1975 NFL Game of the Week • Cowboys vs Vikings

[@frankmercado-valdes2975]

Most painful day of my life as a sports and lifelong Vikings fan. Even more painful than the 4 Super Bowl, Darrin’s dropped pass in 87’Andersons missed kick in 98’and Favre’s unnecessary interception in 09’. A life of Joy and Pain … Hope and Despair. Yet 60 years old and still full of Vikings hope!!

[@MyOneFiftiethOfADollar]

Do you have any hobbies outside of being a football fan? Reading,Tennis, Golf, and mathematics all help me from becoming depressed when my favorite team loses ignominiously like when Drew Pearson's catch beat the Vikings. Did they ever arrest the individual that injured the referee with the bottle?

[@lisasmith767]

Favre was barely conscious from all the dirty hits.

[@devildog65]

@@lisasmith767 Brett Favre was 6 years old in 1975. I don’t think he would have survived ONE dirty hit! 😅😂😊

[@jesusgarcia-fk3es]

I was hoping that Bridgewater would have been the QB to take the Viikings to a SB win. It felt like the pieces were coming together.

[@JD-fb1pp]

I’m a lifetime NY Giants fan. I appreciate your fandom. Stick with your team. I hope your day comes soon with the Vikes!

[@kirkrob0412]

I loved watching these games of the week back in the day.

[@demetriusrobinson6944]

UNC is that u d.

[@dantheman5745]

18:41 - Love the NFL Films music. The soundtrack to my childhood.

[@marksymbala3454]

The over the hill gang.

[@terryhawkins8191]

Mark Symbala YES indeed..... and " Game plan for sudden death" !! 😂👍👍

[@raelraven3]

YES! Ah the fun times we had in the backyard running and tackling in slow motion while humming that song out loud.

[@mantis10_surf85]

The brings back the greatest backyard memories ever

[@charlesklimko492]

Go, Bengals!

[@kennethheying3426]

Two greats, you wont see in todays NFL. Landry and Grant.

[@frankdenardo8684]

Two legends in the Pro Football Hall of Fame

[@markmerzweiler909]

The ultimate contest...a stare down between Bud Grand and Tom Laundry.

[@bevo1776]

OK. But here are a few facts: During his 29 consecutive years with the Dallas Cowboys, Landry won two Super Bowl titles, 13 Divisional titles, and played in 12 Championship games. Perhaps most impressive is Landry's 20 consecutive winning seasons -- a record that stands to this day. Bud Grant led his Minnesota Vikings to four (4) Super Bowls... and lost all four.

[@Jiltedin2007]

Two legends that always cut short Los Angeles Rams Coach Chuck Knox’s Seasons.

[@rog9601]

Both very classy men great coaches

[@toastnjam7384]

Back in the stone age days NFL films was the only way to see NFL highlights and we had to wait a week on top of that.

[@vandrive5687]

Grew up in Staubach’s neighborhood when was a kid in the ‘70’s in Richardson, TX. Watched this game with family friends next door to his house. When Newhouse gained five yards on the Cowboys’ first play from scrimmage all the mostly skeptical adults in the room expressed exuberance and a glimmer of hope ensued! I expressed the same eight years later when Staubach wrote a recommendation for me in my efforts to gain admittance to the Naval Academy, his alma mater. Had I gotten in it would have been his second Hail Mary.

[@TuckFrump-r9h]

I remember that corner house of his in Richardson. Don't remember the name of the street. Later he moved to a cul-de-sac street called Edelweiss just north of LBJ I believe off Hillcrest.

[@hamburg1306]

I always looked forward to the NFL Game of the Week! Great memories of NFL Films

[@littlejohnny9439]

Kept the Vikings from going 0 and 5 in the Super Bowl.

[@starguy2718]

😄😄😄😄😄😄

[@rjhyden]

So right!

[@jamesrobinson8612]

They didn't even play the 4th one yet. It would have been the 1st time the same teams met back to back in the superbowl

[@RichM0410]

I remember this game! WOW! at 13 years of age and seeing this it seems like only yester year!

[@jamesmorrison185]

they need to go back to these rules, to make football good again

[@agustinpena285]

Same age also. The hail mary still hurts.

[@devildog65]

GREAT Game!!! I remember it well, especially when Roger threw that Hail Mary. But before that play, I thought we were going to lose. And I thought Drew Person interfered or pushed off but there was no call. I realized watching this vid that he saw the orange and thought it was a flag. For the Vikes, the Cowboys were almost their mirror image; both had great Head Coaches, great QBs, both had great running games and both had OUTSTANDING Defenses!!! Personally, although I’ve been a Cowboys fan for 58 years, I always hoped Bud Grant would win a Championship. I always felt bad about him never winning it all. And Dallas was to Minnesota as Pittsburgh was to Dallas! #DC4L

[@markmerzweiler909]

Paul Krause said years later, "We knew we would never be this good again."

[@lloydkline1518]

My favorite Minnesota viking team 1975

[@lloydkline1518]

I thought 1975 minnosota viking were unbeatable

[@ronsmac]

Didn’t they go to the super bowl the next season?

