Watching from the sidelines all those weeks turned out to be
just what Tarvaris Jackson needed.
When he got another chance to start on Sunday, everything came so much easier.
Playing in place of injured Gus Frerotte, Jackson threw for four touchdowns and
the Minnesota Vikings beat NFC West champion Arizona 35-14 to stay alone atop
the NFC North.
“People ask me did watching Gus help,” Jackson said. “I can’t really point out
exactly what helped. But I felt like I’ve come a long ways since I’ve been
watching him the last what, 12 or 13 weeks.”
Adrian Peterson rushed for 165 yards on 28 carries, his franchise record ninth
100-yard game of the season for the Vikings (9-5), who won their fourth in a
row. In the process, Peterson broke Minnesota’s single-season rushing record
with two games to play. The Vikings can clinch the division title with another
victory or loss by Chicago.
Bernard Berrian scored Minnesota’s first two touchdowns—on an 82-yard punt
return and 41-yard reception—as the Vikings led 21-0 in the first quarter and
28-0 at the half....
Ben Graham punt. Bernard Berrian returned punt for 82
yards (Ryan Longwell made PAT)
7 - 0
6:39
MIN
TD
Tarvaris Jackson passed to Bernard Berrian to the right
for 41 yard gain (Ryan Longwell made PAT)
14 - 0
2:43
MIN
TD
Tarvaris Jackson passed to Sidney Rice to the right for
6 yard gain (Ryan Longwell made PAT)
21 - 0
2nd Quarter
2:08
MIN
TD
Tarvaris Jackson passed to Chester Taylor down the
middle for 11 yard gain (Ryan Longwell made PAT)
28 - 0
3rd Quarter
13:43
ARI
TD
Kurt Warner passed to Jerheme Urban to the right for 50
yard gain (Neil Rackers made PAT)
28 - 7
4:27
ARI
TD
ARI blocked 34-yard field goal attempt by Ryan Longwell.
Roderick Hood returned for 68 yards (Neil Rackers made PAT)
28 - 14
0:17
MIN
TD
Tarvaris Jackson passed to Bobby Wade to the right for
59 yard gain (Ryan Longwell made PAT)
35 - 14
4th Quarter
NONE
35 - 14
Team Statistics
MIN
ARI
First Downs
20
15
Passing
5
13
Rushing
14
1
Penalty
1
1
Third Down Efficiency
10-15
4-12
Fourth Down Efficiency
0-0
2-3
TOTAL NET YARDS
396
316
Total Plays
64
61
Average Gain Per Play
6.2
5.2
NET YARDS RUSHING
239
43
Rushes
44
7
Average Per Rush
5.4
6.1
NET YARDS PASSING
157
273
Completions-Attempts
11-17
32-50
Yards Per Pass Play
7.9
5.1
Times Sacked
3
4
Yards Lost to Sacks
6
25
Had Intercepted
0
1
PUNTS
4
6
Average Punt
46.0
45.5
PENALTIES
6
5
Penalty Yards
34
60
FUMBLES
1
2
Fumbles Lost
1
1
TIME OF POSSESSION
34:19
25:41
Pregame Previews, Storylines,
and News
New Page 1
Preview:
Though the Arizona
Cardinals have clinched the NFC
West, they're giving little
thought to resting any players.
The Minnesota Vikings certainly
can't consider giving their
players a break - at least not
yet. The Cardinals, looking to
improve their playoff seeding,
host a Vikings club seeking to
maintain its lead in the NFC
North when the teams meet
Sunday. Arizona (8-5) has
clinched the NFC West title with
three games to spare, giving the
franchise its second playoff
appearance since moving...
Prediction:
Kurt Warner is a different quarterback at
home, with 12 touchdown passes and three interceptions, and his job now is to
solve the league's 20th-ranked pass defense. That shouldn't be a problem, but
the Cardinals wont be able to stop the Vikings running game either. Plus the
Vikings are much more desperate than the Cardinals who have already locked up
their division. Vikings 28 - Cardinals 27
Video Preview: Vikings may
have a chance to clinch the NFC North if they can defeat the Cardinals on
Sunday. Jason Horowitz and Charley Casserly breakdown this matchup between two
first place teams
18.3
11.2