Page "Rich Gannon" Paragraph 12

Gannon started his first game in Week 4 ( September 30 ) of 1990 after Wade Wilson had torn thumb ligaments.

The Vikings lost that game to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in overtime 23-20.

Steve Christie kicked the winning field goal for Tampa in a drive started from a Wayne Haddix interception of a Gannon pass.

Gannon would play 14 games in 1990 and start 12.

Gannon won his first career start in Week 9 ( November 4 ) with a 27-22 win over the Denver Broncos.

John Elway, starting quarterback for the Broncos, left the game due to injury after building a 16-0 first-half lead for Denver.

Gannon made the winning touchdown drive on a 56-yard trick play pass: first to Herschel Walker, who pitched back to Gannon, who made a deep pass to Anthony Carter for the touchdown.

Minnesota won despite Gannon completing less than half of his passes ( 6-for-13 ) and being sacked 7 times.

The following week against the Detroit Lions, Gannon rushed for a one-yard touchdown and passed for 147 yards completing 12 of 17 passes as the Vikings won 17-7.

These games began a five-game winning streak for Minnesota after a 1-6 start.

However, the Vikings would finish 6-10 after losing the last four games of the year.

For the season, Gannon was 182-for-349 in passing for 2, 278 yards and threw for 16 touchdowns and 16 interceptions.

He was sacked 34 times and rushed 52 times for 268 yards.