[@lloydkline1518]

@@ronsmac dalllas vs denver

[@ronsmac]

@@lloydkline1518 that was the 77 season. Minnesota played oakland

[@panama8009]

The music to this game was so amazing and dramatic. We will never enjoy this type of game recaps ever. The whole production as a child like myself learned the game well. These are games we never forget. Unlike today's era where it's here today, forgotten tomorrow. I saw this game in my home Brooklyn, NY at 7 years old on a Black and White TV...lol. Yup, I am old. This game broke mm y heart because Vikes were my secind favorite team to watch as My Oakland Raiders my first love..

[@b.millsj2401]

WOW! I remember watching this game as a child growing up. An era when football was...... Football.

[@JAWrightonline]

I turned nine years old that day. I learned about offensive pass interference from Drew Pearson.

[@ccth22]

Same here just turned nine and my first year watching a whole NFL season. This game brings back memories. BTW I was annoyed the Giants let Tarkington go. We suffered during the 70’s because of that.

[@PAN-jo2go]

Amazing game that I saw way back when. Sure do miss these old time games…

[@bgarri57]

I'll never forget this game.

[@adamlopez607]

U mean the rip-off as hol

[@loydbruceleewouldbescary2637]

Broke my ❤️ heart

[@KipIngram]

God, I loved watching these shows back when I was a kid.

[@MrBolas33]

Me too. Especially when Staubach was playing

[@ppgshook]

I used to love to watch these highlights with harry kalas only talking , no mikes on the players down on the field . Only the actual highlights and NFL films music . NFL gotw was the was best came on every Saturday afternoon .

[@symbalamark7861]

daniel shook absolutely spock

[@davidhall9110]

great comment!

[@bufnyfan1]

Really miss Harry Kalas--along with John Facenda (the Voice of "God") and Jeff Kaye they were the best narrators of NFL films of all time

[@maddymud]

Facenda - yes! Kalas - no

[@lloydkline1518]

Harry koalas was the greatest broadcast of NFL football 🏈 game:: legendary hail Mary pass of Roger starback

[@rudolphguarnacci197]

Pat Summerall?

[@irenedgriskauskas6680]

I loved the video. Especially Harry Kalas. Thanks for sharing

[@smoothoperator7023]

Robert Griskauskas he was ok- but no John Facenda....

[@havingfun1968]

Diehard Steeler fan, but I still think the GREATEST quarterback EVER was Fran Takenton. Let me explain why I believe that, let's not forget he BROKE and HELD, EVERY SINGLE QUARTERBACK RECORD for 30 plus years, and he did in it MINNESOTA, OUTSIDE!!! Are you kiddding me??? If you didn't play quarterback, I don; tthink you understand what a feat that truly is. I personally played college football at UNC, and was starting qb for 3 years. Honestly, once it gets sooo cold, below 10 degrees, which was a summe rday for those guys up north, that ball turns into a rock and hurts your fingers so badly. Yet Fran did all of these RECORDS playing OUTDOORS in the coldest place to play in America, Minnesota. He may not have the Super Bowl, but he held those records a lot longer then most players today, and they play in domes. HE PLAYED EVERY SINGLE GAME OUTSIDE. For that, The GREAT #10 DESERVES MUCH RESPECT!!!!

[@jefflouis3113]

Staubach QB rating was 97.8 to Tarkenton's 46 in this game and they played in the same conditions. Tarkenton was not as good as QB as Staubach overall, particularly in the playoffs when it mattered the most.

[@bryanmachin2152]

If it wasn't for a badly underthrown pass (by Staubach), he might have had another.... uhh.... Super Bowl loss! Sorry, just the old Viking fan in me! Sports is 99% disappointing if you really get invested in it!

[@havingfun1968]

Jeff Louis Are you basing the FINAL RESULT on one game. Well according to you then Terry Bradshaw should be called the GREATEST cause he kicked the shit out of Staubach, Not once, BUT TWICE, and that game mattered to the WORLD, being it was in the MOST IMPORTANT GAME of the YEAR, THE SUPER BOWL. He didn’t shine nearly compared to what Bradshaw did. Hell Bradshaw threw a TD pass in every fourth quarter of all four of his Super Bowls, to give them the lead and the win, which he not only won twice, but four in all, with NOT a single loss. Plus, he’s the ONLY QB to call his own plays, and he still beat the Cowboys with all their computers and advanced graphics. So whose the better one there???? Look, when it comes to Roger, who I respect greatly, played in Dallas. Tarkenton played in the coldest place in America, Minnesota, in November, December, and January . And yet that man set EVERY RECORD possible being a quarterback, and he held those records for 26 years. Marino broke them, and he played in warm weather, and played where you threw the ball more then you ran it era. If you played QB, then you would know that anything below 10 degrees, the ball becomes a rock and weighs a ton to throw. I tip my hat to the most underrated quarterback to ever play in the NFL. I respect Roger, but to compare him to Fran over one game, is ridiculous. Semper Fi brother...

