NFC conference
championship game |
Vikings at Giants
Giants Stadium
East Rutherford, N.J.
Sunday, Jan. 14, 2001
AT A GLANCE: The Giants look to atone for their ’97
wild-card loss to the Vikings on this very field. Minnesota continues in its quest to
become the first team to lose its last three regular-season games and win the Super Bowl.
|
| OVERVIEW: The last time the Giants hosted the Vikings in
the postseason (Dec. 27, 1997), New York blew a 19-3 halftime lead, allowing 10 points in
the final two minutes of the game. The Giants bickered on the sideline in frustration as
they watched their Super Bowl dreams fade way. But this Giants team is different. The
’97 team was one of the youngest squads in the league and was just happy to be in the
playoffs. This season’s version has only 11 players from that team, and just making
the playoffs isn’t enough.
Of course, the Vikings aren’t the same either. Daunte Culpepper is at quarterback,
and Randy Moss is at wide receiver. Moss did face the Giants in the teams’ ’99
regular-season meeting, won by the Vikings 34-17 at Giants Stadium. Robert Smith rushed
for 146 yards on 16 carries, and Cris Carter caught five passes for 131 yards and a
touchdown. Moss caught three passes for 44 yards.
Minnesota leads the all-time series 9-6, including a 6-5 mark in New York. The Vikings
have won three of the last four in the series, covering the spread in each win.
WHEN THE VIKINGS HAVE THE BALL:
The Vikings’ offense can take any shape it pleases. It can control the clock with
a revitalized Smith, or it can strike quickly with Moss. Smith has struggled of late,
averaging 51.0 rushing yards in the last four games. He had averaged 107.0 yards in his
first 13 games. Moss continued to prove his big-play ability in the divisional round vs.
the Saints, scoring on pass plays of 53 and 68 yards.
Smith’s fortunes might not improve vs. the Giants’ No. 2-ranked run defense.
DRT Keith Hamilton can be very disruptive up front, but the heart of New York’s
defense is its LB corps. Jessie Armstead and Mike Barrow rank 1-2 on the team in tackles,
and Armstead was named to his fourth straight Pro Bowl this season. |
|
|
| Giants Stadium |
| East Rutherford, N.J. |
| Date: Sunday, January 14, 2001 |
| 12:30 P.M. Eastern Standard Time |
| Type Of Turf: Natural |
| Meeting Of The Year: First |
| Season Record: |
| |
Minnesota |
12-5-0 |
| |
New York Giants |
13-4-0 |
| Season Record Vs. Spread: |
| |
Minnesota |
9-8-0 |
| |
New York Giants |
10-7-0 |
| Home/Road Record: |
| |
Minnesota (R) |
4-4-0 |
| |
New York Giants (H) |
6-3-0 |
| Home/Road Record Vs. Spread: |
| |
Minnesota (R) |
4-4-0 |
| |
New York Giants (H) |
4-5-0 |
| Record On Natural Turf: |
| |
Minnesota |
2-2-0 |
| |
New York Giants |
9-4-0 |
| Record On Natural Turf Vs. Spread: |
| |
Minnesota |
2-2-0 |
| |
New York Giants |
8-5-0 |
|
|
| The Giants’ defensive weakness is their pass
coverage, though it stepped up in the divisional-round win over Philadelphia. The Eagles
tried to pick on Dave Thomas, but the 6-3, 218-pound corner rose to the challenge. CB
Jason Sehorn did his part, returning an interception 32 yards for a TD. A top-notch
matchup in the trenches pits Giants DLE Michael Strahan vs. Vikings ORT Korey Stringer.
Strahan had his way with Eagles ORT Jon Runyan, recording two sacks and a forced fumble.
Stringer has had an outstanding season and was given a well-deserved Pro Bowl bid. Also,
keep an eye on Giants DT Cornelius Griffin. He spied on Eagles QB Donovan McNabb last week
and could do the same to the Vikings’ Culpepper.
WHEN THE GIANTS HAVE THE BALL:
QB Kerry Collins is playing with great confidence, and it’s shown in his numbers.
In his last 10 games, including the playoffs, Collins has a TD-interception ratio of 15-6.
He didn’t light up the scoreboard last week (12-of-19 passing for 125 yards), but it
appeared the Giants didn’t want to test an outstanding Eagles secondary.
That might not be the case this week vs. the Vikings’ 28th-ranked pass defense.
Not only has it allowed a ton of yards, it might be shorthanded. FS Orlando Thomas left
last week’s game with a hamstring injury, and CB Kenny Wright left with a sprained
knee, though he eventually returned.
Giants WR Amani Toomer was paid special attention by the Eagles, and rightfully so.
