NFL: MINNESOTA at NY GIANTS <div class="pre">NFL MINNESOTA 41 NY GIANTS 17 3:38 LEFT, 4TH QTR MIN BALL ON NYG 28 YD LINE 1ST AND 10</div>
NFL: MINNESOTA at NY GIANTS <div class="pre">NFL FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL --- --- --- --- ----- MINNESOTA 14 10 3 14 41 NY GIANTS 7 0 3 7 17 FINAL SCORING SUMMARY 1ST QUARTER: MIN - TD, SIDNEY RICE 60 YD PASS FROM TARVARIS JACKSON (RYAN LONGWELL KICK), 0:41. Drive: 2 plays, 60 yards in 0:41. MINNESOTA 7-0 NYG - TD, REUBEN DROUGHNS 1 YD RUN (LAWRENCE TYNES KICK), 5:35. Drive: 8 plays, 65 yards in 4:54. Key plays: Droughns 10-yard run to New York 45; Manning 20-yard pass to Shockey to Minnesota 35; Manning 20-yard pass to Burress to Minnesota 15; Droughns 5-yard run on 3rd-and-1 to Minnesota 1. MINNESOTA 7-7 MIN - TD, DARREN SHARPER 20 YD INTERCEPTION RETURN (RYAN LONGWELL KICK), 11:45. MINNESOTA 14-7 2ND QUARTER: MIN - TD, CHESTER TAYLOR 8 YD RUN (RYAN LONGWELL KICK), 5:11. Drive: 1 plays, 8 yards in 0:09. Key plays: Smith 19-yard interception return to New York 8. MINNESOTA 21-7 MIN - FG, RYAN LONGWELL 46 YD, 11:44. Drive: 9 plays, 37 yards in 4:47. Key plays: Jackson 11-yard pass to Taylor to Minnesota 49; Jackson 13-yard pass to Rice to New York 38. MINNESOTA 24-7 3RD QUARTER: NYG - FG, LAWRENCE TYNES 48 YD, 3:53. Drive: 10 plays, 48 yards in 3:53. Key plays: Manning 24-yard pass to Toomer on 3rd-and-11 to the New York 45; Bradshaw 11-yard run to Minnesota 44; Manning 11-yard pass to Shockey to Minnesota 30. MINNESOTA 24-10 MIN - FG, RYAN LONGWELL 26 YD, 13:17. Drive: 14 plays, 69 yards in 9:24. Key plays: Jackson 19-yard run on 3rd-and-4 to Minnesota 48; Jackson 5-yard pass to Wade on 3rd-and-4 to New York 41; Jackson 11-yard run to New York 27; 5-yard encroachment penalty on Giants' Robbins on 3rd-and-4 to New York 16; Jackson 13-yard pass to Shiancoe to New York 8. MINNESOTA 27-10 4TH QUARTER: MIN - TD, DWIGHT SMITH 93 YD INTERCEPTION RETURN (RYAN LONGWELL KICK), 1:19. MINNESOTA 34-10 MIN - TD, CHAD GREENWAY 37 YD INTERCEPTION RETURN (RYAN LONGWELL KICK), 2:01. MINNESOTA 41-10 NYG - TD, PLAXICO BURRESS 6 YD PASS FROM ELI MANNING (LAWRENCE TYNES KICK), 9:06. Drive: 7 plays, 44 yards in 2:51. Key plays: Kluwe punt to Minnesota 44; Bradshaw 11-yard run to Minnesota 33; Manning 22-yard pass to Toomer on 3rd-and-12 to Minnesota 13. MINNESOTA 41-17 ATT:</div>
NFL: MINNESOTA at NY GIANTS <div class="pre">** CONFIRMED ** NFL MINNESOTA 41 NY GIANTS 17 FINAL</div>
NFL: MINNESOTA at NY GIANTS <div class="pre">NFL FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL --- --- --- --- ----- MINNESOTA 14 10 3 14 41 NY GIANTS 7 0 3 7 17 FINAL SCORING SUMMARY 1ST QUARTER: 0:41 MIN - TD, SIDNEY RICE 60 YD PASS FROM TARVARIS JACKSON (RYAN LONGWELL KICK). Drive: 2 plays, 60 yards in 0:41. MINNESOTA 7-0. 5:35 NYG - TD, REUBEN DROUGHNS 1 YD RUN (LAWRENCE TYNES KICK). Drive: 8 plays, 65 yards in 4:54. Key plays: Droughns 10-yard run to New York 45; Manning 20-yard pass to Shockey to Minnesota 35; Manning 20-yard pass to Burress to Minnesota 15; Droughns 5-yard run on 3rd-and-1 to Minnesota 1. MINNESOTA 7-7. 11:45 MIN - TD, DARREN SHARPER 20 YD INTERCEPTION RETURN (RYAN LONGWELL KICK). MINNESOTA 14-7. 