[@bryanmachin2152]

@@havingfun1968 Good post. Staubach was better in that one game, but the rating would've been lower if he hadn't lucked out on the last TWO passes, and anyway, lots of QBs with higher ratings LOSE games. I think the entire course of a career tells you much more. And Tarkenton didn't have as good of a surrounding cast either!

[@havingfun1968]

@@bryanmachin2152 Thanks and I couldn't agree more. Foreman was "GOOD" at BEST, and not much of a receiving corps there as well. Like I said, throwing in that cold weather, and doing it without undershirts, Bud Grants rules, was HARD CORPS. Talk about TOUGH as nails. God bless you Fran, and mind you, I'm NOT a Vikings fan, but how can you NOT love Fran Tarkenton for all he accomplished!

[@jka6297]

Check out 15:00 - 15:02. The security guard gives Drew Pearson a little kick for catching that game saving fourth down catch.

[@andre1987eph]

I originally thought so too. But if you watch the follow up sequence closely 15:30 - 15:50. you’ll notice that this security guard is *actually gesturing with his foot to the police chief closer to the play to help him get the fan (who fell on top of drew Pearson) off drew Pearson* . Later you see the police chief push the fan and the fan push the police chief back.

[@johndonahue3509]

He pushed off

[@mrsnookdeb]

​@@andre1987eph There is a documentary on you tube about this security guard who admits he kicked Drew because he was mad at the call being a complete pass, he later met Drew Pearson and apologized for it and they laughed about it, and became friends

[@mrsnookdeb]

​@@andre1987eph kzbin.info/www/bejne/nqWTfpWdqZaXobM

[@jeffcummins1408]

Still remember that one. A classic!

[@vikeirishman]

So get this - I'm the guy at the beginning with the old woman's mask and movie camera - we sat down kind of by where the bottle was thrown - after the games we used to walk down to the locker room and stand outside - Fran was the last or about the last to come out about a hour later - we walked out with him to a camper - he told us to get our dads and he would film throwing a ball to us (the lot was almost empty and we had a camper too) so we got our dad's and my dad went to the door and knock and I think it was Tingelhoff came to the door and said Fran's dad just died...... I was devastated - true story - hey earlier that day i was at the thunderbird hotel and irv- brent and i think it was mrs george (mrs america) her scarf blew off into the revolving door and i went and got it and she gave me a kiss on the cheek !!!! - what a day for a 15 yr old

[@christophercorrall5804]

Pretty awesome story

[@giles422]

WOW

[@DavidSilva-fq7nt]

Didn't know that about Frans Dad.

[@walkergillette3918]

these highlights are good, the music is great

[@stevenw7623]

I’ve still never gotten over this game. Can’t bear to watch this at all.

[@rjhyden]

hahahahahahahahahaha

[@guylindquist338]

4th and 16 call was brutal. Pearson lands a full yard out of bounds. Pearson had touched in bounds with one foot before he was contacted - the second foot could hardly be considered "forced out" since he was no longer in the air. Also, pass rusher number 75 and Alan Page were clearly tackled from behind right before reaching Staubach.

[@fairfaxcat1312]

Vikings were certainly ripped off. That call was the worst and NFL Films covered for Park Avenue on that one, insisting that the officials made the correct call when they clearly did not.

[@68weav]

#49 Ed Marinaro/Hill Street Blues.

[@bcmac4641]

cornell

[@jamesvickers9476]

I was just trying to remember his name when i saw his number..

[@JayDogTitan]

I still remember watching this game when I was 11, One of the greatest playoff games in NFL history. The '75 Vikings were probably better than any of the other Viking teams that made it to the Super Bowl.

[@bryanmachin2152]

Yes, and knocked out by a poorly thrown pass! The irony!

[@lloydkline1518]

I think 1969 team Minnesota viking had the best chance of winning a super bowl 🏈 Kansas city chief: they beat Kansas city chief during regular season; ❤️ Minnesota viking 1975 my favorite Minnesota viking team

[@michaeliovine2462]

I also was 11 at the time remember game pretty good

[@IntheClutch75]

Thanks so much for this while it lasts! Oh man, MEMORIES!!! It's hilarious listening to him talk about how exciting this game was. This would be a boring game to watch nowadays. Roger Staubach. Drew Pearson. My first two favorite football players.

[@peterrabbit1054]

I was 10 n remember watching this game...good times, especially with Harry Kalas

[@dantheman5745]

14:51 4th-and-16, one of the most-forgotten big 4th-down conversions in NFL history. 15:01 Sideline guy attempts to kick Drew Pearson as he bowls over another guy standing too close to the sideline.

[@thegloriousmoodman2152]

Saw that. Same play a "Chief" hat security guy goes after the guy that got caught up in the play. .?

[@kmac1766]

“Chief” was going to kick some fan’s ass!😝

[@eddeesalce]

randy fast is a legend for posting this gem!

[@eulissbeniot9024]

Drew Pearson should be in the hall of fame for this play alone

[@denisceballos9745]

And now he is 👍

[@montanaelkwhisperer1744]

Man...that halftime show though. What an entertainment extravaganza!!

[@ahenricks918]

The 4th and 17 play was more miraculous

[@juan833blue]

I agree, the Hail Mary was icing on the cake for the Dallas Cowboys.

[@bryanjones4444]

The most miraculous thing about it was how the official could get that call wrong. Pearson was already out of bounds when he was contacted. Then of course the worst non pass interference call in history until the Saints/Rams a couple years ago. I think the NFL was tired of seeing the Vikings in the Super Bowl. I can't think of any other logical explanation for those two calls. Perhaps the best Viking team ever had their chance stolen.

[@rtee48]

@@juan833blue Icing on the cake? Without the Hail Mary there would be no cake. You say that if they were already winning.

[@stardaddyo9]

75 should have been the Vikings year. That team was the best they had in the seventies

[@Biggdoom344]

stardaddyo9 I agree. Were they not like 10 or 11 and 0 at one point that season. Their first loss was to Washington and I remember watching that game on CBS. But Bud Grant and Chuck Knox were putty in Tom Landry’s hands. Landry always added wrinkles teams were not ready for, while grant made no changes and became very predictable in the playoffs.

[@michaelleroy9281]

1976 was a better Vikings team

[@joseport6863]

@@michaelleroy9281 No, not at all. This time age had really caught up with them. Remember in an NNF game in 76', both 49ner RBs gained over 150 yards . The Viking got back into the SB in 76' beacause of their kick blocking squad.

[@RAJohns]

It was the same team as ‘76, wasn’t it? Vikings would have lost to the Steelers anyway just like Dallas did in SBX.

[@SKULL-DUGGERY-2]

Steelers or Raiders would have beaten them again. Marv Levy, Bud Grant, Dan Reeves 0-12 in Superbowls.

[@JayDogTitan]

I really liked this Vikings team in '75, I watched this game when I was 11, I was devastated when they lost, But I pulled for Dallas in SB X, And they lost also.

[@bcmac4641]

lose much?

[@lloydkline1518]

❤️ 1975 hail Mary pass Minnesota vs Dallas

[@melbias5046]

i love this and miss it dearly!

[@sefir6]

Man Whoever has that football that Pearson threw into the stands after the Hail Mary catch......

[@SingleTax]

Do the Viking fans who are still bitter about this game not realize just how badly the Vikes would have been humiliated by the Steelers in Super Bowl 10? Consider the Hail Mary pass a blessing in disguise.

[@bevo1776]

Roger that, Single Tax. Spared the Vikings from going 0 and 5 in the Super Bowl.

[@MGAF688]

Growing up in Minnesota, if you were around anything having to do with pro football, you heard about this game regularly. If a 1970s era Dallas Cowboy was in Minnesota for a visit, he was almost compelled to talk about the Drew Pearson play. I heard Tom Landry talk of this game and even players like Matt Blair, Jeff Siemon, Nate Wright, Bobby Bryant and Paul Krause. There is a lot of dispute about what happened before that Hail Mary pass. The Hail Mary pass also involved contact but I would argue the contact was more or less incidental. Pearson caught a pass where he had no chance of catching the ball in the field of play regardless of the contact.

[@owenburnett2718]

Good stuff Randy. Thanks so much.

[@brianbachmeier34]

Matt Blair deserves to be in the HOF. 16 Interceptions 20 Fumble Recoveries 20.5 Blocked Kicks 6 Pro Bowls Defensive captain from 1979-85. He was a leader from day 1.

[@bcmac4641]

sacks?

[@lloydkline1518]

@@bcmac4641 that enough for Matt Blair NFL football 🏈 hall of fame make his second 🏡 home

[@vikingblood63]

@@bcmac4641 there were zero sacks by any players in the NFL then . It wasn’t a statistic.

[@bajikimran2304]

Minnesota players and fans can rue this game all they want, but the fact is, the Vikings of the 1970's always found a way to blow it. Between 1969 and 1976 the Vikes made the playoffs as the #1 seed (they missed the playoffs in 1972) 7 times in 8 years and found a way to lose. In their playoff losses they committed 29 turnovers while forcing only 9. In 1970, 1971 and 1975 they were not only the #1 seed but lost in the first round at home. While I understand the angst over this game, the fact is, the Vikings always seem to shoot themselves in the foot when it mattered most.

[@JD-fb1pp]

People always remember the “Hail Mary” but that pass on 4th and 16 was on the money.earlier on the drive by Roger Staubach.

[@RobTheNotary]

Ed Marinaro was also on Dynasty After he injured a Knee on a Monday night game playing for the Jets

[@ss_whole]

15:36 "Get off of Pearson you long haired hippie why I oughta...."

[@Terribleathletes]

Fran Tarkenton, Alan Page, Carl Eller, Paul Krause, Roger Staubach, Drew Pearson, so many hall of famers on one field!

[@MrBolas33]

I don’t think Drew is in the HOF

[@scoobycarr5558]

The play at 15:27 foreshadowed the Vikings' loss at Arizona in 2003 that knocked them out of the playoffs.

[@christopheragan8465]

rough and dirty....no prima donnas back then

[@kevinjohnson4599]

I agree with you 1,000%. This is when football was football. No players kneeling during the National Anthem or anything else like that. I like your comment very much.

