Aug

12

Weekly History Lesson: Super Bowl IV

Posted by The Jazzy One

August 12, 2008 |

 

 

Good morning Vikings fans.  I’m a day late, but better late than never, right?

 

Today we’re going to look at Super Bowl IV.  Even though it is not the most pleasant memory for older Vikings fans, it’s still a big part of the team’s history.

 

Super Bowl IV, played on January 11, 1970 was the final game that would match the AFL champions against the NFL champions.  Before the next season, the two leagues would merge and become the NFC and the AFC, both part of the combined NFL.

 

The Vikings, led by coach Bud Grant and quarterback Joe Kapp, were by far the most dominant team in the NFL.  The finished the season at 12-2, led the league in scoring (379 points), led the league in fewest points allowed (133),  and had scored 50 points or more in 3 games during the season.

 

The AFL Champions, led by coach Hank Stram and quarterback Len Dawson seemed overmatched.  They struggled to get into the playoffs, and managed to step up their play to win the AFL Championship.  Most thought that they would be destroyed by the seemingly superior Vikings.

 

In the end, Stram simply out-coached Grant.  He devised offenses to specifically attack the strategies that had been working for the Viking defense all year.  Dawson completed short pass after short pass as he moved his Chiefs up and down the field.  On defense, the Chiefs played 3-4, which was rare in the NFL.  They lined up nose tackles that  outweighed the Vikings center by around 50 pounds to disrupt the Vikings inside running game.  The Chiefs pulled off the upset, and won the game 23 - 7.

 

 


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