GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NFL: MINNESOTA (4-6) at NY GIANTS (7-3)

NFL: MINNESOTA (4-6) at NY GIANTS (7-3)

<h3>Banged-up Giants host Vikings</h3>





<div class="pre">Minnesota (4-6) at NY Giants (7-3) 1:00 pm EST</div>

<div class="pre">EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- The New York Giants may</div>be severely shorthanded at running back when they continue theirplayoff push.


As the Giants prepare for Sunday's contest against theMinnesota, the status of Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward remainsuncertain.


Jacobs, the team's leading rusher with 599 yards, injured hisleft hamstring in the third quarter of last week's 16-10 winover the Detroit Lions, while Ward has missed the last threegames with ankle and groin injuries.


Jacobs and Ward have accounted for more than 80 percent of theGiants' rushing offense this season.


If neither is able to play, it likely would mean more carriesfor Reuben Droughns, who rushed for only 13 yards on 11 attemptsafter replacing Jacobs last week.


"It went from a deep, strong position to a position now that hasa couple of injuries," Giants coach Tom Coughlin said of theconcerns in the backfield.


New York also will be without linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka, whois out for the season after breaking his left leg against theLions.


Still, the Giants (7-3) bounced back from their 31-20 loss tothe Dallas Cowboys two weeks ago to post a big win at Detroit.

The victory left the Giants in a control of a playoff spot asthey own a two-game lead over the Arizona Cardinals and divisionrivals Washington and Philadelphia, who are all 5-5.

The Vikings likely will again be without rookie Adrian Peterson,the NFL's leading rusher, who tore the lateral collateralligament in his right knee in a 34-0 loss at Green Bay.

Peterson has not been ruled out of Sunday's game, but Vikingscoach Brad Childress told the Pioneer Press that he doesn'texpect to have him available.


"I'd say it's a long shot right now to get back there, but we'llsee," Childress said. "He's surprised me before."


Chester Taylor filled in for Peterson last week and rushed for164 yards and three touchdowns in the Vikings' 29-22 victoryover the Oakland Raiders.

 

NFL: MINNESOTA at NY GIANTS

<div class="pre">NFL
MINNESOTA 0
NY GIANTS 0 14:55 LEFT, 1ST QTR

MIN BALL ON MIN 40 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: MINNESOTA at NY GIANTS

<div class="pre">NFL TD MIN
SIDNEY RICE 60 YD PASS FROM TARVARIS JACKSON
(RYAN LONGWELL KICK)

MINNESOTA 7
NY GIANTS 0 14:19 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NFL: MINNESOTA at NY GIANTS

<div class="pre">NFL
MINNESOTA 7
NY GIANTS 0 14:12 LEFT, 1ST QTR

NYG BALL ON NYG 35 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: MINNESOTA at NY GIANTS

<div class="pre">NFL TD NYG
REUBEN DROUGHNS 1 YD RUN
(LAWRENCE TYNES KICK)

MINNESOTA 7
NY GIANTS 7 9:25 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NFL: MINNESOTA at NY GIANTS

<div class="pre">NFL
MINNESOTA 7
NY GIANTS 7 9:14 LEFT, 1ST QTR

MIN BALL ON MIN 33 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: MINNESOTA at NY GIANTS

<div class="pre">NFL
MINNESOTA 7
NY GIANTS 7 4:13 LEFT, 1ST QTR

NYG BALL ON NYG 10 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: MINNESOTA at NY GIANTS

<div class="pre">NFL TD MIN
DARREN SHARPER 20 YD INTERCEPTION RETURN
(RYAN LONGWELL KICK)

MINNESOTA 14
NY GIANTS 7 3:15 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NFL: MINNESOTA at NY GIANTS

<div class="pre">NFL
MINNESOTA 14
NY GIANTS 7 3:10 LEFT, 1ST QTR

NYG BALL ON NYG 26 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: MINNESOTA at NY GIANTS

<div class="pre">NFL
MINNESOTA 14
NY GIANTS 7 0:21 LEFT, 1ST QTR

MIN BALL ON MIN 36 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: MINNESOTA at NY GIANTS

<div class="pre">NFL END, 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
MINNESOTA 14 14
NY GIANTS 7 7 END, 1ST QTR

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</div>

 

NFL: MINNESOTA at NY GIANTS

<div class="pre">NFL MINNESOTA 14
NY GIANTS 7 14:39 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NFL: MINNESOTA at NY GIANTS

<div class="pre">NFL
MINNESOTA 14
NY GIANTS 7 11:21 LEFT, 2ND QTR

NYG BALL ON NYG 20 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: MINNESOTA at NY GIANTS

<div class="pre">NFL
MINNESOTA 14
NY GIANTS 7 9:55 LEFT, 2ND QTR

MIN BALL ON NYG 8 YD LINE
1ST AND GOAL</div>

 

NFL: MINNESOTA at NY GIANTS

<div class="pre">NFL TD MIN
CHESTER TAYLOR 8 YD RUN
(RYAN LONGWELL KICK)

MINNESOTA 21
NY GIANTS 7 9:49 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NFL: MINNESOTA at NY GIANTS

<div class="pre">NFL
MINNESOTA 21
NY GIANTS 7 9:42 LEFT, 2ND QTR

NYG BALL ON NYG 16 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: MINNESOTA at NY GIANTS

<div class="pre">NFL
MINNESOTA 21
NY GIANTS 7 8:03 LEFT, 2ND QTR

MIN BALL ON MIN 35 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: MINNESOTA at NY GIANTS

<div class="pre">NFL FG MIN
RYAN LONGWELL 46 YD

MINNESOTA 24
NY GIANTS 7 3:16 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NFL: MINNESOTA at NY GIANTS

<div class="pre">NFL
MINNESOTA 24
NY GIANTS 7 3:08 LEFT, 2ND QTR

NYG BALL ON NYG 27 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: MINNESOTA at NY GIANTS

<div class="pre">NFL
MINNESOTA 24
NY GIANTS 7 1:49 LEFT, 2ND QTR

MIN BALL ON MIN 21 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>