Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

Just watched the game yesterday. I've seen it before but not in its entirety. A few things I took from the game...

Swann actually making a catch in that game but being called back for offensive pass-interference. He played it quite aggressively, not sure it should have been called though. The announcers debated the call; Meredith thinking it should have been called. Stallworth, who made a few catches, was being spoken of by the announcers as if he was the main WR of the two with the better potential. Of course he would unfairly have to take the 'backseat' to Swann the next few years public-opinion wise at least. The following SB wouldn't help matters.

I always knew Chuck Foreman was a big part of that team but not exactly how much. He, like Thurman with his helmet almost 20 years later, briefly lost his shoe allowing for Ed 'Hill Street Blues' Molinaro to step in for a bit. Didn't realize Foreman was their leading rusher as well as Tark's leading WR (same can be said on the opposition that year with Franco).What significant wide-outs DID Tark have for his entire career? Shows just how upper-tier HOF-worthy he truly is.

As I always knew, Minn's D played quite stout (though not as good as Pitt) and that especially goes for Jeff Siemon. Had Franco not had such a great game, could he have possibly been in the running for MVP a la Chuck Howley? Any 'myth' of Paul Krause not being a tackler can be debunked in this game amongst numerous others throughout his career for I seen him make quite a few.

This was the only Viking SB where they were competitive on the scoreboard throughout most of the game. Matt Blair (and you, of course, know who could have drafted he instead of Lambert in '74) blocked that punt deep in Steeler territory 4th quarter which resulted in a TD, cutting the deficit now to 3. Many teams void of title game experience who never won one in their history may have panicked after that but Pittsburgh immediately marched down the field next possession to punch in a TD and putting the game away. The other thing impressive about Pitt's performance was they not letting the two missed FGs in the first half get to them either (same can be said vs Dallas a year later). They didn't allow them to be 'missed opportunities' that would end up 'haunting' them.

Dwight White. He was sick leading up to the game and wasn't present for the team photo. Then on top of that the announcers accidently call him LC Greenwood twice, one of those times on his safety play. Steelers, of course, would score another safety in the SB the following year.

Though not nearly in the way in which Holmgren would 31 years later vs the Steelers, apparently Bud Grant took some issues with the officiating. However, he was quick to point out that his team nor his opponent performed well either.

Any other thoughts/comments albeit remembering seeing the game live-time or not?

Terry Bradshaw wasn't a bad runner either as he had 5 carries for 33 yards.

Bud Grant was probably mad about Larry Brown's fumble being overruled. But the NFL Films highlight showed the call to be correct.

James wrote:Terry Bradshaw wasn't a bad runner either as he had 5 carries for 33 yards.

As immortalized on the subsequent SI cover:

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/432838214161331460/

Regarding the game, this was supposed to be at the Superdome, but because of construction delays it wasn't finished. Thus, they got stuck playing in chilly and cloudy weather.

As far as Tarkenton's best receivers, he had John Gilliam and Sammy White with the Vikes and Homer Jones with the Giants. Gilliam left for the Falcons in 1976, and quickly faded away

BD Sullivan wrote:

James wrote:Terry Bradshaw wasn't a bad runner either as he had 5 carries for 33 yards.

As immortalized on the subsequent SI cover:

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/432838214161331460/

Regarding the game, this was supposed to be at the Superdome, but because of construction delays it wasn't finished. Thus, they got stuck playing in chilly and cloudy weather.

As far as Tarkenton's best receivers, he had John Gilliam and Sammy White with the Vikes and Homer Jones with the Giants. Gilliam left for the Falcons in 1976, and quickly faded away

Yep, was actually going to mention in my OP but forgot. Was a real good, hard to tackle scrambler whenever he did. Like a runaway deer or a "horse" as the announcers stated final play of the first half. Showed what a true gamer he was. You sensed they didn't have faith in him during one of his runs. Meredith said out loud for Terry to go down. Also got to love that face mask he wore those early years. Closest thing to being a kicker's mask without actually being one.