2ND QUARTER: 5:11 MIN - TD, CHESTER TAYLOR 8 YD RUN (RYAN LONGWELL KICK). Drive: 1 plays, 8 yards in 0:09. Key plays: Smith 19-yard interception return to New York 8. MINNESOTA 21-7. 11:44 MIN - FG, RYAN LONGWELL 46 YD. Drive: 9 plays, 37 yards in 4:47. Key plays: Jackson 11-yard pass to Taylor to Minnesota 49; Jackson 13-yard pass to Rice to New York 38. MINNESOTA 24-7. 3RD QUARTER: 3:53 NYG - FG, LAWRENCE TYNES 48 YD. Drive: 10 plays, 48 yards in 3:53. Key plays: Manning 24-yard pass to Toomer on 3rd-and-11 to the New York 45; Bradshaw 11-yard run to Minnesota 44; Manning 11-yard pass to Shockey to Minnesota 30. MINNESOTA 24-10. 13:17 MIN - FG, RYAN LONGWELL 26 YD. Drive: 14 plays, 69 yards in 9:24. Key plays: Jackson 19-yard run on 3rd-and-4 to Minnesota 48; Jackson 5-yard pass to Wade on 3rd-and-4 to New York 41; Jackson 11-yard run to New York 27; 5-yard encroachment penalty on Giants' Robbins on 3rd-and-4 to New York 16; Jackson 13-yard pass to Shiancoe to New York 8. MINNESOTA 27-10. 4TH QUARTER: 1:19 MIN - TD, DWIGHT SMITH 93 YD INTERCEPTION RETURN (RYAN LONGWELL KICK). MINNESOTA 34-10. 2:01 MIN - TD, CHAD GREENWAY 37 YD INTERCEPTION RETURN (RYAN LONGWELL KICK). MINNESOTA 41-10. 9:06 NYG - TD, PLAXICO BURRESS 6 YD PASS FROM ELI MANNING (LAWRENCE TYNES KICK). Drive: 7 plays, 44 yards in 2:51. Key plays: Kluwe punt to Minnesota 44; Bradshaw 11-yard run to Minnesota 33; Manning 22-yard pass to Toomer on 3rd-and-12 to Minnesota 13. MINNESOTA 41-17. MINNESOTA - NY GIANTS Final Statistics TEAM STATISTICS MINNESOTA NY GIANTS FIRST DOWNS 15 18 Rushing 7 6 Passing 6 12 Penalty 2 0 THIRD DOWN EFFICIENCY 5-13-38% 7-17-41% FOURTH DOWN EFFICIENCY 1-1-100% 0-2-0% TOTAL NET YARDS 251 309 Total offensive plays 55 71 Average gain per play 4.6 4.4 NET YARDS RUSHING 127 75 Rushing attempts 39 19 Average gain per rush 3.3 3.9 Tackles for loss-yards 4-10 1-1 NET YARDS PASSING 124 234 Times sacked: Number-Yards 4-5 3-39 Gross passing yards 129 273 PASS ATTEMPTS-COMPLETIONS-HAD INTERCEPTED 12-10-0 49-21-4 Avg gain per pass play 7.8 4.5 KICKOFFS: Number-In End Zone-Touchbacks 8-0-0 4-0-0 PUNTS: Number and Average 5-40.6 4-46.3 Had blocked 0 0 Net punting average 40.6 43.3 TOTAL RETURN YARDAGE (Not including kickoffs) 169 12 Number-Yards: Punt Returns 0-0 2-12 Number-Yards: Kickoff Returns 3-66 8-176 Number-Yards: Interception Returns 4-169 0-0 PENALTIES: Number-Yards 4-15 5-30 FUMBLES: Number-Lost 1-0 0-0 TOUCHDOWNS 5 2 Rushing 1 1 Passing 1 1 Interceptions 3 0 Other (blocked kicks, etc.) 0 0 EXTRA POINTS: Made-Attempts 5-5 2-2 Kicking: Made-Attempts 5-5 2-2 Passing: Made-Attempts 0-0 0-0 Rushing: Made-Attempts 0-0 0-0 FIELD GOALS: Made-Attempts 2-2 1-1 FGs - PATs had blocked 0-0 0-0 RED ZONE EFFICIENCY 1-3-33% 2-3-67% GOAL TO GO EFFICIENCY 1-1-100% 1-1-100% SAFETIES 0 0 TIME OF POSSESSION 32:14 27:46 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS MINNESOTA NY GIANTS RUSHING ATT YDS AVG LG TD RUSHING ATT YDS AVG LG TD -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- C TAYLOR 31 77 2.5 13 1 R DROUGHNS 15 46 3.1 10 1 T JACKSON 5 38 7.6 19 0 A BRADSHAW 4 29 7.3 11 0 M MOORE 3 12 4.0 8 0 PASSING CM-AT-YDS IN TD LG PASSING CM-AT-YDS IN TD LG -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- T