[@brent4723]

The first chapter of Fran Tarkenton's partial autobiography from 1976 (he alternated chapters with Minnesota sportswriter Jim Klobuchar, father of Senator Amy) focuses on this game. Klobuchar wrote remarkably elegant prose to describe the tragedy of this day particularly for Fran -- for while the outcome was gut-wrenching, Fran found out after the game that his father had died while watching it on TV.

[@andre1987eph]

Wow. I didn’t know that.

[@devildog65]

Yeah, I remember that. It was tough.

[@ss_whole]

14:45 Ed Marinaro, one of the cops on the TV show Hill Street Blues.

[@IntheClutch75]

THAT'S who that was!

[@bcmac4641]

Cornell

[@erikthorsen240]

New Milford, NJ.

[@johnbroadway4196]

I remember watching this game. I was at my Grandparents house in Middleforld Ohio. That Pass was so rare, and man I couldn't believe it ?! Hail Mary !

[@gregorypower9385]

I love them games in the back in the day, Cold 🥶❄️ snow ❄️🌨️❄️🌨️

[@lennyjohnson5976]

Notice sometimes a player on the ground , sometimes the player from the other team would give a hand to help him up ,. , Yet back then a way more violent game , not sure if they banned clothes lining , yet ,

[@michaelnorris6168]

This was real football, played by real men. Today you see everyone with the rubber gloves to make spectacular catches. But then the wide receivers used their strong hands to catch the ball, and to deal with the elements. Yes that was when men were men.

[@jimbecker137]

I'm a lifelong Vikings fan, and I well remember that dark day. Not only did Dallas win, but Fran Tarkenton's dad dropped dead of a heart attack during the game. I'm a bit of a heretic, though. Vikings fans and Nate Wright still insist Drew Pearson pushed the defender before catching the 'Hail Mary.' I don't see a push. A sideline camera angle might show it definitively, but I don't see how Pearson could have pushed Wright and caught the pass. That said, I even had a Vikings fan tell me to watch the film again 'with adult supervision.' To this day, Wright says he was pushed. Could he have been trying to save face, knowing Vikings fans would back him up?

[@t4texastomjohnnycat978]

I TOTALLY agree with you, Jim. Not just because I was a Dallas fan, but I'm like you..... it just didn't look like a push-off. I think one reason the Vikings fans thought that there might have been some shoving was that someone in the stands threw an orange onto the field, and they thought they were seeing a flag. I was a Tom Landry-era Cowboys fan, but I definitely loved watching the tough Vikings..... especially at the Met. It's really a shame that there had to be a loser team from this game. Bill Brown was one of my very favorite players, and the Vikings starting linebackers, plus that front 4 during the 1960s were absolutely awesome. Yes, the Bud Grant Vikings were so great. Sad that they didn't win a Super Bowl. I was pulling for them in ALL their SB appearances. Take care, Jim. 👋😊🏈

[@quincee3376]

I'd really love to see a better camera angle. That's interesting. Also i never knew Fran's dad died during this game. Damn .

[@quincee3376]

@@t4texastomjohnnycat978 great point about the flag. I always thought it was a flag too.

[@JAWrightonline]

Why does Wright, suddenly, go flying forward just before the ball comes down into Pearson's hands? It's no different than a loose ball foul between two opposing rebounders in basketball.

[@jimbecker137]

@@JAWrightonline I think Wright overran the pass, tried to correct, then lost his footing. I think from a team standpoint, the more important question is why did the Vikings have one-on-one coverage in that situation?

[@charleshendrix232]

I loved the Vikes in those days. I secretly admired Staubach, but “hated” him as a fan of the Vikes. Greatest era of the NFL. No question

[@atulthakker3545]

Fascinating point no one talks about. Pearson nudged Wright with his right arm/ shoulder, pushing him ahead. Wright sticks out his left foot and Pearson reaches for the underthrown pass with his left hand. Pearson always said he never knew exactly how he caught the ball, but if you watch from the end zone camera, Wright’s left foot hits the ball and banks it into Pearson’s RIGHT arm/ shoulder. He pushed Wright a little, but and underthrown pass banking just softly off of Wright’s foot is how a 50 yard bomb in the cold was caught with one hand. Unbelievable bad luck for this 10 year old Viking fan; little did I know a lot worse lay ahead.

[@vernonfinch3566]

That.. 4 and 17 play.. Was a thing of Beauty.. By Mr clutch Drew Pearson!

[@bryanjones4444]

Out of bounds and not even a close call. I think the NFL decided that America's Team was not going to lose no matter what.

[@donquixote...]

At 14:05 why, "infamous"...???

[@carsonmorrow6172]

I do recall Fran's dad bit the polvo watching the game in 1975. I was 12 and thrilled that my dad's friends playing on the cowboys were stunningly victorious 🏈🏆

[@TuckFrump-r9h]

and his dad was named Dallas Tarkenton.

[@sambamcunningham2170]

Now that's What i actuay Call a very important Piece of the Past history that any of Us that are actually Old enough to Still remember those actual Day's and time's back then like that Should have literally Came to actually embrace it and to also Appreciate it all in a very loving Way ! And for all of those memorbal moment's from the Past-time like that Oldie but goodie football game right there Should really be treasured Wholeheartedly for a Person's entire Life-time.... "Those 60/& 70 are in 'da House".