Sammy White...yes, forgot him. I had his card in 1980. As is the case with Rashad who did come to mind, I wouldn't have mentioned White anyway being that he came later on at the tail end of Tark's career.

A question I do have for you all...if not these very two SBIX participants, what WAS the last SB team (win or lose) whose leading rusher was also the leading WR? Any PLAYOFF teams with that claim since '74? That very Steelers squad, perhaps, the pro equivalent of the '86 Nittany Lions - champion squad with a stalwart D and an RB of that very description (Franco, DJ Dozier respectively). Only the Steelers QB just a 'bit' more significant and not exactly anonymous to this day, lol.

BD Sullivan wrote:Regarding the game, this was supposed to be at the Superdome, but because of construction delays it wasn't finished. Thus, they got stuck playing in chilly and cloudy weather.

If you ask people what was the coldest Super Bowl, dome games excluded, virtually everybody will say Super Bowl XLVIII at Met Life Stadium, but the temperature at game time was 49 degrees, and little wind so the wind chill was not much of a factor. The coldest Super Bowl was actually Super Bowl VI at Tulane Stadium with a game time temperature of 39 degrees, according to the Hall of Fame. It was also quite windy at Super Bowl VI, with the gusts pushing the wind chill into well into the teens at times. Super Bowl IX was second with a temperature of 46 degrees, with winds that pushed the wind chill a little below freezing. And while it didn't rain during the game, it was the first Super Bowl to be played on a slick field, which led to a big Pittsburgh break when Roy Gerela slipped while kicking off to start the second half and the Steelers recovered.

I think this game was not nearly as close as the final score indicated. There was no way the Vikings were going to score unless it was a fluky play like the blocked punt in the end zone.

Rupert Patrick wrote:

BD Sullivan wrote:Regarding the game, this was supposed to be at the Superdome, but because of construction delays it wasn't finished. Thus, they got stuck playing in chilly and cloudy weather.

If you ask people what was the coldest Super Bowl, dome games excluded, virtually everybody will say Super Bowl XLVIII at Met Life Stadium, but the temperature at game time was 49 degrees, and little wind so the wind chill was not much of a factor. The coldest Super Bowl was actually Super Bowl VI at Tulane Stadium with a game time temperature of 39 degrees, according to the Hall of Fame. It was also quite windy at Super Bowl VI, with the gusts pushing the wind chill into well into the teens at times. Super Bowl IX was second with a temperature of 46 degrees, with winds that pushed the wind chill a little below freezing. And while it didn't rain during the game, it was the first Super Bowl to be played on a slick field, which led to a big Pittsburgh break when Roy Gerela slipped while kicking off to start the second half and the Steelers recovered.

I think this game was not nearly as close as the final score indicated. There was no way the Vikings were going to score unless it was a fluky play like the blocked punt in the end zone.

Watching the game on TV, I felt the Steelers were in control all the way, except for the blocked punt TD. However, the Vikings of that era had a way of winning on "fluky plays." In Super Bowl IX, they only had one.

The late Joel Buchsbaum wrote in his 1978 Scout's Guide of Viking coach Bud Grant: "No coach wins more money games he's picked to lose than Bud Grant." Buchsbaum was referring to the 1974, 1976, and 1977 playoff wins over the Rams, and the 1973 NFC Title win over the Cowboys. It never happened in four Super Bowls.

Rupert Patrick wrote:

BD Sullivan wrote:Regarding the game, this was supposed to be at the Superdome, but because of construction delays it wasn't finished. Thus, they got stuck playing in chilly and cloudy weather.

