Minnesota Makes It a Point to Set Record

NASHVILLE —  The Minnesota Vikings are going into the playoffs in record fashion.

Randall Cunningham threw two touchdown passes and kicker Gary Anderson added to a record streak with three field goals as the Vikings defeated the Tennessee Oilers, 26-16, on Saturday to become the highest-scoring team in NFL history.

“We wanted it a great deal,” tight end Andrew Glover said of the Vikings surpassing the 1983 Washington Redskins’ record of 541 points with 556. “We were very aware of what it took to make those historical marks. We’re very elated to go down in history, but at the same time, we have a lot of unfinished business.”

Minnesota (15-1) also tied the 1985 Chicago Bears and the 1984 San Francisco 49ers as the only teams with 15 victories in a regular season. And Anderson became the highest-scoring kicker in a season with 164 points while extending his record of consecutive field goals to 40 over two seasons. He also became the first NFL kicker to finish a season perfect on field goals (35 for 35) and extra points (59 for 59).

“Fifteen and one is truly phenomenal,” Viking Coach Dennis Green said. “That means that you really had a blessed season. Hopefully, that will give us momentum going into the playoffs.”

Green played the Viking starters the entire game in what amounted to a meaningless game--Minnesota had already clinched home-field advantage for the playoffs.

Cunningham, playing with a broken bone in his left hand, was most effective in the third quarter, completing nine of 10 passes for 107 yards and both touchdowns. He finished 23 for 35 for 235 yards.

Cunningham connected with rookie sensation Randy Moss for a five-yard touchdown on the first possession of the quarter that put Minnesota ahead 16-13 and broke Washington’s record for points in a season. Cunningham then teamed with Cris Carter for a 38-yard touchdown on the next possession. It was Carter’s 101st touchdown reception, moving him past Steve Largent into second place on the NFL’s all-time list.

Anderson sealed the Vikings’ seventh consecutive victory with a 39-yard field goal with 1:10 left, also allowing him to break the season scoring record by a kicker--161 points by Mark Moseley of Washington in 1983.

The loss, which dropped Tennessee to 8-8, was the franchise’s last game as the Oilers. The team’s nickname will be the Titans next season after 39 seasons as the Oilers in Houston and Tennessee.

The ball used on the final play will be shipped to the Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Owner Bud Adams, who picked the Oilers’ nickname in 1959, didn’t attend the game.

“It is a very emotional day for me.” Adams said in a statement. “I just thought it was better to spend it with our family and grandchildren.”

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Record Breakers

MOST POINTS

With Saturday’s 26-16 victory over Tennessee, the Minnesota Vikings broke the NFL record for most points in a season:

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Pts Year Team Pts/G 556 1998 Vikings 34.9 541 1983 Redskins 33.8

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KICKING RECORDS

The Vikings’ Gary Anderson became the first kicker to have a perfect season in field goals (35 for 35) and extra points ( 59 for 59) . He also stretched his NFL record of consecutive field goals to 40 over two seasons, and broke the record for points in a season by a kicker:

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Pts Player Team 164 Gary Anderson 1998 Vikings 161 Mark Moseley 1983 Redskins

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WHAT ABOUT 15-1?

Teams that finished the regular season 15-1 and how they fared in the playoffs:

Season: Team and Result

1984: 49ers won Super Bowl

1985: Bears won Super Bowl

1998: Vikings