Editing Minnesota Vikings (section)

===1970s===
The team continued to dominate in [[1970 NFL season|1970]] (moving into the newly formed NFC Central) and [[1971 NFL season|1971]], reaching the playoffs behind the stubborn "Purple People Eaters" defensive line. In 1971, Alan Page won the [[NFL Most Valuable Player Award]] given by the [[Associated Press]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.databasefootball.com/awards/award.htm?a=apmvp |title=NFL Football Statistics, Draft, Awards, and History |publisher=databaseFootball.com |access-date=September 3, 2012 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120903012927/http://www.databasefootball.com/awards/award.htm?a=APMVP |archive-date=September 3, 2012 }}</ref> He was the first defensive player to win the award.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/member.aspx?PLAYER_ID=171 |title=Hall of Famers » ALAN PAGE |publisher=Profootballhof.com |access-date=September 3, 2012 |archive-date=September 4, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120904233332/http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/member.aspx?player_id=171 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:1986 Jeno's Pizza - 18 - Alan Page.jpg|thumb|left|The Vikings' famed [[Purple People Eaters]] defensive line stopping a Rams rush in the [[1977–78 NFL playoffs|1977 NFC Divisional Playoff]] game.]]

On January 27, 1972, the Vikings traded [[Norm Snead]], Bob Grim, [[Vince Clements]] and first-round draft picks in 1972 and 1973 to the New York Giants to reacquire the popular Fran Tarkenton.<ref name="VikingUpdate"/> While the acquisitions of Tarkenton and wide receiver [[John Gilliam]] improved the passing attack, the running game was inconsistent and the Vikings finished with a disappointing 7–7 record. The Vikings addressed the problem by drafting running back [[Chuck Foreman]] with their first pick in the [[1973 NFL draft|1973 draft]]. Co-owner Bill Boyer died on February 19, 1973<!-- The Viking media guide showing 1972 is wrong (smith03)--> and was replaced on the team's board of directors by his son-in-law Jack Steele.<ref name="VikingUpdate"/>

The Vikings won their first nine games of [[1973 NFL season|1973]] and finished the season with a 12–2 record.<ref name="Sportsecyclopedia"/> They then advanced to their second Super Bowl in franchise history, [[Super Bowl VIII]], against the [[1973 Miami Dolphins season|Miami Dolphins]] at [[Rice Stadium (Rice University)|Rice Stadium]] in [[Houston]], [[Texas]]; however, the Dolphins prevailed, 24–7.<ref name="VikingUpdate"/>

The Vikings won the Central Division again in [[1974 NFL season|1974]] with a 10–4 record.<ref name="VikingUpdate"/> In the playoffs they built on their cold-weather reputation, defeating both the [[1974 St. Louis Cardinals season|St. Louis Cardinals]] [[1974–75 NFL playoffs#NFC: Minnesota Vikings 30, St. Louis Cardinals 14|30–14]] and the [[1974 Los Angeles Rams season|Los Angeles Rams]] [[1974 NFC Championship Game|14–10]] in frozen Metropolitan Stadium. The Vikings played in their second straight Super Bowl, [[Super Bowl IX]] (3rd overall), losing to the [[1974 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]], 16–6, at [[Tulane Stadium]] in New Orleans on January 12, 1975.<ref name="Sportsecyclopedia"/><ref name="VikingUpdate"/>

Led by Tarkenton and running back Chuck Foreman, the [[1975 NFL season|1975]] Vikings got off to a 10–0 start and easily won another division title.<ref name="Sportsecyclopedia"/><ref name="VikingUpdate"/> However, the Vikings lost to the [[1975 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]] in the [[1975–76 NFL playoffs#NFC: Dallas Cowboys 17, Minnesota Vikings 14|playoffs]], 17–14, on a controversial touchdown pass from the Cowboys' quarterback [[Roger Staubach]] to wide receiver [[Drew Pearson (American football)|Drew Pearson]] that became known as the [[Hail Mary pass|Hail Mary]].<ref name="Hail Mary">{{cite web |title=The Famous Hail Mary Pass |publisher=Viking Update |date=July 20, 2001 |url=http://Vikings.scout.com/2/11650.html |access-date=April 25, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070216071547/http://vikings.scout.com/2/11650.html |archive-date=February 16, 2007 }}</ref> The touchdown was controversial because many felt that Pearson pushed off on Vikings [[defensive back]] [[Nate Wright]], committing [[pass interference]]. As the Metropolitan Stadium crowd was stunned to learn that no penalty was called, debris was thrown on the field for several minutes. A Corby's Whiskey bottle struck game official [[Armen Terzian]], rendering him unconscious.<ref>{{cite web |first=Kevin |last=Seifert |title=Armen Terzian – NFC North Blog – ESPN |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/nfcnorth/post/_/id/8665/quick-take-cowboys-vikings |work=ESPN.com |date=January 10, 2010 |access-date=September 3, 2012 |archive-date=December 3, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203025833/http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcnorth/post/_/id/8665/quick-take-cowboys-vikings |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Vikings played in [[Super Bowl XI]], their third Super Bowl (fourth overall) in four years, against the [[1976 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]] at the [[Rose Bowl (stadium)|Rose Bowl]] in [[Pasadena, California]], on January 9, 1977. The Vikings, however, lost 32–14.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl XI - Oakland Raiders vs. Minnesota Vikings - January 9th, 1977 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197701090min.htm |access-date=July 31, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] }}</ref>

In [[1977 NFL season|1977]], the Vikings again won the Central Division with a 9–5 record and advanced to their 4th NFC Championship Game in 5 years,<ref name="VikingUpdate"/> but were defeated by the eventual Super Bowl Champion [[1977 Dallas Cowboys season|Cowboys]], 23–6, at [[Texas Stadium]].<ref name="Sportsecyclopedia"/>

By [[1978 NFL season|1978]], age was taking its toll on the Vikings, but they still made the playoffs with an 8–7–1 record. There was no more playoff magic as the [[1978 Los Angeles Rams season|Rams]] finally defeated the Vikings, 34–10 in Los Angeles<ref name="Sportsecyclopedia"/> after having lost in their previous four playoff matchups (in 1969, '74, '76 and '77). Quarterback Fran Tarkenton retired following the season holding league passer records in attempts (6,467), completions (3,686), yards (47,003), and touchdowns (342).<ref name="Tarkenton">{{cite web |title=Fran tarkenton |work=profootballhof.com |publisher=Pro Football Hall of Fame |url=http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/member.jsp?player_id=209 |access-date=April 29, 2007 |archive-date=April 24, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090424184242/http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/member.jsp?player_id=209 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In December 1979, ground was broken for construction of the [[Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome]] in downtown Minneapolis.<ref name="VikingUpdate"/>