Winning ugly in the NFL has gotten a lot prettier and far less appreciated in the NFL the last 50 years.
On Nov. 14, 1971, Vikings coach Bud Grant had this to say after his team beat a bad Packers squad in perhaps the ugliest game in 61 seasons of Vikings football:
"We made a lot of big plays. They didn't make any."
The Vikings won 3-0 on a windy, 45-degree day at Met Stadium. Quarterback Gary Cuozzo completed 5 of 11 passes for 42 yards. The Vikings had 87 yards and five first downs. The Packers ran for 245 yards but turned the ball over four times.