[@craigwalrath3338]

You can see where Pearson pushed off. A real copout by the announcer.

[@robertpanetta7912]

This is not one of The NFL greatest games but it was one of the NFL’s most important games as it ushered in a play that is being still used 47 years later . The Hail Mary

[@jasintosamora1103]

Thank the Lord the official was alright but that bottle should be in the hof.

[@johnjmartin5156]

For some reason the tune that kicks in at 6:39 is burned into my mind as being linked to Viking highlights.

[@lennyjohnson5976]

So if the defender didn't push the receiver on the 4th &16 play, it would've been considered out of bounds, since his feet were out,, &really didn't cause that to be the reason he was out of bounds

[@jean-guygagnon6950]

I will never admit it was a good call.

[@bryanjones4444]

At that time if the push had caused Pearson to be out of bounds it would have been the right call. But since he was clearly out of bounds without the push it was a blown call by any NFL rules that have ever existed.

[@raelraven3]

Something I've always wondered: why were both the home team's and visitor's benches on the same side of the field at Metropolitan Stadium?

[@dennismanley9891]

Because of the way the stadium was laid out

[@lenr7137]

Dennis Manley I guess what confused me is that it appears there is a lot of room on both sides of the field between the sidelines and stands.

[@tomwayne3755]

Pearson did push off on that Vikings defensive back I remember watching that game with my highschool friend Kelly Hodgkin's.. I was a BIG Vikings fan and Kelly love those Damn Cowboys and I was so excited that my team was going to another Superbowl until that Hail Mary pass and Kelly jump 10 feet off the couch and started jumping up and down in his parents living room repeatedly yelling "The Cowboys are going to the Superbowl" I sure didn't like him at that moment but I sure love him looking back on it.

[@quincee3376]

Great momories !!

[@tomwayne3755]

@@quincee3376 A lot of great memories from years ago. Sometimes it seems like yesterday and sometimes like years and years ago.

[@melbias5046]

remember chuck for about 5 years he was a top rb but then disappeared.

[@erikthorsen240]

He hurt his knee. In those days, that was the kiss of death for a RB. He played a year or two for another team.

[@marktarr3068]

@@erikthorsen240 He ended up in New England.

[@terrydavis1205]

after pearsons make that catch for the td me and my brother jump in the air and broke my mothers coffee table the house went wild lol lol what great memories

[@bufnyfan1]

+TERRY DAVIS It was clear Pearson pushed Wright-to the ground

[@terrydavis1205]

it shouldnt of came down to that play minn sota didnt put the young pokes away i say he slip nate wright if thats the way you see it so be it

[@6400az]

+david graham There was NO interference David. Few where more crazy about the Vikings than I was back then. Possibly some contact, but in no film is there any evidence of the " obvious" interference.

[@UnleashTheGreen]

to me it is clear pearson pushed the defender down.

[@alohawg]

I was 12, alone at my grannys house jumping up and down screaming, lol. Never forget it, just an awesome moment.

[@terrydavis1205]

on the fourth and16 play that cop on the sidelines kick drew pearson after making the catch that dirty sob but i think dallas outplayed the vikings that day

[@vikeirishman]

outplayed!!! shit u were lucky to be so sloppy and still win

[@terrydavis1205]

well i guess its good to be lucky the ball has to bounce your way and sometimes it doesnt go your way thats just the way its goes but i must admit i thought the vikes would win this one easy the following week in la against the rams they destroyed them nothing lucky about that nfc championship

[@vikeirishman]

Guess what dude - I can't believe it and thanks for posting this. - but at the beginning I'm wearing the old woman's mask and viking coat and that's my friend in other mask. We were close to where they threw the bottle at ref

[@vikeirishman]

that place was going nuts till the hail Mary

[@StillLivingInMomsBasement]

+TERRY DAVIS I love how the security guy kicks him and then sort of stands there like, "Who, me?" Meanwhile, the guy knocked down by Pearson on that play, who got entangled with him, had come down from the stands. He gets grabbed by a second security guy (who has "Chief" on his hat) while the first security guy stands there looking innocent. The kid from the stands takes a swing at the Chief. I wonder if the Chief fired the first guy.

[@headley62]

Did they ever find the person who threw the bottle at the ref?

[@quincee3376]

LOL.

[@orbyfan]

Yes, he pled guilty to assault and was fined $100; I'm not sure if Viking fans took up a collection to pay the fine. That was a more miraculous throw than the Hail Mary.

[@richinoable]

There was only one week in all of 1975. Thought it would never end

[@johnjmartin5156]

Viewer Poll: How many times have you rewinded and replayed the Hail Mary pass in this video?

