Vikings Exploit Packers

MINNEAPOLIS —  The Minnesota Vikings proved they deserve to be considered a playoff contender, while the Green Bay Packers proved that they’ll probably need the home-field advantage to get to the Super Bowl.

John Randle led an underrated defense that sacked Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre seven times, and Robert Smith scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 37-yard run with 4:13 remaining as the undefeated Vikings stunned the Packers, 30-21, Sunday.

“They are the chosen team for the Super Bowl,” linebacker Dixon Edwards said in the Vikings’ remarkably subdued locker room. “But don’t count us out, either.”

Minnesota (4-0) dominated the Packers’ high-powered offense all day, giving up only eight first downs and 217 total yards. The Vikings also dominated the fourth quarter once again, scoring 13 points to rally from a 21-17 deficit.

The Vikings have outscored their four opponents, 42-3, in the final quarter. They never have led entering the fourth quarter, in sharp contrast to the Packers (3-1), who never had trailed at any point in a game before Sunday.

“We’ve been in games where we had to go 60 minutes every game, and Green Bay hasn’t,” said linebacker Jeff Brady, who recovered one of Favre’s two fumbles to set up a second-quarter touchdown. “The fourth quarter is ours.”

Green Bay is 21-4 at home under Coach Mike Holmgren, but 4-19 on artificial turf and Holmgren is 0-5 at the Metrodome.

“It’s the same old story,” Holmgren said. “We make too many turnovers and we make too many penalties. It’s unacceptable to me.”

Thanks to Warren Moon’s two touchdown passes to Jake Reed and Qadry Ismail, the Vikings led, 14-7, at halftime.

Green Bay rallied from a 17-7 deficit early in the third quarter when Don Beebe turned a five-yard catch into an 80-yard touchdown and George Koonce returned an interception 75 yards.

But Smith, who finished with 88 yards in 26 carries, scored on a 37-yard run to give Minnesota a 24-21 lead.

The Vikings added a 44-yard field goal by Scott Sisson that was set up after Favre lost his second fumble when he was sacked by Randle and Esera Tuaolo.

“Every time I looked back [Favre] was on the ground,” Green Bay center Frank Winters said. “That’s not good for an offensive line.”

Moon, who left limping with four minutes remaining, completed 24 of 40 passes for 280 yards, with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Reed caught seven passes for 129 yards.