Toomer has broken the 100-yard mark in five of the last 10 games and scored six
touchdowns. Check the status of Joe Jurevicius (knee), who has emerged as the Giants’
No. 3 wideout. The 6-5, 230-pounder provides Collins with a big, capable target.
Minnesota also has suffered from a poor pass rush (28th in sack percentage) and forced
a league-low 18 turnovers in the regular season. But the defense deserved its props vs.
the Saints, recording two sacks and two interceptions and limiting New Orleans to one
meaningless big play.
On the whole, though, the Vikings have struggled. The defensive linemen haven’t
kept blockers off the linebackers, and the linebackers haven’t made plays. Such an
equation could bode well for Giants RBs Tiki Barber and Ron Dayne. Barber played last week
despite a broken forearm, but the injury played a role in his one fumble. Dayne had a few
nice north-south runs after starting the game slowly.
Though he hasn’t been his usual disruptive self, Vikings DE John Randle cannot be
forgotten. He will face Giants ORT Luke Petitgout, who has been a solid member of what has
been a good offensive line, especially in pass protection.
All game previews and depth charts were compiled as of Jan. 7, 2001 |
OFFENSE |
| WR |
84 MOSS, 81 Walsh, 83 Jacquet |
| OLT |
73 STEUSSIE, 74 Badger |
| OLG |
63 LACINA, 76 Liwienski, 60 Withrow |
| C |
78 BIRK, 60 Withrow |
| ORG |
71 DIXON, 76 Liwienski |
| ORT |
77 STRINGER, 74 Badger |
| TE |
86 DAVIS, 87 McWilliams, 85 Jordan |
| WR |
80 CARTER, 89 Hatchette, 82 Walters* |
| QB |
11 CULPEPPER, 6 Brister, 8 Bouman |
| RB |
26 SMITH, 21 Williams, 22 D. Palmer, 23 Chapman* |
| FB |
40 KLEINSASSER, 33 Morrow |
DEFENSE |
| DLE |
93 RANDLE, 91 Burrough, 95 Paup |
| NT |
99 HOVAN*, 98 Robbins* |
| UT |
94 WILLIAMS, 98 Robbins* |
| DRE |
97 SAWYER, 90 Northern |
| SLB |
57 RUDD, 55 Hall |
| MLB |
52 WONG, 56 Nelson, 50 Bercich |
| WLB |
58 McDANIEL, 54 Wilson* |
| LCB |
29 SERWANGA, 20 Wright |
| RCB |
28 TATE, 27 Thibodeaux |
| SS |
24 GRIFFITH, 30 Banks |
| FS |
42 THOMAS, 37 Carter*, 31 Morgan |
SPECIALIST |
| P |
17 BERGER |
| PK |
1 ANDERSON |
| H |
17 BERGER |
| PR |
82 WALTERS, 22 Palmer, 28 Tate |
| KR |
82 WALTERS, 21 Williams, 33 Morrow |
| KC |
51 M. PALMER, 91 Burrough |
* Rookie |
|
|
OFFENSE |
| WR |
81 TOOMER, 84 Jurevicius |
| OLT |
76 BROWN, 67 Bober |
| OLG |
62 G. PARKER, 66 Whittle, 78 Rosenthal |
| C |
52 ZEIGLER, 69 Engler |
| ORG |
65 STONE, 66 Whittle |
| ORT |
77 PETITGOUT, 78 Rosenthal |
| TE |
87 CROSS, 83 Mitchell, 89 Campbell |
| WR |
88 HILLIARD, 86 Dixon*, 82 Davis |
| QB |
5 COLLINS, 17 Garrett, 18 Cherry |
| RB |
21 BARBER, 27 Dayne*, 33 Montgomery |
| FB |
34 COMELLA, 45 Walendy |
DEFENSE |
| DLE |
92 STRAHAN, 97 Griffin* |
| DLT |
99 PETER, 97 Griffin*, 96 Wlliams |
| DRT |
75 HAMILTON, 93 Hale |
| DRE |
94 JONES, 79 J. Parker* |
| OLB |
91 PHILLIPS, 53 Short* |
| MLB |
58 BARROW, 51 Monty |
| OLB |
98 ARMSTEAD, 90 Golden*, 59 Lewis* |
| LCB |
41 THOMAS, 28 Stephens, 25 McDonald |
| RCB |
31 SEHORN, 26 McDaniel |
| SS |
20 GARNES, 37 West |
| FS |
36 WILLIAMS, 23 Stoutmire |
SPECIALIST |
| P |
9 MAYNARD |
| PK |
3 DALUISO, 2 Holmes |
| H |
9 MAYNARD, 17 Garrett, 18 Cherry |
| PR |
81 TOOMER, 21 Barber |
| KR |
86 DIXON*, 29 Washington, 28 Stephens |
| LS |
66 WHITTLE, 52 Zeigler, 83 Mitchell |
* Rookie |
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