The Rams had to feel some trepidation as they took the field at the home of the Vikings for the NFC Championship and a berth in the Super Bowl. In the 12 previous games in which the two teams had faced each other at Metropolitan Stadium, the Vikings had won 10. The other two con­tests had been ties, including a game earlier in the '76 campaign when the Rams' po­tential game-winning field goal in overtime was blocked. Included were two previous defeats in the NFC title game.

An obvious problem for the team from sunny California was the frigid weather in Minnesota in late December. The temperature at kickoff was 11° and would rise only to 17° during the game.

On the Rams' second possession, they drove to a first-and-goal on the Viking six behind the hard running of Lawrence McCutcheon and John Cappelletti.

A McCutcheon dive and WR Ron Jessie's end around advanced the ball to mere inches from the goal line. Then came two of the most controversial calls of the game by the Rams' brain-trust.

On third down, Pat Haden, just 5'11" 180lb, called for a quarterback sneak. As the Rams lined up, LB Wally Hilgenberg played a guessing game.

"I'll tell you what happened," said Hilgenberg afterwards. "They went into a split backfield, which told me one of two things—a quarterback sneak or a halfback dive. I moved up a little, and when Haden came, I got him. I was lucky enough to get a good, square hit."

Haden took the snap, and Hilgenberg crashed into him immediately. Haden was knocked back, then lunged forward and was buried by the Vikings.

"I made it," said Haden. "I know I made it in the end zone on my second surge."

On fourth down and still just inches to go for a touchdown, Rams Coach Chuck Knox sent in Tom Dempsey for a field goal. The snap was high, throwing off the timing and enabling CB Nate Allen to block the kick. The ball bounced right to DB Bobby Bryant who ran 90y for a touchdown. Fred Cox's extra point made it Vikings 7 Rams 0 (3:56).

Knox said, "We felt we should come out of there with something. You don't expect a blocked field goal to be returned 90y for a touchdown."

Allen: "The whole defense made good penetration on the right side, so I got in clean."

Bryant: "The ball bounced right to me. What was I thinking? Run like hell!"

Up in the press box, Rams owner Carroll Rosenblum stomped out in disgust.

The only scoring in the second quarter was set up when Rams P Rusty Jackson fumbled the snap, and Vikings LB Matt Blair blocked his kick. Rookie WR Sammy White recovered. That set up a 25y field goal by Cox. Vikings 10 Rams 0 (11:47)

"We work on kick blocking every day," said Grant. "It just takes penetration on one side. It also doesn't hurt to have the punter fumble the snap."

The Vikings led at halftime despite gaining less than 90y of total offense.

The Rams needed to score first in the second half to get momentum, but that didn't happen. Instead, Vikings HB Chuck Foreman broke loose for a 62y run to the five. Moments later, he plunged over from the one. Vikings 17 Rams 0 (12:51)

The Los Angeles offense finally came to life in the remainder of the third quarter to trim the Vikings' lead to four. Haden scrambled and passed 40y to Harold Jackson for a first down at the Minnesota 34. Several plays later, Haden tossed to McCutcheon for 14y and a first down on the 10. McCutcheon took it in from there. The kick failed. Vikings 17 Rams 6 (3:58)

The visitors got the ball back when Fred Dwyer sacked QB Fran Tarkenton, forcing a fum­ble that Jack Youngblood returned 10y to the eight. After two plays gained only 3y, Haden tossed to Jackson for the touchdown. Tom Dempsey's PAT attempt was good. Vikings 17 Rams 13 (1:15 left in the third quarter).

The back and forth action settled down until the Vikings put the game away in the final minute with a 12-play, 75y drive. The key play was Tarkenton's pass to Foreman on third and four from the Minnesota 31. Chuck broke loose for 57y to the LA 12. On the next snap, RB Sammy Johnson covered the remaining distance into the end zone.

Final SCORE: MINNESOTA 24 LOS ANGELES 13

So the Vikings advanced to their third Super Bowl in the last four years and their fourth overall—the most of any NFL team at that time.

Vikings coach Bud Grant said in his usual deadpan manner: "There is more than one way to win in football. Kick it, catch it, block it. Whatever has to be done."

Frustrated at losing yet again to the Vikings, Rams G Tom Mack said: "They've done it to us again. I didn't think losing could hurt worse than the '74 game. But this one might." He was referring to two years earlier in the NFC Championship Game at Minnesota when the Rams were on the Viking one after a 98y drive. But a flag was dropped when the ball was snapped, and the Rams were penalized 5y for movement in the offensive line. The guilty party was Mack. Instead of a field goal, the Rams threw a pass that was intercepted by Hilgenberg.

Ron Jessie: "It's got to be this stadium. It's hard when you're playing the Vikings. ... It's always so damn cold here too. You look at that game and tell me they deserved to win. It's ridiculous. You know where it all came down to, don't you? Their goal line. Man, we scored two touchdowns, and the officials took them away from us. Then they blocked our kick and got a lucky bounce, and they took it 90y. What kind of game is that?"

The Oakland Tribune writer started his report on the game like this: