1967 Vikings vs Packers Regular Season
Tarkenton outduels Starr as the Vikings topple the Lombardi dynasty in a historic December victory.
The December 1967 matchup between the Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay Packers stands as a defining moment in NFL history, marking the first time the franchise's new quarterback, Fran Tarkenton, faced off against the legendary Vince Lombardi's dynasty. Played at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, this regular-season contest was not merely a game but a statement of intent for Minnesota, proving they could compete with the league's most dominant team on their own turf.
- Date
- December 17, 1967
- Location
- Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, MN
- Final Score
- Vikings 23, Packers 14
- Key Player (MIN)
- Fran Tarkenton (QB)
- Key Player (GB)
- Bart Starr (QB)
- Significance
- First Vikings win over Lombardi's Packers
Lore & Background
The atmosphere at Metropolitan Stadium was electric, fueled by the knowledge that the Packers were essentially playing for pride while the Vikings were fighting for history. The victory shattered the aura of invincibility surrounding Lombardi's squad and signaled to the NFL world that Minnesota had arrived as a legitimate power in the National Football Conference.
In Their Own Story
The mid-December air bit at the fans' faces as the stadium lights hummed over the frozen gridiron. Fran Tarkenton stepped into the pocket, his breath visible in the cold, scanning a field dominated by Packers defenders who had never been truly stopped before. With a snap of the ball and a sharp release, he launched a spiral that seemed to defy the biting wind, finding a receiver in stride as the crowd roared—a sound that would echo through decades of Viking history.
Reader's Guide
The game context was heavy with expectation; Green Bay entered as the defending NFC champions and Super Bowl II contenders, while Minnesota sought to prove their mettle. The turning point came from Fran Tarkenton's masterful command of the offense, who orchestrated a balanced attack that kept the Packers' vaunted defense off balance. On defense, the Vikings managed to contain Bart Starr, limiting his usual precision and forcing critical errors in the second half. The victory remains etched in fan memory because it was the first time an expansion team had defeated Lombardi's Packers during their legendary run.
Did You Know?
- This game marked Vince Lombardi's final regular-season loss before he left Green Bay to coach Washington.
- Fran Tarkenton became the first Vikings quarterback to throw for over 200 yards against a top-tier Green Bay defense.
- The victory helped secure Minnesota's spot in the playoffs, where they would eventually lose to Dallas in the divisional round.
- Metropolitan Stadium hosted this historic clash before the team moved to the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome.