Vikings Sharper and Special in 24-21 Win Over Giants

By Krupka | Sunday, November 13, 2005 | ( 0 )

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The Minnesota Vikings were 0-4 on the road and facing a tough Giants team that was 4-0 at home. Coming into the game the New York Giants owned the highest scoring offense in the NFL. The Vikings knew if they wanted to win they needed to be sharper on defense and would need something special to happen. They received both today on defense in the form of Darren Sharper and on special teams with Koren Robinson, Mewelde Moore, and Paul Edinger.

On the opening kickoff, Giants return man Willie Ponder was hit and fumbled. Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield recovered. The Vikings had to settle for a 40 yard field goal attempt, in which Paul Edinger missed wide right.

It appeared to be the same old road Vikings.

Then after both teams punted, Vikings safety Darren Sharper intercepted Eli Manning's pass at the Giants 17. The Vikings were in business, or it least it seemed that way. The Vikings were only able to gain two yards, setting up a Paul Edinger 32 yard field goal attempt. The kick was blocked. Two great chances squandered by the Vikings.

Once again, it appeared to be the same old road Vikings.

Both defenses continued to play well. The Giants were able to start moving the ball at the end of the first quarter. The first play of the second quarter proved to be costly for the Giants. The Giants were on the Vikings 11 yard line, Manning took a short drop and fired quickly, the pass was intercepted by Vikings safety Darren Sharper who returned it 92 yards for a touchdown giving the Vikings a 7-0 lead.

The first half was a defensive struggle. Jay Feely was 2/3 on field goals, missing a 28 yard chip shot with 1:17 left in the half. At halftime the score was Darren Sharper 7, Jay Feely 6, as the Vikings lead the Giants 7-6.

The second half started out much differently than the first half. Vikings wide receiver and kick off return man Koren Robinson returned the opening kickoff of the second half 86 yards for a touchdown. The Vikings led 14-6.

On the Giants ensuing possession Eli Manning marched the Giants right down the field in 6 plays culminating in an Amani Toomer 23 yard touchdown reception.

The Vikings special teams provided another spark. With just under six minutes remaining in the third quarter the Giants punted to Mewelde Moore. Moore picked up a block on the right, turned left, and jetted down the field for a 71 yard punt return for a touchdown.

Then the bruising defensive battle continued with the teams trading punts and turnovers. Vikings running back Michael Bennett fumbled, however on the ensuing Giants possession Eli Manning was intercepted by Vikings cornerback Brian Williams.

In the fourth quarter the Giants looked to strike first. After an illegal man downfield penalty nullified a Tiki Barber 5 yard touchdown reception, Eli Manning looked to the end zone on the next play and found Vikings safety Darren Sharper again. It was Sharper's third interception of the game.

Once again the Minnesota Vikings couldn't convert a Giants turnover into any points and were forced to punt.

Tiki Barber, who has torched the Vikings defense throughout his career, continued his domination of the Vikings racking up 206 yards of total offense and a touchdown. With 3:17 seconds left and an 8 point lead (21-13), all the Vikings had to do was keep the Giants from scoring a touchdown and two point conversion. The Giants tore right through the Vikings defense that had played well all game, scoring with ease on a Tiki Barber 3 yard touchdown run. Barber then added the two point conversion on a draw play and tied the score at 21 apiece.

It appeared to be the same old road Vikings. The wheels were falling off, it looked as though the Vikings would seemly find a way to let the game slip away. Brad Johnson wouldn't let it happen.

The Vikings received the ball at their own 28 yard line with 1:15 left in the game and one timeout. On the first play Johnson was sacked for a 4 yard loss. Johnson didn't let that rattle him and on 2nd and 14 with :59 seconds left he found tight end Jermaine Wiggins over the middle for a 21 yard gain. Wiggins made an amazing catch, leaping high and bringing it in with one hand. Then Brad Johnson recognized the cornerback blitz coming and fired a pass in the direction to an open Marcus Robinson who ran out of bounds at the Giants 44 yard line picking up a first down and stopping the clock. Johnson then recognized the blitz again on the next play and was able to find wide receiver Travis Taylor for another 11 yard gain and a first down. After completing a 3 yard pass to Wiggins and spiking the ball to stop the clock. The Vikings ran another play in which Johnson threw incomplete. With :15 seconds left Johnson had led the Vikings far enough to attempt a 48 yard field goal. Vikings kicker Paul Edinger nailed it right down the middle to make up for his previous two misses giving the Vikings a 24-21 victory over the New York Giants.

The Minnesota Vikings won a hard fought battle without scoring an offensive touchdown. The offense struggled mightily all game until the final drive. At halftime the Vikings only had 8 yards of total offense. The Giants held Vikings running back Michael Bennett to 16 yards on 19 carries. Vikings quarterback Brad Johnson finished 17/30 with 144 yards passing. Most importantly Johnson did not turn the ball over.

The Vikings knew they needed to be sharper on defense and do something special to win. They certainly did this. Vikings safety Darren Sharper had 3 interceptions and returned one for a touchdown. The Vikings special teams added a kickoff return for a touchdown courtesy of Koren Robinson and a punt return for a touchdown courtesy of Mewelde Moore, and a game winning 48 yard field goal from kicker Paul Edinger. The Vikings became the first team in NFL history to have an interception return for a touchdown, a kickoff return for a touchdown, and a punt return for a touchdown in the same game.

The Vikings improved their record to (4-5), while the Giants dropped to (6-3).

Game Notes:

Vikings linebacker Keith Newman had a game high 11 tackles.

Eli Manning finished 23/48 for 291 yards, 1 touchdown, and 4 interceptions.

The two teams combined for 13 punts.

The Minnesota Offense was held to 8 total yards in the first half.

Vikings Safety Darren Sharper's 92 yard interception return for touchdown was the 3rd longest in Vikings history and Sharper now owns two of the top eight in Vikings history.

The Giants had 405 yards of total offense to the Vikings 137.

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