[@wallytverstol8627]

that no caall still pisses me off

[@rougedemoncollects5239]

Harry Kalas was an all time great broadcaster. Hands down. I believe he's up there probably with Vin Scully. I'll never forget his iconic 2008 world series call when Brad Lidge struck out Eric Hinske. "Swing and a miss!! Strike him out!!! The philadelphia phillies are 2008 world champions of baseball!!" When Harry Kalas passed away, Every phillies fan felt (including myself) like a piece of them. Of their lives died along with them, Rest in peace Harry Kalas. Gone but NEVER forgotten. By the way, I was only 13 years old when the phillies won their second world series in franchise history. Another call i miss that Kalas made was his famous OUTTA HERE. Rest in peace Harry Kalas.

[@rougedemoncollects5239]

Rest in peace Harry kalas. You are greatly missed love your enthusiasm and your famous broadcasting calls. I cried when Harry kalas passed away. It was probably the worse phillies news that phillies fans received. When Harry kalas died and when Roy halladay died. When both of them passed away, a peace of me died along with them. I miss Doc halladay and Harry Kalas alot.😢

[@vernonfinch3566]

Bruh.. I love NFL Football In the 70s

[@dougamundson6836]

Bud Grant and Fran Tarkenton both won a lot of regular season games. SO WHAT?

[@rjhyden]

Yes, ain't it the truth? :)

[@stardaddyo9]

Doug Denison was no feature back

[@curtishauge5277]

If this game was broadcast today there would have been at least twice the number of cameras in the stadium and there would have been much better angles and views on the plays. I'm not saying there wouldn't have been a controversy, but I don't think the camera angles shown from both the broadcast and nfl films crews really give a definitive answer to enable the broadcast analysts and narrators to declare that the referees were correct with no ambiguity.

[@nickydepaolaentertainment33]

I’m now 57 and THESE were my “Vikes” ⭐️ this was the #1 heartbreak of my career as a fan from 1969-2009 🌈 1998 is a very close 2nd ! ...then 10 other losses that won’t be posted! Snakebit !

[@vandrive5687]

Age 56 here & grew up in Staubach’s neighborhood. Cowboys’ snake bitten 32yrs ago when Jones bought them; then died a few years later when Jimmy Johnson left!

[@Playsinvain]

What’s with the Chief after the fourth down pass before the Hail Mary. . A brawl broke out between a cop and a young punk.

[@Biggdoom344]

#43 was clearly the goat of this game. First you let a guy convert a 4th and 16. Then the reason Pearson had the ability to push off is because Wright lost track of an under-thrown ball that should have been intercepted. As a former DB his coverage in that last few plays was piss poor. However, Dallas did outplay the Vikings all game and deserved to win. I remember watching this game on the kitchen TV, then the next game was Oakland v Cincinnati.

[@kbrewski1]

1. Wright kept Pearson from catching the 4th down pass in bounds. Played it perfectly. Catch should never been allowed, it was caught OB. 2. Wright had perfect inside coverage on the Hail Martha that was severely underthrown. Had Staubach thrown the ball correctly and hit Pearson in stride over the top in the end zone, Wright would have had no shot. But since ball was underthrown, it was coming down right where Wright was around the 5 yard line, as Wright had inside position. If Pearson doesn't push him down (clearly shown by replays with BOTH arms outstretched), Wright is in perfect position to bat the pass down, or int it (either way, game over). Pearson knew this, and did the ONLY thing he could do---push Wright down, which also had the dual effect of slowing Pearson's momentum toward the end zone. With Wright now on the ground, Pearson then somehow caught the ball against his hip (his other arm was still being pulled in after the push). Worst non call in NFL playoff history.

[@Biggdoom344]

K Bear nobody is debating the OPI. But in that situation Wright violated rules 1 and 2. Never let the WR get behind you and never lose track of the ball. If 43 does those two things Pearson is in no position to push off. Another gaffe is the S was late getting over. If wright was told to play underneath then he is expecting over the top help from the S who was way late. Dallas got lucky but it was also a terrible play by the secondary.

[@kbrewski1]

@@Biggdoom344 Well, as a former HS DB myself, I disagree. Wright was in position to knock the ball down and the ONLY thing that stopped him was the illegal push off by Pearson which knocked him to the ground.

[@Biggdoom344]

K Bear we can agree that was probably one of the worst non calls in recent history until the rams saints game.

[@bryanjones4444]

Wright's defense was outstanding on both plays. If the ball had been thrown so it could have been caught in bounds(which it wasn't) Wright would have knocked it down. And he had blanket coverage of the Hail Mary. The ONLY way Pearson gets a sniff of the ball is OPI on an underthrown ball. I can't fault Nate Wright one bit. Two blown calls.

[@brucedavis76]

harris was interfered with trying to catch a punt vikes ball on four all most at the exact same place pearson supposedly interfered so it evened out in the end

[@bryanmachin2152]

Harris didn't give a clear signal, AND the other player still shouldn't have touched it.

[@Jamesmax22]

I remember watching these. Anyone know what channel or network showed it? I was 6. Hard to remember...

[@bruceedwards1786]

James Mccorkle it was CBS, this was before Fox took over NFC games.

[@bcmac4641]

CBS

[@TuckFrump-r9h]

After Pearson caught the pass on which he was pushed out of bounds after one foot touching in-bounds, he knocks over someone on the sideline (15:35), who disentangles himself from Pearson. I noticed that the security guard? groundskeeper? started manhandling the guy, as if he did something wrong. The guy understandably starts hitting back. Why would he have been treated this way?

