The fourth and most recent appearance for the Vikings in the Super Bowl occurred 48 years ago today as they faced the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XI on Jan. 9, 1977, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.
Minnesota was 11-2-1 during the regular season, which was the best record in the NFC.
The Vikings played to a 10-10 tie with the Los Angeles Rams in Week 2, lost 14-13 at Chicago in Week 8 and lost 20-16 in a Monday night game at San Francisco in Week 12. Minnesota was home for both of its NFC playoff games, beating Washington 35-20 and the Rams 24-13.
For Bud Grant’s team, it was their third appearance in the big game in four years and fourth in eight.
Oakland was 13-1, with the lone loss being 48-17 at New England in Week 3. In the playoffs, the Raiders avenged the loss to the Patriots 24-21 and then defeated Pittsburgh 24-7.
Oakland was in the Super Bowl for the second time, having lost to Green Bay 33-14 in Super Bowl II.
Fran Tarkenton was the Vikings’ starting quarterback in the big game for the third time in five years since returning to Minnesota from the New York Giants.
During Tarkenton’s time in New York, his QB counterpart was Joe Namath, who guaranteed his Jets would beat Baltimore in Super Bowl III and then delivered a shocking 16-7 victory in Miami.
He didn’t get the attention Broadway Joe Namath did eight years earlier, but Tarkenton basically guaranteed a win over the Raiders.
“We want the whole world to know this time we're going to win the Super Bowl,” Tarkenton said. “There's an obsession with this team to win this game.”
When asked his reaction to Fran’s remark, Oakland Coach John Madden said, “I guess if both sides guarantee a victory, they've got to play the game.”
Oakland gained 429 yards, including a Super Bowl record 288 yards in the first half on its way to beating Minnesota.
After a scoreless first quarter, the Raiders scored on three straight possessions in the second for a 16-0 halftime lead.
Oakland also had two fourth quarter interceptions, including cornerback Willie Brown's 75-yard return for a touchdown.
Oakland wide receiver Fred Biletnikoff, who had four catches for 79 yards that set up three Raider touchdowns and was named the Super Bowl's Most Valuable Player. Among wide receivers who have won the Super Bowl MVP, Biletnikoff is the only one to not have gained 100 yards.
Sammy White and Stu Voigt caught TD passes for the Vikings. White caught an eight-yard scoring pass from Tarkenton and Voigt caught a 13-yard touchdown pass from backup Bob Lee.
Future Hall of Famers in Super Bowl XI:
Minnesota Vikings
Carl Eller
Paul Krause
Alan Page
Fran Tarkenton
Mick Tinglehoff
Ron Yary
Coach Bud Grant
Oakland Raiders
Fred Biletnikoff
Willie Brown
Dave Casper
Ray Guy
Ted Hendricks
Art Shell
Ken Stabler
Gene Upshaw
Coach John Madden
Owner Al Davis
Broadcast
NBC telecast the game with Curt Gowdy doing play by play and Don Meredith on commentary. Lee Leonard and Bryant Gumbel hosted the pregame show.
Jim Simpson and John Brodie called the game on NBC Radio.
No anthem
For the only time in the history of the Super Bowl, the only time the "Star Spangled Banner" was not performed before a Super Bowl game.
Instead, Vikki Carr sang "America the Beautiful."
Fun facts
The loss to the Raiders left the Vikings with a 0–4 Super Bowl record under Grant, even though in the same eight-season span their regular season record was 87–24–1, which was the best in the NFL.
This was the first Super Bowl game to match both conference’s No. 1 seeds.
The Raiders were the first West Division team from either conference to reach a post-merger Super Bowl.
It was the last Super Bowl to finish in daylight. The local kickoff time was 12:47 p.m. Pacific Time, the earliest in Super Bowl history. It was two minutes earlier than Super Bowl VII at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in 1973.
Played on Jan. 9, the game marked the earliest Super Bowl played during the calendar year.
The game was the last where both teams’ placekickers (Minnesota's Fred Cox and Oakland's Errol Mann) used the straight-on style.
