Self-help: Vikings show do-it-yourself attitude

December 29, 2008|Dave Campbell, Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS - The New York Giants were already comfortably in the playoffs. The Minnesota Vikings? There was nothing comfortable about their situation, let alone their entire season.

With plenty of practice in dealing with drama, the Vikings rallied past the resting Giants for a 20-19 victory yesterday to qualify for the postseason for the first time in four years.

"They had to earn it, as it should be, and that makes it that much sweeter," coach Brad Childress said.

Ryan Longwell's 50-yard field goal as time expired gave Minnesota its first division title since 2000, rendering Chicago's game at Houston moot. The Bears lost to the Texans anyway, but this was the way the Vikings (10-6) were determined to go in. They didn't want to back into their first NFC North crown since the league realigned six years ago.

"It wouldn't have felt the same if we won the division by default," Pro Bowl left guard Steve Hutchinson said.

Minnesota will host a first-round game next weekend, against wild-card entry Philadelphia.

The Vikings took a 3-4 record into their bye week but they rebounded by winning five of their final six games. And despite last week's fumble-laden loss to Atlanta and Chicago's overtime win over Green Bay, they still had control of their fate.

The Giants (12-4) gave the Vikings a break well before the game started by beating Carolina last week to clinch the top seed and gain home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs.

Derrick Ward, who fueled last week's win over the Panthers, gave the Giants a pair of 1,000-yard rushers - only the fourth such running back tandem in NFL history - by finishing with 77 yards on 15 carries. Brandon Jacobs got there earlier this month. The last set of teammates to do that in the same season was Cleveland's Kevin Mack and Earnest Byner in 1985.

"They're a very talented team, and we knew coming in they were going to give us everything they had," said Domenik Hixon, who caught a 23-yard touchdown pass from David Carr that gave the Giants a 16-10 edge in the third quarter.

The Vikings' Adrian Peterson finished with 103 yards on 21 carries and held off Atlanta's Michael Turner for the NFL rushing title. He also became the fifth player in league history to reach 3,000 yards in his first two years.