Game Summary
The Minnesota Vikings (11-4) will close out the 2009 regular season against the New York Giants (8-7) this Sunday, January 3. Kickoff at Mall of America Field is set for noon.
This will be the 2nd-consecutive year the Vikings have played their final game of the regular season against the Giants at home. Last year Minnesota defeated the Giants 20-19 on a last-second field goal to clinch the NFC North division championship.
The Vikings currently hold a 13-10-0 lead in the overall series between the two teams. Minnesota has won the last 3 matchups, dating back to 2005, and are 5-4 against the Giants at home. Head Coach Brad Childress is 2-0 against New York since taking over in 2006.
Key Links
Vikings at Giants Press Release (PDF)
Latest Vikings Depth Chart
Broadcast Info
TV: FOX Channel 9 in the Twin Cities
Play-By-Play: Kenny Albert Analysts: Daryl Johnston
Sideline Reporters: Tony Siragusa
RADIO: KFAN-AM 1130/KTLK 100.3-FM
Play-by-Play: Paul Allen Analyst: Pete Bercich
Sideline Reporter: Greg Coleman
Pre-Game Show: 10 a.m. CST
KFAN and KTLK serve as the flagship stations for the 74-station, 6-state Minnesota Vikings Radio Network. Click here to view all stations on the Vikings Radio Network.
What To Watch For
- WR Percy Harvin needs just 15 rushing yards to break the team record for the most rushing yards by a rookie WR (Bob Grim - 127 in 1971). Harvin currently has 113 rushing yards.
- Harvin needs 22 combined yards to pass RB Adrian Peterson’s record for most combined yards in a rookie season (2,021). Harvin has 2,000 on the season thus far.
- The Vikings can clinch the #2 seed in the NFC playoffs with a win and an Eagles loss or tie.
- Sunday’s game will feature the two players with the most consecutive games played in NFL history - P Jeff Feagles (351) and QB Brett Favre (286).
- With 11 rushing yards, RB Chester Taylor will move into the top 10 in team history for the most career rushing yards. Taylor’s 2,785 trails Terry Allen’s 2,795 for 10th place.
Stats of the Week
- The Vikings had 10 players lead their positions in the NFC in fan Pro Bowl voting: DE Jared Allen, LB Heath Farwell (Special Teams), KR Percy Harvin, G Steve Hutchinson, K Ryan Longwell, T Bryant McKinnie, RB Adrian Peterson, C John Sullivan, FB Naufahu Tahi, and DT Pat Williams. Fan voting counts toward 1/3 of the final roster.
- The Vikings clinched the NFC North division title for the 2nd consecutive year, the first time since 1977-78 the team has had back-to-back division championships.
- The Vikings 45 sacks on the season lead the NFL and are tied for the 9th-best total in team history.
- The Vikings 30 points in the 2nd half last week were the 3rd most points scored in the 2nd half of a road game and tied for the 7th-most in the 2nd half in team history.
- The Vikings have 6 receivers with at least 40 receptions on the season. According to Elias, it is only the 2nd time in NFL history a team has accomplished the feat (1983-Dallas Cowboys).
Vikings Big Days vs. Giants
- WR Bernard Berrian caught 4 passes for 81 yards including a 54- yard touchdown when the teams last met on 12/28/08.
- DT Fred Evans recorded his first career sack against the Giants on 11/25/07, taking down QB Eli Manning.
- QB Brett Favre threw for 286 yards and 3 TDs on 29-of-38 passing (76.3%) when he last faced the Giants in regular season action as a member of the Green Bay Packers on 9/16/07. Favre finished the day with a 112.4 passer rating and was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week.
- LB Chad Greenway returned an interception 37 yards for his first career touchdown and recorded 6 tackles against the Giants on 11/25/07. Greenway helped the Vikings set an NFL record with 3 INTs returned for touchdowns in the game.
- QB Tarvaris Jackson went 10-of-12 passing for 129 yards against the Giants on 11/25/07, including a 60-yard TD.
- LB Ben Leber posted a team-high 10 tackles, including 1 for a loss, and notched a sack of QB Eli Manning when the Giants last visited the Metrodome on 12/28/08.
- K Ryan Longwell’s 50-yard game-winning FG against the Giants last season clinched the NFC Championship and a playoff berth for the Vikings in 2008.
- Longwell has had several good performances against the Giants, including his first game against them as a Viking (11/25/07), when he connected on 5 PATS and 2 field goals from 46 and 26 yards.
- RB Adrian Peterson rushed for 103 yards on 21 carries, including a 67-yard touchdown run when the teams last met on 12/28/08. Peterson was inactive against the Giants during his rookie season.
