The Minnesota Vikings were struggling with a 3-5 record and had yet to win a road game as they faced the New York Giants at the New Jersey Meadowlands on November 13, 2005. Head Coach Mike Tice’s team was without starting QB Daunte Culpepper, who went down with a season-ending knee injury two weeks earlier, and 37-year-old Brad Johnson was in his place. The receiving corps had no one of the stature of the talented but troublesome Randy Moss, who had departed the previous offseason, and the running game was only fair.
The Giants were coached by Tom Coughlin and 6-2 following
three straight wins. Second-year QB Eli Manning was playing well and RB Tiki
Barber was a consistent running threat. The receiving corps was a good one,
with WR Plaxico Burress and TE Jeremy Shockey the favored targets. The defense
was strongest on the line, where DE Osi Umenyiora was a rising talent.
There were 78,637 fans in attendance at Giants Stadium. The
Vikings got a break right at the start when WR Willie Ponder fumbled the
opening kickoff and CB Antoine Winfield recovered at the New York 27. However,
they were unable to capitalize when the offense couldn’t move and Paul Edinger
missed a 40-yard field goal attempt.
The teams traded punts until FS Darren Sharper (pictured above) intercepted a pass by Eli Manning to give Minnesota the ball once again in New
York territory at the 17. And once again the visitors failed to make the most
of the opportunity when Edinger tried another field goal attempt that was
blocked by DT Damane Duckett.
The teams again exchanged punts following short
possessions, but as the first quarter wound down the Giants were on the move.
Tiki Barber carried five times for 20 yards and Manning ran the ball himself
twice for 24, the first an 11-yard gain that converted a third-and-11
situation. The second quarter began with the ball on the Minnesota 11, but on
the first play Manning’s pass intended for Plaxico Burress was intercepted by
Sharper, who returned it 92 yards for a touchdown. Edinger added the extra
point and in stunning fashion the Vikings held a 7-0 lead.
Starting from their 25 following the ensuing kickoff, the
Giants again drove into Minnesota territory. The big play was a throw from
Manning to Barber that picked up 48 yards and another pass to FB Jim Finn gained
12 yards to the Minnesota 17. The advance stalled there and Jay Feely kicked a
35-yard field goal.
The Vikings again had to punt following their next series
and New York went 49 yards in nine plays. Manning had completions to Burress
for 15 yards, Barber for 9, and WR Amani Toomer for 8, and Barber contributed a
13-yard run. Feely booted another field goal, of 40 yards, and it was a
one-point game at 7-6.
Minnesota was still unable to move on offense and the
resulting punt was returned 55 yards by RB Chad Morton to the Vikings’ 27. But
now it was New York’s turn to fail to capitalize when, after reaching the 10,
Feely missed a try for a field goal from 28 yards. The score remained unchanged
at the half with Minnesota in front despite having gained only six yards on
offense.
The Vikings started the third quarter off in a big way as
WR Koren Robinson returned the second half kickoff 86 yards for a touchdown.
Edinger’s PAT put the visitors up by 14-6. New York responded by driving 85
yards in seven plays. A pass interference penalty on Winfield picked up 40
yards and Manning connected with Toomer for a 23-yard TD. Feely added the point
after and it was once again a one-point contest at 14-13.
Minnesota put together a promising series in which Brad
Johnson threw to Robinson for a 44-yard gain to the New York 27, but an
offensive pass interference penalty moved the Vikings back and they ended up
having to punt. A three-and-out series by the Giants also resulted in a punt,
and RB Mewelde Moore (pictured at left) ran it back 71 yards for yet another touchdown on a
return. Edinger added the extra point and the Vikings led by 21-13.
The Giants had to punt following a short series and the
teams then exchanged turnovers, with Minnesota RB Michael Bennett fumbling the
ball away at his own 40 and Manning giving up an interception to CB Brian
Williams.
As the game continued into the fourth quarter, the punts
continued. The Giants finally put together a promising drive, starting from
their 44. Manning completed three passes, the third to Jeremy Shockey for a
gain of 19 yards to the Minnesota 11. But a throw into the end zone was picked
off by Sharper, his third of the game, and he returned it 31 yards.
The interception seemed as though it might be the
game-clinching blow, but with 3:40 remaining in regulation, the Giants used all
of their timeouts as the Vikings ran three plays and punted. New York then advanced
67 yards in eight plays, with Manning successful on three straight passes to
start things off and Barber running for 11 yards. A defensive holding penalty
moved the ball to the Minnesota 21 from where Manning completed a pass to
Barber for 18 yards. Barber ran for a three-yard TD, and then again for the
two-point conversion, and the score was tied at 21-21.
The clock was now down to 1:15 as the Vikings, who had
not done at all well offensively, began to move down the field. Osi Umenyiora
sacked Johnson on the first play, but the quarterback then connected on his
next four throws. The drive halted at the New York 30 and Edinger, who had missed
twice from shorter distances earlier in the game, kicked a 48-yard field goal
with ten seconds left. The Vikings won by a final score of 24-21.
It was the first time in NFL history that a team returned
a punt, kickoff, and interception for touchdowns in the same game, and
Minnesota would not have won without them. The Giants dominated in total yards
(405 to 137) and first downs (25 to 11) as the Vikings had their worst output
of the season. They also recorded four sacks, to two by Minnesota. However, New
York turned the ball over five times and drew seven flags, to one turnover and
seven penalties by the Vikings. And the coverage units for the Giants were
burned for the two scoring returns.
Brad Johnson completed 18 of 31 passes for 144 yards and
no touchdowns, but also no interceptions. Michael Bennett led the Vikings in
rushing with 16 yards on 19 carries and had another 11 yards on 6 catches.
Jermaine Wiggins also caught 6 passes, for 42 yards, and Koren Robinson led the
team with 44 yards on his lone reception. However, Robinson also averaged 39.5
yards on four kickoff returns that included a TD and, with the long scoring
return, Mewelde Moore averaged 29.0 yards on three punt returns. On defense,
Darren Sharper intercepted three passes and returned them for 123 yards and a
touchdown.
For the Giants, Eli Manning, who had difficulty reading
Minnesota’s shifting coverages on defense, was successful on 23 of 48 throws
for 291 yards and a TD, but gave up four interceptions. Tiki Barber (pictured above) ran for 95
yards on 23 attempts that included a touchdown and also had 8 catches for 111
yards. Amani Toomer contributed 6 pass receptions for 61 yards and a score.
“I’m glad the guys figured out that we can win the game
on defense and special teams,” said Minnesota’s Coach Tice.
The win over the Giants was part of a turnaround by the
Vikings as it marked their second of an eventual six straight wins on the way
to a 9-7 record and second place finish in the NFC North. New York bounced back
to win the next week and topped the NFC East at 11-5, although the Giants were
shut out by Carolina in the Wild Card playoff round.
Darren Sharper went on to intercept 9 passes, which led
the NFC, while topping the entire league by returning them for 276 yards and
two touchdowns. He was named to the Pro Bowl. Koren Robinson was also selected
to the Pro Bowl as he led the conference in kickoff returns with a 26.0 yard
average and accounted for 1595 all-purpose yards.
