter to finish the scoring for the day. The Vikings had made a sound statement about their status in the NFC, while the Redskins were left shellshocked and in a daze.
Final Score: Minnesota-31 Washington-3
Real Life Score: Minnesota-27 Washington-20
Dallas Cowboys (10-4) vs.
Los Angeles Rams (12-2)
Texas Stadium, Irving, TX
For the first time since the Super Bowl started, the Dallas Cowboys were not in the NFC Championship game last season. However, they looked to change that this season. Roger Staubach was back, healthy and taking snaps once again, while Calvin Hill proved that he still could bash a defense. For Los Angeles, 1973 was supposed to be a season of change. Roman Gabriel, the hero of Super Bowls II and IV was gone, sent to Philadelphia. In his place was former San Diego Charger quarterback John Hadl, and while he wasn't going to make people forget about Gabriel, he did lead the Rams offense to 388 points, the most in the NFL. Second year running backs Lawrence McCutcheon and Jim Bertelsen proved to be one of the best two man threats in the league, meaning that Dallas would have their hands full.
Early in the game, it appeared as if the Cowboys could not stop the Rams on this day. McCutcheon proved his value out the backfield as a receiver with a 29 yard catch and run on the opening play of the game, and then a 13 yard run later in the drive that put the Rams in field goal range. Sure enough, David Ray put it through from 30 yards away, and the Rams led 3-0. After that, neither team could move against the opposing defense, and both teams looked settled in for a defensive struggle.
In the second quarter, both teams had chances, but only one of them would lead to points. Dallas' first sustained drive ended early when Staubach was intercepted by Charlie Stukes, who returned the ball all the way back to the Cowboy 26. From there, the Rams would get no further, and Ray missed a 39 yard field goal try that would have made the lead 6-0. Instead, Dallas got the ball back and was quickly forced to punt yet again by a punishing Los Angeles defense. This time, McCutcheon made Dallas pay, moving the ball 41 yards by himself on the Los Angeles drive, including a 14 yard touchdown reception, that put the Rams up 10-0. Dallas still could not move the ball, and the Rams took their ten point lead into the half.
Once again, Dallas missed chances to make the game closer in the third quarter. On their opening possession, they finally made it into field goal range and had an attempt, but Toni Fritsch's try was blocked. When Dallas finally scored on their next drive on a 13 yard run by Walt Garrison, the score was just 10-7, but that field goal would have ensured that the game was tied at that point.
Rather than be worried, the Rams would let the Cowboys get no closer in the fourth quarter. After being kept off the field for most of the third, the Los Angeles offense dominated the final quarter of play, holding the ball for almost ten minutes. David Ray kicked two field goals in the fourth, making the score 16-7. The Rams' defense would not let the Cowboys even past midfield in the fourth quarter, and for the second straight year, Dallas would not be in the NFC Championship.
Final Score: Los Angeles-16 Dallas-7
Real Life Score: Dallas-27 Los Angeles-16
NFC Championship Game
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles Rams (12-2) vs.
Minnesota Vikings (12-2)
With two of the best defenses in the NFL squaring off for the right to go to Super Bowl VIII, most people expected the NFC Championship to be a low scoring affair. What they got instead was a dominating effort on both sides of the ball by one very hungry team, while the other struggled to even stay in the game early.
Minnesota was stopped quickly on their first possession, and the Rams ended up with great field position inside Viking territory after a poor punt. Los Angeles attacked the Purple People Eaters with a steady diet of Lawrence McCutcheon on the drive, finishing it off with a 17 yard scamper that made the score 7-0. The Vikings found moving the ball against the Rams to be almost impossible in the first quarter, and the Rams were content for now to let Minnesota keep trying to run the ball at them.
As the second quarter started, Ram quarterback John Hadl smiled when he stepped out onto the field. Nine plays and a few nice runs by McCutcheon later, he had reason to smile when he found Harold Jackson in the end zone for an 18 yard touchdown that made the lead 14-0. The Vikings finally moved the ball on their next drive, getting down to the Ram two yard line, but Los Angeles stiffened up and forced Minnesota to kick a short field goal that cut the lead to 14-3. It took just one play for the Rams to avenge that field goal, when Hadl found Jackson streaking down the sideline for a 71 yard touchdown bomb that left the Vikings in pure and utter shock. They could do nothing the rest of the half, and Los Angeles took an 18 point lead into the locker room.
Minnesota had a very early chance in the third quarter to make the game closer, but they let it slip through their fingers. When Hadl was intercepted on the first play of the half, the Vikings had the ball deep in Los Angeles territory. However, Tarkenton served up an interception of his own to Jack Reynolds in the end zone, ending the Minnesota threat. When Los Angeles scored on their next drive, with Hadl finding Bob Klein for his third touchdown pass, the game, for all extensive purposes, was over. Chuck Foreman did score twice in the fourth quarter, on both a run and reception, but it was far too little, far too late. David Ray would add on two field goals in the fourth quarter to finish off the Vikings, and the Rams were heading to their third Super Bowl in eight seasons.
Final Score: Los Angeles-34 Minnesota-17
Real Life Score (In Dallas): Minnesota-27 Dallas-10