NFC Wild Card: '70-DET 23, '73-MIN 12

BLOOMINGTON (AP) - The Vikes jumped out to a quick 9-0 lead, and all seemed right in Norse country until the Lions decided to punch back. Their wakeup call occurred just at the end of the first quarter when QB Greg Landry was sacked in the end zone for a safety. Bad team take that type of punch in the nose and fold up like a cheap suit. Good times punch back. In Detroit's case they started by jabbing. Those jabs were two Errol Mann field goals, which left the half time score at 9-6...game on ! The second half was all Detroit. The Lions hallmark has been a treacherous defense that has carried them through the dark ages that has seen more than a decade without post season activity. The Lions tied the game with a Mann FG with less than 2 minutes gone in the 3rd quarter. Lem Barney then returned a Mike Eischied punt 71 yards to paydirt to give the Lions their first lead of the day (16-9). The Vikings, who were turnover prone the whole afternoon, pulled to within 4 after Fred Cox kicked a 22 yarder. With 9:14 left in the 4th Greg Landry threw a pick to Jeff Wright and the Vikes took over at Detroit's 42 yard line. Coach Kalec's nerves began to shatter, but in the blink of an eye Tarkenton returned the favor and was picked off by Larry hand who returned the ball to the Viking 38. Just like that it can all turn around. Coach Kalec dodged a bullet and now it was Coach Sik's time to sweat it out. The Lions moved the ball all the way down to the Viking goal line only to see Landry get picked off in the end zone. Sloppy play in the post season at it's finest. Not to be undone Tarkenton fumbled the ball back to the Lions 7 plays later to end all hope for the Vikes. Landry hit Larry Walton for a 29 yard TD strike to salt it away. The star of the day had to be Lem Barney who had 9 tackles and 4 pass defensed to go along with his punt return TD. The game time temperature was 16° with a 19 mph cross wind. This was the CFL's version of the Ice Bowl