Vikings Advance to NFC Championship

ByABC News
January 6, 2001, 12:22 PM

Jan. 6 -- The Minnesota-New Orleans NFC divisional playoff game was billed as a battle between an offensive powerhouse and shrewd defense, but it was the Vikings that controlled both sides of the ball in their 34-16 win.

The Vikings showed why they are the NFCs second-highest scoring team today as Randy Moss caught two touchdown passes and Daunte Culpepper threw for 302 yards and three scores.

The much-maligned Vikings defense, ranked 28th in the league, also outplayed the New Orleans defensive squad today. Minnesota intercepted Aaron Brooks twice despite finishing last in the NFL with just 8 picks all season. Brooks finished 30-for-48 and 286 yards.

The win before a home crowd of 63,881 at the Metrodome earns the Vikings a berth in the NFC Championship game next weekend against the winner of the Philadelphia Eagles-New York Giants game on Sunday.

Saints Cant Stop Moss, Carter

Minnesota never trailed today, scoring on the third play of their opening drive on a 53-yard strike to Moss. Moss later ran 68 yards on a pass from Culpepper on the Vikings first drive of the second half, blazing by a handful of defenders downfield.

Cris Carter also scored, on a 17-yard touchdown pass that was set up by Culpeppers 30-yard run. Carter finished the day with eight receptions for 120 yards, one yard shy of Moss gain on two catches.

Robert Smith the NFCs leading rusher who was held to 16 yards in the first half added a 2-yard touchdown run to give the Vikings a 34-10 lead in the fourth quarter.

Willie Jackson scored on a 48-yard touchdown pass for New Orleans to bring the score to 34-16. The Saints failed in their two-point conversion attempt.

The Saints first put points on the board with a 33-yard field goal midway through the first quarter, which brought the score to 7-3. Minnesotas Gary Anderson added a 44-yard field goal for the Vikings.

Minnesota D Outshines Saints

Despite leading the league with 66 sacks in the regular season, New Orleans never got a hand on Culpepper, who played with a high ankle sprain yet rushed for 51 yards on four carries and shredded the Saints defense with his mobility and pinpoint passing.