Vikings Get Fresh Start in December

MINNEAPOLIS —  Though they finished November on a terrible note, the Minnesota Vikings know this: Finish strong, and the slump is forgotten.

Daunte Culpepper threw three long touchdown passes, two to Randy Moss, and a suddenly stingy defense shut down the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday in a 34-7 victory.

“We want to win in December,” Culpepper said. “We’ve just got to take this momentum into next week. I have no doubt in my mind it will carry over.”

In a critical game for both clubs’ playoff chances, the Vikings (8-5) reverted to their early-season form -- before five losses in six games wiped out a 6-0 start and placed their NFC North lead over Green Bay in serious question.

“I don’t think we achieved excellence, but we certainly played fast and we were loose,” said Viking Coach Mike Tice, enjoying a victory over the team he played 10 seasons for as a tight end.

The Seahawks (8-5) were stymied by a defense that had fallen to 29th in the league after a 48-17 loss at St. Louis last week. After scoring 110 points in the last three games, Seattle continued to struggle on the road and fell further behind the Rams (9-3 before playing tonight) in the NFC West.

The Seahawks are 1-5 away from home, with a make-or-break game at St. Louis next week.

“I’m angry about how we played,” quarterback Matt Hasselbeck said. “The true test of this team will be how we bounce back from this.”

Culpepper, who shared some responsibility with the defense for the Vikings’ recent struggles, was 21 of 33 for 274 yards, three touchdowns and no turnovers.

Moss had eight receptions for 133 yards, including scores of 47 and 45 yards. Kelly Campbell caught a 43-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter and rookie Mike Nattiel returned an interception 80 yards for a score, keeping Minnesota a game ahead of the Packers in the division race.

The Vikings didn’t plan to throw so many deep balls. Culpepper said two of the touchdowns came on audibles after a running play was called.