JACKSON 10-12-129 0 1 60 E MANNING 21-49-273 4 1 32 Sacked-Yards Lost: T JACKSON 4-5. Sacked-Yards Lost: E MANNING 3-39. RECEIVING NO YDS AVG LG TD RECEIVING NO YDS AVG LG TD -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- S RICE 3 82 27.3 60 1 P BURRESS 7 93 13.3 32 1 B WADE 2 14 7.0 9 0 A TOOMER 4 83 20.8 31 0 C TAYLOR 2 12 6.0 11 0 J SHOCKEY 4 44 11.0 20 0 V SHIANCOE 1 13 13.0 13 0 S MOSS 3 39 13.0 20 0 T WILLIAMS 1 8 8.0 8 0 R DROUGHNS 1 6 6.0 6 0 J DUGAN 1 0 0.0 0 0 D HIXON 1 5 5.0 5 0 M MATTHEWS 1 3 3.0 3 0 INTERCEPTIONS NO YDS AVG LG TD INTERCEPTIONS NO YDS AVG LG TD -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- D SMITH 2 112 56.0 93 1 C GREENWAY 1 37 37.0 37 1 D SHARPER 1 20 20.0 20 1 PUNTING NO YDS AVG T I LG PUNTING NO YDS AVG T I LG -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- C KLUWE 5 203 40.6 1 1 48 J FEAGLES 4 185 46.3 0 2 51 T = Touchbacks, I = Inside 20 PUNT RETURNS NO YDS AVG LG TD PUNT RETURNS NO YDS AVG LG TD -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- R MCQUARTERS 2 12 6.0 12 0 KICKOFF RETURNS NO YDS AVG LG TD KICKOFF RETURNS NO YDS AVG LG TD -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- T WILLIAMSON 2 45 22.5 23 0 A BRADSHAW 8 176 22.0 28 0 C GORDON 1 21 21.0 21 0 KICKING XP/XPA FG/FGA KICKING XP/XPA FG/FGA ---------------------------------- ---------------------------------- R LONGWELL 5/5 2/2 L TYNES 2/2 1/1 Dist.: 46 26 Dist.: 48 O-D O-D FUMBLES NO LOST FF REC FUMBLES NO LOST FF REC ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ T JACKSON 1 0 0 0-0 O UMENYIORA 0 0 1 0-0 B WADE 0 0 0 1-0 DEFENSE TK SO AS SK-YD DEFENSE TK SO AS SK-YD ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ E HENDERSON 6 5 1 0-0 F ROBBINS 8 8 01.5-1.5 P WILLIAMS 6 4 2 0-0 G WILSON 7 7 0 0-0 M MCCAULEY 5 5 0 0-0 O UMENYIORA 6 5 1 2-2 S JOHNSON 4 4 0 1-5 J TUCK 6 4 2 .5-1.5 D SMITH 4 3 1 0-0 A PIERCE 6 2 4 0-0 C GORDON 4 3 1 0-0 R TORBOR 4 4 0 0-0 C GRIFFIN 3 3 0 0-0 B COFIELD 4 3 1 0-0 R EDWARDS 3 3 0 0-0 K DOCKERY 4 3 1 0-0 C GREENWAY 3 3 0 0-0 M JOHNSON 3 3 0 0-0 K WILLIAMS 3 2 1 0-0 J BUTLER 3 0 3 0-0 B LEBER 2 2 0 1-26 M STRAHAN 2 2 0 0-0 D SHARPER 2 2 0 0-0 A ROSS 2 2 0 0-0 K UDEZE 2 1 1 0-0 C BLACKBURN 2 2 0 0-0 F EVANS 1 1 0 1-8 R MCQUARTERS 2 2 0 0-0 R DAVIS 2 1 1 0-0 K MITCHELL 2 1 1 0-0 D TOLLEFSON 2 1 1 0-0 S MADISON 1 1 0 0-0</div>
<div class="pre">EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- Dwight Smith and the</div>Minnesota Vikings' defense produced more than enough points fortheir shorthanded offensive teammates. Smith recorded two interceptions, including one for a 93-yardtouchdown return, as the Vikings picked off Eli Manning fourtimes Sunday en route to a stunning 41-17 rout of the New YorkGiants. Darren Sharper and linebacker Chad Greenway also scored offinterception returns for Minnesota (5-6), which entered with theNFL's worst-ranked passing defense. But the Vikings had their way with Manning, who was constantlyhurried into ill-advised passes and matched a career high forinterceptions. Ironically, the last time Manning was intercepted four timescame here on November 13, 2005 in a 24-21 loss to the Vikings -a contest Minnesota won despite not scoring an