- WR Sidney Rice had a career day against the Giants on 11/25/07, hauling in 3 passes for a 82 yards, including a 60-yard TD on the second play of the game.
- RB Chester Taylor rushed for 104 yards on 25 carries vs. New York 12/12/04 while with the Baltimore Ravens.
- Taylor also rushed for 77 yards and a TD on 31 carries at New York on 11/25/07.
- DT Kevin Williams posted 7 tackles and a sack of Kurt Warner vs. New York on 10/31/04.
- S Madieu Williams had a sack of QB Eli Manning vs. the Giants on 12/26/04.
- DT Pat Williams had a sack of QB Eli Manning at New York (11/13/05) in his first year with the Vikings.
Vikings vs. Giants Series Notes
- The Vikings hold a 13-10 overall series lead over the Giants, including postseason action. The Vikings are 5-4 against the Giants at home and 8-6 on the road.
- This will be the 10th game between Minnesota and New York in the past 10 years, with 2006 being the only season the two teams didn’t meet in either the regular season or the playoffs.
- Minnesota has won the past 3 meeting between the teams, while the Giants won the previous 3 prior to that.
- K Ryan Longwell’s 50-yard game-winning FG against the Giants last season clinched the NFC Championship and a playoff berth for the Vikings in 2008.
- The Vikings defeated New York 41-17 in 2007 before the Giants went on to win Super Bowl XLII. The Vikings set an NFL record with 3 INTs returned for touchdowns in the game.
- Head Coach Brad Childress is 2-0 against the Giants.
- In the 2005 meeting between the teams, the Vikings became the 1st team in NFL history to score on interception, punt, and kickoff returns in a game. S Darren Sharper tied the Vikings record with 3 interceptions in the game and set a new team mark with 123 return yards.
A Win Would...
- Give the Vikings their most wins (12) in a regular season since their 15 victories in 1998 and tie for the 2nd-most wins in team history.
- Give the Vikings an 8-0 record at home in 2009.
- Improve the Vikings record against the NFC to 9-3 in 2009.
- Give the Vikings their 21st victory in the last 28 regular season games, dating back to 2008. The Vikings are 20-7 in the last 27 games.
- Improve the Vikings all-time record against the Giants to 14-10-0, including 6-4 at home.
- Improve Head Coach Brad Childress’ record against the Giants to 3-0.
Keep An Eye On...
- With 1.0 sack, DE Jared Allen can tie his total from last season (14.5), the 7th-best single season sack total in Vikings history.
- With 1.5 sacks, Allen can climb into the Vikings top 5 for most sacks in a single season. Allen has 13.5 on the year and Carl Eller’s 15.0 in 1969 and 1976 rank 5th).
- With 4 passing TDs, QB Brett Favre can move into a 3rd-place tie in Vikings history for the most passing TDs in a single season. Favre’s 29 on the year ranks 5th, trailing Daunte Culpepper’s (2000) and Warren Moon’s (1995) 33.
- With 8 completions, Favre can move into 4th place in team history and surpass Fran Tarkenton (1978) for most completions in a single season. Favre’s 338 on the year trails Tarkenton’s 345.
- With 27 passing yards, Favre can move into the Vikings top 5 for passing yards in a single season. Favre has 3,886 on the year, which trails Tommy Kramer’s 3,912. With 52 yards, Favre can pass Daunte Culpepper’s (2000) 3,937 and move into 4th place.
- If Favre doesn’t throw an INT, he can break the team record for the lowest INT percentage in a single season. His 1.4% on the season is tied with Brad Johnson (2005) for the lowest.
- WR Percy Harvin needs 22 combined yards to surpass RB Adrian Peterson’s record-setting 2,021 combined yards in 2007. Harvin is currently in 2nd place in Vikings history for combined yards (rushing, receiving, kick returns, punt returns) as a rookie with 2,000.
- With 100+ rushing yards, Peterson can pick up his 20th career game of 100 or more yards. That would tie Terrell Davis (1995-97) for the 5th-most 100-yard games in the first 3 NFL seasons.
- With one TD, Peterson can move into sole possession of 2nd place in Vikings history for the most combined TDs (receiving/rushing) in a single season. Peterson’s 17 is tied for 2nd, trailing Chuck Foreman’s 22 in 1975.
- With 11 rushing yards, RB Chester Taylor can break into the top 10 running backs in Vikings history. Taylor currently has 2,785 rushing yards as a Viking, which trails Terry Allen’s 2,795 for 10th place.
