Until somebody proves again that defense really does win championships, the Minnesota Vikings are content to win compliments with their offense.
They lit the fuse on the most explosive offense left in the NFL playoffs Saturday and blew up the New Orleans Saints 34-16, advancing to next Sunday’s NFC championship game against the winner of Sunday’s game between the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles.
After losing their last three regular-season games, the Vikings took Randy Moss, Cris Carter and Daunte Culpepper out of hibernation and ended the Saints’ unlikely season with a flurry of big plays.
The Saints watched helplessly as Moss ran away from them for touchdowns of 53 yards on the Vikings’ third play and 68 yards on the third snap of the second half. They were his only two catches of the day. He dropped two others that might have been touchdowns.
Carter caught a perfect 17-yard pass for a touchdown just before halftime to turn a 10-3 contest into a 17-3 mismatch. Moss then turned it into a 24-3 runaway by scorching three Saints defensive backs the way the Road Runner leaves all enemies in his dust and all praise effusive.
“Somebody had to ignite this crowd and my teammates,” Moss said.
– “When you see him do that, it feels good,” Vikings coach Dennis Green said.
– “You can’t give those types of plays to that guy. He’s hard to catch,” Saints coach Jim Haslett said.
– “Unbelievable,” Carter said. “Not a lot of people can make that play. They had an angle on him.”
– “Phenomenal,” said Saints cornerback Alex Molden. “He can really burn. He’s got one of the best zero-to-60s in the NFL.”
Justifiably worried about having the worst defense left in the playoffs, the Vikings provided themselves enough of a cushion to relax and enjoy the view. This will be their second NFC title game in three years. They lost to the Atlanta Falcons in the Metrodome after a 15-1 season in 1998.
“We aren’t going to get caught up in who we are playing,” Green said. “Whatever happens [Sunday] has no effect on us. We are ready to play in the NFC championship.”
If the Eagles win, the game will be in the Metrodome.
The Saints were playing with second-stringers from quarterback Aaron Brooks to receiver Jake Reed to running backs Chad Morton and Terry Allen after injuries devastated their team this season. Ricky Williams played briefly for the first time since breaking his ankle Nov. 12, but he gained only 14 yards in six carries.
The Vikings won this one not by picking on the Saints’ hobbled offense, but by overwhelming a Saints defense ranked fifth in the league.
In his first playoff experience, Culpepper was outstanding, hitting 17-of-31 passes for 302 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. He ran four times for 51 yards, including a 30-yarder to set up his touchdown pass to Carter. He was not sacked by a defense that led the league in sacks.
“I think we underestimated this kid,” said Saints cornerback Kevin Mathis. “We knew he could throw the ball deep, but he put a lot of touch on the ball today.”
Such as his perfect lob to Moss over cornerback Fred Thomas on the Vikings’ third play. Moss caught it on the dead run and cut inside safety Darren Perry, who was too late in helping.
Such as his third read strike to Carter over Mathis in the end zone with 1:29 to play before halftime.
“Carter did a good job of not letting me know the ball was coming,” Mathis said. “That’s why he’s headed to the Hall of Fame. I was looking at his eyes. He was real calm. The next thing I know he was jumping.”
Such as an ever-so-slightly underthrown 34-yard pass to Carter, who wasn’t open against Molden. It set up the 10-3 lead.
“I was thinking interception,” Molden said. “My hat is off to that offensive coordinator [Sherman Lewis] and the way they were able to adjust.”
Carter caught eight passes for 120 yards and got into animated conversations with Haslett along the sidelines, but was the second person after Green to shake Haslett’s hand afterwards.
“He likes to play the crowd,” Haslett said. “He’s a heck of a player. I don’t know if he’s retiring, but I hope he goes out a winner.”
Robert Smith, who ran 24 times for a tough 74 yards, praised Culpepper, whose sprained ankle obviously has healed.
“He looked fantastic making big plays and making smart plays and that’s the most important thing a quarterback can do in the playoffs,” Smith said.
Culpepper gave all the credit to his teammates and coaches.
“All I’ve got to do is drop back and be calm and throw,” he said, making it sound as easy as it looked.