offensivetouchdown. The underdog Vikings entered Sunday's game without star rookierunning back Adrian Peterson, who missed his second straightcontest with a torn knee ligament. But Minnesota's defense picked up the slack, holding New York toa total of three points over a span of 10 drives bridging thefirst and fourth quarters. The Giants forged a 7-7 tie on Reuben Droughns' 1-yard TD runfive minutes into the contest. But the Vikings took the leadfor good with 3:15 left in the opening quarter thanks toSharper, who intercepted Manning at the New York 20 andscampered into the end zone to make it 14-7. Smith recorded the second interception of Manning five minutesinto the second quarter and returned it to the Giants 8.Chester Taylor rumbled for an 8-yard TD on the following play togive Minnesota a 21-7 lead. The teams traded field goals over the next 25 minutes, and theVikings entered the fourth quarter with a 27-10 cushion. Minnesota put away the contest just 79 seconds into the finalperiod when Smith picked off Manning deep in Vikings territoryand raced 93 yards the other way for a score. Greenway scored on a 37-yard interception return just 42 secondslater to give the Vikings a 41-10 lead. Taylor rushed for 77 yards on 31 carries for the Vikings, whoimproved to 2-0 without the electric Peterson - the NFL'sleading rusher. Manning finished 21-of-49 for 273 yards for the Giants (7-4),who have lost their last two home games.
NFL: MINNESOTA at NY GIANTS <div class="pre">NFL FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL --- --- --- --- ----- MINNESOTA 14 10 3 14 41 NY GIANTS 7 0 3 7 17 FINAL SCORING SUMMARY 1ST QUARTER: 0:41 MIN - TD, SIDNEY RICE 60 YD PASS FROM TARVARIS JACKSON (RYAN LONGWELL KICK). Drive: 2 plays, 60 yards in 0:41. MINNESOTA 7-0. 5:35 NYG - TD, REUBEN DROUGHNS 1 YD RUN (LAWRENCE TYNES KICK). Drive: 8 plays, 65 yards in 4:54. Key plays: Droughns 10-yard run to New York 45; Manning 20-yard pass to Shockey to Minnesota 35; Manning 20-yard pass to Burress to Minnesota 15; Droughns 5-yard run on 3rd-and-1 to Minnesota 1. MINNESOTA 7-7. 11:45 MIN - TD, DARREN SHARPER 20 YD INTERCEPTION RETURN (RYAN LONGWELL KICK). MINNESOTA 14-7. 2ND QUARTER: 5:11 MIN - TD, CHESTER TAYLOR 8 YD RUN (RYAN LONGWELL KICK). Drive: 1 plays, 8 yards in 0:09. Key plays: Smith 19-yard interception return to New York 8. MINNESOTA 21-7. 11:44 MIN - FG, RYAN LONGWELL 46 YD. Drive: 9 plays, 37 yards in 4:47. Key plays: Jackson 11-yard pass to Taylor to Minnesota 49; Jackson 13-yard pass to Rice to New York 38. MINNESOTA 24-7. 3RD QUARTER: 3:53 NYG - FG, LAWRENCE TYNES 48 YD. Drive: 10 plays, 48 yards in 3:53. Key plays: Manning 24-yard pass to Toomer on 3rd-and-11 to the New York 45; Bradshaw 11-yard run to Minnesota 44; Manning 11-yard pass to Shockey to Minnesota 30. MINNESOTA 24-10. 13:17 MIN - FG, RYAN LONGWELL 26 YD. Drive: 14 plays, 69 yards in 9:24. Key plays: Jackson 19-yard run on 3rd-and-4 to Minnesota 48; Jackson 5-yard pass to Wade on 3rd-and-4 to New York 41; Jackson 11-yard run to New York 27; 5-yard encroachment penalty on Giants' Robbins on 3rd-and-4 to New York 16; Jackson 13-yard pass to Shiancoe to New York 8. MINNESOTA 27-10. 