[@jefflouis3113]

I was thinking same thing. Maybe it was a fan who did not belong there.

[@johnc1369]

I wonder if anyone still has that "Hail Mary" football that Pearson threw in the stands.

[@bcmac4641]

jimmy hoffa got it

[@randolphdavid4516]

It still hurts to see it. I was 10 years old then. I'm still disgruntled.

[@luckybenny8871]

Viking Fan 4Life Why did Nate Wright fling himself seemingly SIDEWAYS at that underthrown pass. It was so askward looking that on first look it just HAD to be a push by Pearson. Great no call by the ref. Pearson never touched Wright. Thats about as weird a play as you can see. (The Holy Roller notwithstanding.)

[@apteryx01]

I was also 10 years old when I saw this game! I was so looking forward to seeing the Vikings go to another Super Bowl, with probably their best team ever. The Hail Mary really took the wind out of my sails. I couldn't believe it. To this day, I remember exactly where I was standing-at a friend's house, in his basement, the little black-and-white TV sitting on a low table on a linoleum floor. Ecch, that catch and then that little squirt forward into the end zone. Seeing this video now with the perspective of today, I still can't believe the Hail Mary, it still hurts, but hey, it was one of the great games of all time, and Dallas really had done a great job shutting down the Vikings' offense. They earned it.

[@6400az]

Very sad day for the Vikings. How much more misery could they take. There would be more. 20:34

[@adamlopez607]

Fking refs were bought

[@morleysobol6656]

I was at this game. Our seats were in the opposite end zone from where Drew Pearson scored. I was watching the play with binoculars. I saw the push, dropped my binoculars, and said, "offensive pass interference". The next thing I knew, a hush fell over the stadium, one lonely voice from a few sections away shouted "touchdown", and I saw Pearson launch the ball in a high arc above the scoreboard into the gloaming. For a 15 year old die hard Vikings fan, this was horrific. Little did I know that the future held equal horrors for us! People can argue from now until the end of time as to whether Drew pushed Nate. I know what I saw. If you watch the end zone replay, though, you will see Blaine Nye wrestling Mark Mullaney to the ground. If nothing else, that should have been offensive holding.

[@timkumpost6036]

Do you need some cheese to go with that whine?

[@caseyfoster1494]

My Boys

[@symbalamark7861]

1:30 which song is that

[@johnjmartin5156]

It's called "Here come da heat" and is also used in NBA Films.

[@bryanmachin2152]

The reason Pearson caught the ball was because it was badly underthrown! But that's how the Vikings luck always goes!

[@rjhyden]

No push off, whatsoever.

[@bryanmachin2152]

@@rjhyden Ever!

[@brotherspock8180]

Does anyone else remember when Fran Tarkenton got pissed and threw the ball and hit an official in the back? I can't remember who they were playing or what year. I've been trying to find that video for years. Anyone else remember this happening?? I'm beginning to think maybe I imagined it.

[@kennethlatham3133]

It wasn't an official. I remember that game, I watched on TV. Tarkenton had just run the ball into the end zone untouched for a TD. There was a defender, I think a safety, for the other team standing with his hands on his hips, looking in the opposite direction, he was about ten yards away, and then, sonofabitch, Fran throws a hard, tight spiral right into the guy's back. Then, it was on. Fought until the refs came & broke it up. I'll bet you can find it on KZbin.

[@atulthakker3545]

This happened in the 74 game against the Patriots. Tark drilled Bolton in the back after he swiped him and a crazy fight ensued. Look Patriots Vikings 1974.

[@blackspokane4497]

My middle school gym teacher Ron Howard #87 for the Cowboys - back up tight end and key special teams player

[@lloydkline1518]

Lucky ;; NFL 🏈 football players

[@skeebo6885]

I attended this game, just a kid out of High School. My ticket cost 12 dollars for this playoff game, in the upper bleachers I think. I remember Pearson's game winning catch....it happened so fast I couldn't tell if there was inerference or not. A great game anyway.

[@kbrewski1]

2 missed calls on final drive. Pearson OB on crucial 4th down catch on sideline. Didn't even get 1 foot down. Then of course the obvious push off by Pearson with BOTH hands right at the 5 or 4 yard line on Wright. You see Pearson's arms extended and immediately afterwards Wright suddenly jerks forward and down. Krause immediately argues Off PI. Pearson years later admitted the illegal push off with a chuckle. He knows he got away with something that is called 99 times out of 100.

[@bryanmachin2152]

Yes, every assumes its just sour grapes, but if they had a more definitive angle, then maybe it would show that. But two other things: first, Pearson wasn't in bounds on the fourth play, and its debatable whether the defender caused it; the other thing is that the Hail Mary was way underthrown--so that catch was incredibly lucky. If its a good throw, Nate Wright is right there and no catch!

[@rubenluna6457]

Back in the Day, when they played football for the love of the game.🏈

[@Thesandwich10196]

Not n the 70s, t was business.