Hebert’s Pass to Tice Is Nice as Saints Win

Bobby Hebert’s first NFL touchdown pass, a 39-yarder to John Tice with 50 seconds to play, gave the New Orleans Saints a 30-23 victory over the Minnesota Vikings Sunday.

The Vikings tied the game 57 seconds earlier on Tommy Kramer’s six-yard scoring pass to Mike Jones.

Viking Coach Bud Grant ordered a squib kick on the ensuing kickoff, and the Saints’ Bobby Fowler returned it 23 yards to midfield. Three three plays later, the Saints scored on Hebert’s pass to Tice.

Said Grant: “I think we played as bad as we have in a long time, although we were able to tie the game. It would’ve been a great game if they fumbled the ball on the kickoff and we recovered.”

Earl Campbell helped New Orleans (4-8) snap a six-game losing streak by rushing for 160 yards and a touchdown in a team-record 35 carries. It was the former All-Pro’s 40th career 100-yard game but first since the Saints acquired him from the Houston Oilers midway through last season. His second-quarter touchdown was also his first score with the Saints.

Saint Coach Bum Phillips, the Houston coach when Campbell was in his prime, has been criticized for bringing a “washed up” Campbell to New Orleans.

Said Campbell: “One time earlier this year, I went into Bum’s office. I talked to him about retiring. He said, ‘Until I say you quit, you won’t quit.’ ”

Hebert, a former United States Football League star making only his second NFL start, found an open Tice cutting across the middle for the game-winner.

“When I went out there that last time, my teammates were more nervous than I was,” said Hebert, who completed 10 of 14 passes for 147 yards. “Whatever was going to happen was going to happen. I was feeling good.

“I said, ‘Hey, I’m relaxed. Don’t worry about me.’ ”

The Vikings (5-7), who lost their sixth game in their last eight starts, rallied from a 23-10 third-quarter deficit to tie it on Jan Stenerud’s field goals of 22 and 37 yards and the Kramer-to-Jones pass.

Campbell began battering the Vikings in the Saints’ very first possession, when he carried the ball four times for 29 yards.

Hebert then faked a pitch left to Campbell and handed off to Wayne Wilson, who rambled off right tackle for a 41-yard touchdown 3:50 into the game.

It took the Vikings only 58 seconds to tie the game, 7-7, as Kramer teamed with Alfred Anderson on a 54-yard touchdown-pass play.

However, Willie Tullis returned the ensuing kickoff 45 yards to set up the Saints’ go-ahead score, a four-yard burst by Campbell.