4TH QUARTER: 1:19 MIN - TD, DWIGHT SMITH 93 YD INTERCEPTION RETURN (RYAN LONGWELL KICK). MINNESOTA 34-10. 2:01 MIN - TD, CHAD GREENWAY 37 YD INTERCEPTION RETURN (RYAN LONGWELL KICK). MINNESOTA 41-10. 9:06 NYG - TD, PLAXICO BURRESS 6 YD PASS FROM ELI MANNING (LAWRENCE TYNES KICK). Drive: 7 plays, 44 yards in 2:51. Key plays: Kluwe punt to Minnesota 44; Bradshaw 11-yard run to Minnesota 33; Manning 22-yard pass to Toomer on 3rd-and-12 to Minnesota 13. MINNESOTA 41-17. MINNESOTA - NY GIANTS Final Statistics TEAM STATISTICS MINNESOTA NY GIANTS FIRST DOWNS 15 18 Rushing 7 6 Passing 6 12 Penalty 2 0 THIRD DOWN EFFICIENCY 5-13-38% 7-17-41% FOURTH DOWN EFFICIENCY 1-1-100% 0-2-0% TOTAL NET YARDS 251 309 Total offensive plays 55 71 Average gain per play 4.6 4.4 NET YARDS RUSHING 127 75 Rushing attempts 39 19 Average gain per rush 3.3 3.9 Tackles for loss-yards 4-10 1-1 NET YARDS PASSING 124 234 Times sacked: Number-Yards 4-5 3-39 Gross passing yards 129 273 PASS ATTEMPTS-COMPLETIONS-HAD INTERCEPTED 12-10-0 49-21-4 Avg gain per pass play 7.8 4.5 KICKOFFS: Number-In End Zone-Touchbacks 8-0-0 4-0-0 PUNTS: Number and Average 5-40.6 4-46.3 Had blocked 0 0 Net punting average 40.6 43.3 TOTAL RETURN YARDAGE (Not including kickoffs) 169 12 Number-Yards: Punt Returns 0-0 2-12 Number-Yards: Kickoff Returns 3-66 8-176 Number-Yards: Interception Returns 4-169 0-0 PENALTIES: Number-Yards 4-15 5-30 FUMBLES: Number-Lost 1-0 0-0 TOUCHDOWNS 5 2 Rushing 1 1 Passing 1 1 Interceptions 3 0 Other (blocked kicks, etc.) 0 0 EXTRA POINTS: Made-Attempts 5-5 2-2 Kicking: Made-Attempts 5-5 2-2 Passing: Made-Attempts 0-0 0-0 Rushing: Made-Attempts 0-0 0-0 FIELD GOALS: Made-Attempts 2-2 1-1 FGs - PATs had blocked 0-0 0-0 RED ZONE EFFICIENCY 1-3-33% 2-3-67% GOAL TO GO EFFICIENCY 1-1-100% 1-1-100% SAFETIES 0 0 TIME OF POSSESSION 32:14 27:46 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS MINNESOTA NY GIANTS RUSHING ATT YDS AVG LG TD RUSHING ATT YDS AVG LG TD -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- C TAYLOR 31 77 2.5 13 1 R DROUGHNS 15 46 3.1 10 1 T JACKSON 5 38 7.6 19 0 A BRADSHAW 4 29 7.3 11 0 M MOORE 3 12 4.0 8 0 PASSING CM-AT-YDS IN TD LG PASSING CM-AT-YDS IN TD LG -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- T JACKSON 10-12-129 0 1 60 E MANNING 21-49-273 4 1 32 Sacked-Yards Lost: T JACKSON 4-5. Sacked-Yards Lost: E MANNING 3-39. RECEIVING NO YDS AVG LG TD RECEIVING NO YDS AVG LG TD -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- S RICE 3 82 27.3 60 1 P BURRESS 7 93 13.3 32 1 B WADE 2 14 7.0 9 0 A TOOMER 4 83 20.8 31 0 C TAYLOR 2 12 6.0 11 0 J SHOCKEY 4 44 11.0 20 0 V SHIANCOE 1 13 13.0 13 0 S MOSS 3 39 13.0 20 0 T WILLIAMS 1 8 8.0 8 0 R DROUGHNS 1 6 6.0 6 0 J DUGAN 1 0 0.0 0 0 D HIXON 1 5 5.0 5 0 M MATTHEWS 1 3 3.0 3 0 INTERCEPTIONS NO YDS AVG LG TD INTERCEPTIONS NO YDS AVG LG TD -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- D SMITH 2 112 56.0 93 1 C GREENWAY 1 37 37.0 37 1 D SHARPER 1 20 20.0 20 1 PUNTING NO YDS AVG T I LG PUNTING NO YDS AVG T I LG -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- C KLUWE 5 203 40.6 1 1 48 J FEAGLES 4 185 46.3 0 2 51 T = Touchbacks, I = Inside 20 PUNT RETURNS NO YDS AVG LG TD PUNT RETURNS NO YDS AVG LG TD -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- R