Drive to Win Is Shown Late

MINNEAPOLIS â€”  A woeful kicking game, plus a quarterback change by the Minnesota Vikings, nearly cost the New York Giants, but they wore out one of the league’s worst defenses.

The Giants amassed 460 total yards and took a late lead on Tiki Barber’s touchdown run Sunday in a 27-20 victory that dropped the Vikings to 2-7 for the first time since 1984.

“This whole game was a study in perseverance for us,� Barber said. “In the NFL, when the momentum shifts, it’s real tough to get it back. Last drive, we had to snatch the momentum away.�

Kerry Collins completed 25 of 35 passes for 300 yards and two touchdowns, and Barber rushed 24 times for 127 yards as New York (5-4) moved within a game of NFC East-leading Philadelphia.

Minnesota ran out of patience with struggling quarterback Daunte Culpepper, and Todd Bouman nearly rallied the Vikings to a win that would have been due largely to two extra points and two mid-range field goals botched by the Giants. “I’m proud of the way our guys came back,� said Giants’ Coach Jim Fassel. “It shouldn’t have been that close. We left eight points off the board.�

Michael Bennett rushed for a career-high 167 yards, his third consecutive 100-yard game. He scored on a 78-yard burst through the line that gave Minnesota its first lead, 20-19, with 8:36 left.

The Giants, aided by a third-down pass interference call on Corey Chavous, drove 80 yards in 10 plays to retake the lead on an eight-yard scoring run by Barber. Marcellus Rivers caught a deflected two-point conversion pass to make it 27-20 with 2:43 left.

The Vikings had to punt after rookie tackle Bryant McKinnie, making his NFL debut after ending a holdout last week, let Kenny Holmes by him to sack Bouman and force a fumble that lost 20 yards on third down.

Barber ran out the clock with 40 yards on the final possession. “It’s on us,� Vikings’ defensive tackle Chris Hovan said. “The defense has got to stop ‘em, and we didn’t.�

Culpepper didn’t throw an interception but was only nine for 20 for 91 yards. After another three-and-out series in the third quarter, Coach Mike Tice sent in Bouman as the crowd cheered.