Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

After the Vikings fell to 4-9-1, time had run out for both Fran Tarkenton and Coach Norman Van Brocklin at Minnesota. The team had gone from 3-11 in its first year to 8-5-1 in 1964. Hopes were high for 1965 but the team fell to 7-7 and then to the 4-9-1 record in 1966. After the subject year, the Vikings front office traded Tarkenton to the New York Giants and fired the Dutchman. Tarkenton stayed five years with the Giants and Van Brocklin became the Head Coach for the Atlanta Falcons in 1968.</strong>

The only bright spot in 1966 was the 20 to 17 victory at Green Bay. For the third consecutive year, Minnesota had beaten a team in the NFL Championship Game. They defeated both the losers in that game in 1964 and 1965. This year Green Bay was the winner; this gave the Vikings a measure o

With some luck the 1966 Vikings could have finished 8 and 6:

Week 1 @ San Francisco - Tie 20-20
Week 4 @ Chicago - Lost 13-10
Week 7 @ Baltimore - Lost 20-17
Week 10 vs Detroit - Lost 32-31

Minnesota's 20 to 13 loss to the expansion Atlanta Falcons was probably the low point of the season. Van Brocklin went with Bob Berry for the entire game at quarterback. He threw 5 interceptions. It was one of the Vikings better snow games:

https://youtu.be/wxAIAclK0I8

The Vikings win at Green Bay was a a shocker (Packers were 9 1/2 point favorites). Also on that day, Philadelphia upset Dallas 24-23 and the Steelers suprised the Browns 16-6.