MCQUARTERS 2 12 6.0 12 0 KICKOFF RETURNS NO YDS AVG LG TD KICKOFF RETURNS NO YDS AVG LG TD -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- T WILLIAMSON 2 45 22.5 23 0 A BRADSHAW 8 176 22.0 28 0 C GORDON 1 21 21.0 21 0 KICKING XP/XPA FG/FGA KICKING XP/XPA FG/FGA ---------------------------------- ---------------------------------- R LONGWELL 5/5 2/2 L TYNES 2/2 1/1 Dist.: 46 26 Dist.: 48 O-D O-D FUMBLES NO LOST FF REC FUMBLES NO LOST FF REC ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ T JACKSON 1 0 0 0-0 O UMENYIORA 0 0 1 0-0 B WADE 0 0 0 1-0 DEFENSE TK SO AS SK-YD DEFENSE TK SO AS SK-YD ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ E HENDERSON 6 5 1 0-0 F ROBBINS 8 8 01.5-1.5 P WILLIAMS 6 4 2 0-0 G WILSON 7 7 0 0-0 M MCCAULEY 5 5 0 0-0 O UMENYIORA 6 5 1 2-2 S JOHNSON 4 4 0 1-5 J TUCK 6 4 2 .5-1.5 D SMITH 4 3 1 0-0 A PIERCE 6 2 4 0-0 C GORDON 4 3 1 0-0 R TORBOR 4 4 0 0-0 C GRIFFIN 3 3 0 0-0 B COFIELD 4 3 1 0-0 R EDWARDS 3 3 0 0-0 K DOCKERY 4 3 1 0-0 C GREENWAY 3 3 0 0-0 M JOHNSON 3 3 0 0-0 K WILLIAMS 3 2 1 0-0 J BUTLER 3 0 3 0-0 B LEBER 2 2 0 1-26 M STRAHAN 2 2 0 0-0 D SHARPER 2 2 0 0-0 A ROSS 2 2 0 0-0 K UDEZE 2 1 1 0-0 C BLACKBURN 2 2 0 0-0 F EVANS 1 1 0 1-8 R MCQUARTERS 2 2 0 0-0 R DAVIS 2 1 1 0-0 K MITCHELL 2 1 1 0-0 D TOLLEFSON 2 1 1 0-0 S MADISON 1 1 0 0-0 Officials: Referee-W Anderson, Umpire-Butch Hannah, Head Linesman-George Mckinley, Line Judge-Bryon Boston, Field Judge-Terry Brown, Side Judge-Rick Patterson, Back Judge-Billy Smith. Time of Game: 2:58</div>
<div class="pre">EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- Dwight Smith and the</div>Minnesota Vikings' defense produced more than enough points fortheir shorthanded offensive teammates. Smith recorded two interceptions, including one for a 93-yardtouchdown return, as the Vikings picked off Eli Manning fourtimes Sunday en route to a stunning 41-17 rout of the New YorkGiants. Darren Sharper and linebacker Chad Greenway also scored offinterception returns for Minnesota (5-6), which entered with theNFL's worst-ranked passing defense. But the Vikings had their way with Manning, who was constantlyhurried into ill-advised passes and matched a career high forinterceptions. "We've been ridiculed a lot as a defense, so for us to come outand make plays today, it's huge," Smith said. "Maybe it willgive us confidence and we can keep it going." "I thought the Giants were one of the better teams in the NFC,"Vikings coach Brad Childress added. "When your defense cancause turnovers, it makes it a lot easier." Ironically, the last time Manning was intercepted four timescame here on November 13, 2005 in a 24-21 loss to the Vikings -a contest Minnesota won despite not scoring an offensivetouchdown. "It wasn't a matter of confusion. They outperformed us,"Manning said. "When you throw four interceptions, it's never agood day. We didn't catch any breaks, and they performed well." While the Giants (7-4) failed to separate themselves from therest of the crowded NFC wild card race, the Vikings have thrustthemselves back into postseason contention. Left for dead after falling to 2-5 with a loss to thePhiladelphia Eagles on October 28, Minnesota has won three ofits