On This Date in Sports December 1, 2002: The Vick Show
Michael Vick of the Atlanta Falcons has a day for the ages, rushing for 173 yards in a 30-24 win over the Minnesota Vikings at the Metrodome. The 173 yards is the most for a quarterback on the ground, breaking the 51-year-old record held by Tobin Rote. Vick breaks the record in dramatic fashion as he wins the game with a 46-yard touchdown in overtime.
Born June 25, 1980, in Newport News, Virginia, Michael Vick was touted as the NFL’s quarterback of the future when he was drafted first overall in 2001 out of Virginia Tech by the Atlanta Falcons. After seeing limited action in his rookie season, Vick began to deliver on that promise in his second season, as the Falcons, coached by Dan Reeves, sat at 7-3-1 entering a road game against the Minnesota Vikings, who were struggling at 3-8 under first-year coach Mike Tice.
Despite their slow start, the Vikings began their game against the Falcons with a strong drive leading to a touchdown as Daunte Culpepper scored on a one-yard sneak to cap the 11-play 75-yard drive. In the second quarter, Atlanta took advantage of a poor punt by Kyle Richardson to tie the game, as Michael Vick completed a 39-yard pass to Brian Finneran while Bob Christian scored from the one. The Vikings regained the lead following a fumble by Vick at the 45, as Culpepper completed a two-yard scoring play to Hunter Goodwin. The Falcons would answer as the game was even at the half, 14-14, following a 39-yard touchdown pass from Michael Vick to Brian Finneran.
The Vikings again took the lead on a one-yard by Michael Bennett. This was when Vick’s legs began to take over as the Falcons tied the game again with a five-play 76-yard drive. In the drive, Vick had runs of 19 yards, 13 yards, and a 28-yard run that found paydirt. In the fourth quarter, things began to turn in the Falcons' favor when Keith Brooking blocked Gary Anderson’s 46-yard field goal attempt. They would take the lead on the next drive with a 44-yard boot by Jay Feely with 3:37 left. Minnesota would answer, tying the game 24-24, with 11 seconds left on a 29-yard field goal by Anderson.
The Vikings got the ball first in overtime but went backward as Sam Rogers had back-to-back sacks to drive them back to their own 11-yard line. After a ten-yard punt return by Allen Rossum, the Falcons had the ball near midfield. T.J. Duckett had a two-yard run to the Minnesota 46 on first down. On second down, Michael Vick had his run for glory, going 46 yards and weaving around helpless Viking defenders for the game-winning touchdown. The run broke the previous single-game rushing record for quarterbacks set by Tobin Rote of the Green Bay Packers in 1951 with 150 yards against the Chicago Bears. Michael Vick’s 46-yard touchdown gave him 173 yards for the game.
Michael Vick's record would be topped by Colin Kaepernick of the San Francisco 49ers, who had 181 yards in a 2012 playoff game against the Green Bay Packers. The regular season record was topped in 2022 by Justin Fields of the Chicago Bears, who had 178 yards against the Miami Dolphins.