If you ask people what was the coldest Super Bowl, dome games excluded, virtually everybody will say Super Bowl XLVIII at Met Life Stadium, but the temperature at game time was 49 degrees, and little wind so the wind chill was not much of a factor. The coldest Super Bowl was actually Super Bowl VI at Tulane Stadium with a game time temperature of 39 degrees, according to the Hall of Fame. It was also quite windy at Super Bowl VI, with the gusts pushing the wind chill into well into the teens at times. Super Bowl IX was second with a temperature of 46 degrees, with winds that pushed the wind chill a little below freezing. And while it didn't rain during the game, it was the first Super Bowl to be played on a slick field, which led to a big Pittsburgh break when Roy Gerela slipped while kicking off to start the second half and the Steelers recovered.

The other outside New Orleans SB (IV, Chiefs-Vikes) was also a gray day that eventually had a little late afternoon sunshine.

I'd have more sympathy for the fans at SB VI, except I can remember that much of the upper Midwest was in single digits (if not lower) during the game.

BD Sullivan wrote:

Rupert Patrick wrote:

BD Sullivan wrote:Regarding the game, this was supposed to be at the Superdome, but because of construction delays it wasn't finished. Thus, they got stuck playing in chilly and cloudy weather.

If you ask people what was the coldest Super Bowl, dome games excluded, virtually everybody will say Super Bowl XLVIII at Met Life Stadium, but the temperature at game time was 49 degrees, and little wind so the wind chill was not much of a factor. The coldest Super Bowl was actually Super Bowl VI at Tulane Stadium with a game time temperature of 39 degrees, according to the Hall of Fame. It was also quite windy at Super Bowl VI, with the gusts pushing the wind chill into well into the teens at times. Super Bowl IX was second with a temperature of 46 degrees, with winds that pushed the wind chill a little below freezing. And while it didn't rain during the game, it was the first Super Bowl to be played on a slick field, which led to a big Pittsburgh break when Roy Gerela slipped while kicking off to start the second half and the Steelers recovered.

The other outside New Orleans SB (IV, Chiefs-Vikes) was also a gray day that eventually had a little late afternoon sunshine.

I'd have more sympathy for the fans at SB VI, except I can remember that much of the upper Midwest was in single digits (if not lower) during the game.

I was only 7 years old at the time, but vividly remember that day as one perhaps the coldest day of my growing up in Pittsburgh. It was the only day I can remember it was so cold we were not allowed to go outside and play.

Rupert Patrick wrote:

BD Sullivan wrote:Regarding the game, this was supposed to be at the Superdome, but because of construction delays it wasn't finished. Thus, they got stuck playing in chilly and cloudy weather.

If you ask people what was the coldest Super Bowl, dome games excluded, virtually everybody will say Super Bowl XLVIII at Met Life Stadium, but the temperature at game time was 49 degrees, and little wind so the wind chill was not much of a factor. The coldest Super Bowl was actually Super Bowl VI at Tulane Stadium with a game time temperature of 39 degrees, according to the Hall of Fame. It was also quite windy at Super Bowl VI, with the gusts pushing the wind chill into well into the teens at times. Super Bowl IX was second with a temperature of 46 degrees, with winds that pushed the wind chill a little below freezing. And while it didn't rain during the game, it was the first Super Bowl to be played on a slick field, which led to a big Pittsburgh break when Roy Gerela slipped while kicking off to start the second half and the Steelers recovered.

I think this game was not nearly as close as the final score indicated. There was no way the Vikings were going to score unless it was a fluky play like the blocked punt in the end zone.

The Vikings couldn't capitalize on the long pass interference called on Mike Wagner on John Gilliam, they fumbled afterwards. The other long play I recall was a Fran Tarkenton pass to Stu Voigt that was called back because L.C. Greenwood had tipted the ball back to Tarkenton, so it was an illegal. Who knows, maybe if Tark had scrambled on that play he could've gotten more yards rushing that the Vikings had all day long.

I've always wonder what would've happened if the officials had called a fumble on the Larry Brown play (the Vkings only trailed by 3 points back then). I have never seen the netork broadcast, but when you see the NFL Films segment of the game it was very close at full speed, and IMO is one of the great calls in Super Bowl history, as head linesman Ed Marion overruled two officials who had called initially fumble.