last four games. "It's a significant game," Childress said. "We went fromsuccess last week to significant this week. I felt like weneeded to win this game. It's an important part of the season.Everybody wants to be significant." The underdog Vikings entered Sunday's game without star rookierunning back Adrian Peterson, who missed his second straightcontest with a torn knee ligament. But Minnesota's defense picked up the slack, holding New York toa total of three points over a span of 10 drives bridging thefirst and fourth quarters. "We stuck with our gameplan," Greenway said. "Guys made plays.We had a good pass rush and got a couple of tipped balls thatwent our way." The Giants forged a 7-7 tie on Reuben Droughns' 1-yard TD runfive minutes into the contest. But the Vikings took the leadfor good with 3:15 left in the opening quarter thanks toSharper, who intercepted Manning at the New York 20 andscampered into the end zone to make it 14-7. Smith recorded the second interception of Manning five minutesinto the second quarter and returned it to the Giants 8. ChesterTaylor rumbled for an 8-yard TD on the following play to giveMinnesota a 21-7 lead. The teams traded field goals over the next 25 minutes, and theVikings entered the fourth quarter with a 27-10 cushion. Minnesota put away the contest just 79 seconds into the finalperiod when Smith picked off Manning deep in Vikings territoryand raced 93 yards the other way for a score. Greenway scored on a 37-yard interception return just 42 secondslater to give the Vikings a 41-10 lead. "The interceptions for touchdowns, there is no excuse for it,"Giants coach Tom Coughlin said. "You are not going to be ableto win a football game when you give away the points that wedid. "I did a poor job on getting them ready to play, and we couldnot overcome the deficit." Taylor rushed for 77 yards on 31 carries for the Vikings, whoimproved to 2-0 without the electric Peterson - the NFL'sleading rusher. Tarvaris Jackson had his most efficient game of the season forthe Vikings, completing 10-of-12 passes for 129 yards -including a 60-yard TD to Sidney Rice on the game's second playfrom scrimmage. "I played pretty well today, managed the game pretty well," hesaid. "I had an interception last week and I tried to correctsome things and I did. I played better than I did last week." The fleet-footed Jackson also rushed for 38 yards on fivecarries, including a pair of first-down scrambles during a14-play drive in the third quarter which allowed the Vikings tosoak up nearly 10 minutes of clock time. "I think that's the way you want your quarterback to play inthis offense," Childress said. "You want him to be efficient.You want him to be a high-percentage, low turnovers. If you dothat, you have a chance to win a lot of games." Manning finished 21-of-49 for 273 yards for the Giants, who havelost their last two home games. In spite of his awful performance, which included a meaninglessfourth-quarter TD pass to Plaxico Burress, Manning was notpulled from the game. "I thought about it at one point, but I didn't see the purposein it," Coughlin said. "I don't like that feeling. I wasn'tgoing to do that to him and I wasn't going to do that to me."