Super Bowl XI box
Oakland 0 16 3 13 – 32
Minnesota 0 0 7 7 - 14
Scoring plays
First quarter
No scoring
Second quarter
OAK – Errol Mann 24 FG
OAK – Dave Casper 1 pass from Ken Stabler (Errol Mann kick)
OAK – Pete Banaszek 1 run (kick failed)
Third quarter
OAK – Errol Mann 40 FG
MINN – Sammy White 8 pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick)
Fourth quarter
OAK – Pete Banaszek 2 run (Errol Mann kick)
OAK – Willie Brown 75 interception (kick failed)
Individual statistics
Offense
Rushing
Oakland: Clarence Davis 16-137, Mark van Eeghen 18-73, Pete Banaszek 10-19, Carl Garrett 4-19, Hubert Ginn 2-9, Mike Rae 2-9. Minnesota: Chuck Foreman 17-44, Sammy Johnson 2-9, Sammy White 1-7, Bob Lee 1-4, Robert Miller 2-4, Brent McClanahan 3-3.
Receiving
Oakland: Fred Beletnikoff 4-79, Dave Casper 4-70, Cliff Branch 3-20, Carl Garrett 1-11. Minnesota: Chuck Foreman 5-62, Sammy White 5-77, Robert Miller 4-19, Stu Voigt 4-49, Sammy Johnson 3-26, Ahmad Rashad 3-53.
Passing
Oakland: Ken Stabler 12-19-180-0-1. Minnesota: Fran Tarkenton 17-35-205-2-1, Bob Lee 7-9-81-0-1.
Defense
Fumble recoveries
Oakland: Willie Hall 1-0.
Interceptions
Oakland: Willie Brown 1-75, Willie Hall 1-16.
Team statistics
First downs: Oakland 21, Minnesota 20.
Rushing: Oakland 52-266, Minnesota 26-71.
Passing: Oakland 12-19-180-1-0, Minnesota 24-44-286-2-2,
Fumbles-lost: Oakland 0-0, Minnesota 1-1.
Penalties: Oakland 4-30, Minnesota 2-25.
Tark hosts SNL
Tarkenton would host Saturday Night Live three weeks after the Super Bowl and poked some fun at himself and his teammates during his monologue.
“Now, I want everyone to know — especially you Vikings fans out there — that the Vikings aren’t dead yet,” he said. “We’re a team built on pride and discipline. And, next July, we’re going back to Mankato, Minnesota — we’re gonna work harder than ever. We’re gonna put on those bonnets and purple jerseys, and strap those little shoulder pads on, and I guarantee ya’ that… we’ll BE in that Super Bowl next season! And I predict… we’ll lose again.”
Writing Tarkenton’s jokes on that show was Al Franken, who would later be a Senator from Minnesota.
Tarkenton, who was the first athlete to host the show, attempted to sing the song "Feelings" only to be replaced by Garrett Morris.
A running gag throughout this episode involved several sketches being played out like a football game, with John Belushi acting as coach, complete with a Vikings jacket and Bud Grant-style headset in one.
On that date
No. 1 TV show: Happy Days, ABC
No. 1 Movie: King Kong
No. 1 song: You Make Me Feel Like Dancing, Leo Sayer
No. 1 book: Trinity, Leon Uris
Governor of Minnesota: Rudy Perpich
U.S. President: Gerald Ford
Significant news story: The "shoot-out" was used for the first time in the FIFA World Cup to resolve a tie between Tunisia and Morocco. Tunisia won the shootout 4-2 after the teams played to a 1–1 draw in the first game and extra time.
We are the champions
Here are the reigning champions in each sport.
Super Bowl: Miami Dolphins
World Series: Cincinnati Reds
NBA: Boston Celtics
NHL: Montreal Canadiens
College football: Pittsburgh
College basketball: Indiana
Masters: Raymond Floyd
Daytona 500: David Pearson
Indy 500: Johnny Rutherford