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News | Minnesota Vikings – vikings.com

Vikings Undefeated in International Exhibition History

The Vikings are set to take on the Cleveland Browns for a game in England's Twickenham Stadium on Sunday.

In addition to defeating the Steelers 34-27 in the 2013 regular season, the Vikings also have played four exhibition games overseas. Here's a flashback to Minnesota's performances in each of those wins:

View photos through the years of the Vikings four exhibition games in Goteburg (Sweden), Berlin (Germany), Tokyo (Japan) and London (England).

Vikings vs. St. Louis Cardinals (NFL Global Cup)

Where:London, England (Wembley Stadium)

Year: 1983

Score: Vikings 28, Cardinals 10

Attendance:32,847

Play of the Game:Rufus Bess returned a punt for a 76-yard touchdown to start the fourth quarter and seal the Vikings victory.

Game Summary: The first game to ever be played in Europe was a preseason matchup between the Minnesota Vikings and the St. Louis Cardinals. The matchup marked the first time that the Vikings played a game overseas.

Minnesota beat the Cardinals 28-10 and posted 383 total yards of offense behind starting quarterback Tommy Kramer.

Kramer threw two touchdowns for 157 passing yards and one interception. He had 13 completions on 19 attempts. Both of his touchdowns came in the second quarter. Passes to Ted Brown (nine yards) and Leo Lewis (31 yards) respectively gave the Vikings an early lead.

Kicker Rick Danmeier scored the NFL's first points in Europe with a 41-yard field goal in the first quarter. He later made a 48-yard attempt.

Lewis led all wide receivers with 61 receiving yards. Brown ran for 71 yards on 11 attempts to lead the Vikings.

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Vikings vs. Chicago Bears (American Bowl)

Where:Goteburg, Sweden (Ullevi Stadium)

Year:1988

Score:Vikings 28, Bears 21­

Attendance:33,115

Play of the Game:Quarterback Wade Wilson threw a 4-yard touchdown to Reggie Ward with 1:27 remaining in the fourth quarter for the game-winning touchdown.

Game Summary:The Minnesota Vikings played the Chicago Bears in a home of the historic Vikings centuries later at Ullevi Stadium. The name "Ullevi" was in fact named after "Ull," the Vikings' god of games.

Minnesota's football team came out with the 28-21 victory in the exhibition game. Toward the end of the first quarter Bears running back Neal Anderson tied the game with a 19-yard rushing touchdown.

Vikings wide receiver Anthony Carter made one of the more electric plays in the game when he took a pass from Kramer for a 73-yard touchdown to give the Vikings a 14-7 lead in the second quarter.

Mike Tomczak, the Bears second-string quarterback, tied up the game with just under two minutes left in the second quarter with a 21-yard touchdown pass to Dennis Gentry.

The Vikings scored on the team's first drive when running back D.J. Dozier bullied into the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown. 

The Vikings and Bears exchanged touchdowns again in the third quarter. Minnesota's backup Wilson heaved a 31-yard touchdown to wide receiver Hassan Jones midway through the third quarter. Bears running back Brad Muster tied the game with a 1-yard rush with 1:15 left in the third quarter. The Vikings went on to score the game-winning touchdown with 87 seconds left to play.

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Vikings vs. Buffalo Bills (American Bowl)

Where:Berlin, Germany (Olympic Stadium)

Year:1993

Score:Vikings 20, Bills 6* *

Attendance: 67,132

Play of the Game:Safety Shawn Jones intercepted Bills quarterback Frank Reich and was tackled at the Bills 33-yard line, setting up the Vikings second touchdown of the game.

Game Summary:The game against the Bills was the third-ever NFL game to be played in Berlin, Germany. The American Bowl in Berlin in 1993 can be summed up by an impressive first half for Minnesota. The Vikings jumped out to a 17-0 lead against the defending AFC-champion Bills. Jim McMahon started at quarterback for the Vikings and was 7-of-9 passing for 67 yards in his second game with Minnesota. Running back Roger Craig rushed for a 1-yard touchdown at the beginning of the second quarter to give the Vikings a 7-0 lead. Minnesota capitalized on two Bills turnovers including a fumble on a snap by the backup QB Frank Reich that led to a Vikings 41-yard field goal from K Fuad Reveiz. Jones' interception set up a 1-yard touchdown run from RB Chuck Evans. Minnesota tacked on a 37-yard field goal with 11:33 left in the fourth quarter to take a 20-0 lead. The Bills scored for the first time with just under three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter on a 16-yard reception from Gale Gilbert to WR Chris Walsh. RB Robert Smith rushed for 61 yards on 10 attempts in the game. The Vikings won their third international game under Head Coach Dennis Green. Green was in his second season at the helm and moved to 6-0 in preseason play in Germany. The Vikings outscored opponents 174-19 in those six games.

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Vikings vs. Kansas City Chiefs (American Bowl)

Where:Tokyo, Japan (Tokyo Dome)

Year:1994

Score:Vikings 17, Chiefs 9

Attendance: 49,555

Play of the Game:RB Amp Lee ran into the end zone from 11 yards out to give the Vikings a 14-3 lead with 9:41 left in the second quarter.

Game Summary:The Vikings took on the Kansas City Chiefs in August of 1994 at the Tokyo Dome in Japan. Minnesota amassed 137 rushing yards and defeated Kansas City 17-9 to move the team's record to 4-0 all-time in exhibition international play. Running back Tony Allen capped the Vikings first drive of the game with a 3-yard run into the end zone. A 36-yard pass from QB Warren Moon to receiver Jake Reed set the Vikings up in Chiefs territory early in the game. The Chiefs scored their first points of the game in the second quarter, capitalizing on field position after Vikings kicker Cary Blanchard missed a 47-yard field goal. Kansas City kicker David Treadwell sunk a 24-yard kick with 11:48 remaining in the second quarter. Lee's 11-yard rushing touchdown capped a 48-yard drive for the Vikings led by quarterback Brad Johnson. On the ensuing drive the Chiefs bounced back. Kansas City quarterback Mike Blundin threw a 40-yard touchdown pass to Lake Dawson to bring the score to 14-9. The Chiefs were stopped by the Vikings' defensive line on the next play on the team's two-point conversion attempt.

The Vikings capped the scoring on the day when Reveiz converted on a 21-yard kick. Johnson relieved Moon and completed seven passes on nine attempts for 66 yards through the air. Warren Moon threw for 85 yards on 6-of-9 attempts. Lee led the Vikings with 53 yards on the ground on seven attempts.

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