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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Daunte Culpepper has a simple job -- thanks to
the weapons that surround him.
|  | | Minnesota's Randy Moss outruns the defense for a 68-yard touchdown reception on Saturday. |
And who can argue with Culpepper when Randy Moss and Cris Carter
are making huge plays, the offensive line is impenetrable and the
defense isn't budging?
"Being a quarterback on this offense, all I have to do is be
calm and know what we're trying to do, and get the ball in the
right guys' hands," Culpepper said after throwing for three
touchdowns in leading the Minnesota Vikings past the New Orleans
Saints 34-16 Saturday.
Displaying the firepower that made them the second-highest
scoring team in the NFC, Minnesota advanced to the conference
championship game. Moss caught touchdown passes of 53 and 68 yards,
Carter added a 17-yard TD reception and Culpepper showed no signs
of a sprained ankle that limited him in the Vikings' three-game
slide to end the regular season.
"It was unbelievable for him to do what he was able to do on a
sprained ankle," said Carter, who had eight receptions for 120
yards.
Culpepper threw for 302 yards in his first playoff appearance,
showing no sign of nerves, either.
"No, I was fired up," he said. "I want to make plays, too."
The best plays were the two passes to Moss. On the Vikings'
third offensive play of the game, Moss found a seam between double
coverage. He split Fred Thomas and Darren Perry, who took a bad
angle on the short reception, and sped 53 yards to the end zone
just 3:03 in.
"I think inside their heads it was, `Uh-oh, you don't want to
get me started, that's the worst thing you ever want to do,"' Moss
said. "The energy level was there and I just had to get us off
with a touchdown."
The other was on a play that was all Moss. He took a swing pass
at the scrimmage line on the third play of the second half. In one
step, he was in high gear. Moss ran right past Kevin Mathis down
the left sideline for the 68-yard score.
"Not a lot of people can make that play," Carter said of Moss,
who runs a sub-4.2 for 40 yards. "It was unbelievable that he
could outrun the angle they had on him and make that play in
traffic. His nickname is `Super Freak,' and he showed why.' "
Robert Smith, the other star of Minnesota's dynamic offense, had
a 2-yard TD run as the Vikings (12-5) moved on. They will play the
winner of Sunday's Philadelphia-New York Giants game for a spot in
the Super Bowl. The vocal Metrodome crowd of 63,881 chanted "Let's
go Eagles" as the final seconds ticked away, hoping for the NFC
title game to be back in Minnesota.
"We have no effect on that game and who we play," said coach
Dennis Green, who has his team one step from the Super Bowl for the
second time in three seasons.
The Saints (11-7) knew they needed a strong pass rush. But the
NFL leaders with 66 sacks rarely pressured Culpepper and did not
sack him. And the second-year quarterback picked apart a defense
that helped Jim Haslett win Coach of the Year honors in his first
year in charge of the Saints.
"When you play a team with a Moss and a Carter, I don't think
you would be happy with any of our DBs today," said Haslett, who
got into a shouting match with Carter late in the third quarter.
They shook hands at the end of the game.
"He's a great receiver," Haslett said. "He likes to play the
crowd."
Saints rookie running back Chad Morton tied a playoff record
with 13 receptions for 106 yards. Willie Jackson, who caught three
TD passes in the wild-card victory over the Rams last week, had a
48-yard score with 2:19 to go. New Orleans' other touchdown came on
Dave Stachelski's first career catch, a 2-yarder in the second
period.
Gary Anderson added a 44-yard field goal following a 25-yard run
by NFC rushing leader Smith, to make it 27-10. Smith scored from
the 2 after Robert Tate's interception at the Saints 29 and Kailee
Wong's interception finished off the Saints' turnaround season.
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Like Your Chances Now?
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None of the four remaining playoff teams were considered serious Super Bowl contenders before the season started. Here are the odds to win the Super Bowl offered on Aug. 11, 2000 by Las Vegas Sports Consultants, which supplies lines to the majority of Nevada's legal bookmakers.
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Team
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Odds
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Oakland
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20-1
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Baltimore
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25-1
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Minnesota
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50-1
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New York
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100-1
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"We were glad to be here this year and we want to go further
next year," Morton said.
Early on, Aaron Brooks showed great poise for someone in his
seventh start. He eluded strong pressure to convert two third downs
on New Orleans' 65-yard drive to Doug Brien's 33-yard first-quarter
field goal. A 40-yard pass interference penalty on Wasswa Serwanga
greatly helped the Saints.
That march also included Ricky Williams' first appearance at
running back since Nov. 12, when he broke his left ankle. He ran
for 3 yards on his first attempt and finished with 14 yards on six
rushes in a secondary role.
Minnesota took a bit longer than three plays to score on its
second series, driving 67 yards in 12 plays to Anderson's 24-yard
field goal. Culpepper found Smith for 20 yards and Carter made a
leaping 34-yard catch at the 1, but the Vikings stalled.
Carter was at it again late in the half. After Culpepper's
30-yard scramble, Carter ran an out pattern into the left corner of
the end zone, where he outleaped beleaguered cornerback Mathis, who
had his back to the quarterback the whole play.
Then Carter bowed to the heavens, one of many times he would
celebrate yet another superb performance.
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ALSO SEE
NFL Scoreboard
New Orleans Clubhouse
Minnesota Clubhouse
Moss' two-step has Vikings dancing
Randle, Vikings' D stomp Saints
Ricky returns in limited duty
Saints-Vikings notebook
Saints fail to stop Vikings' big guns
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Minnesota head coach Dennis Green talks to the media following the Vikings' win.
RealVideo: | 28.8
Cris Carter answers questions following Minnesota's win over New Orleans.
RealVideo: | 28.8
Daunte Culpepper talks to the media following the Vikings' victory.
RealVideo: | 28.8
 Dennis Green praises his team's leaders and looks forward to the NFC Championship game.
wav: 221 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Jim Haslett and the Saints could not make plays when they had the opportunity.
wav: 90 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Randy Moss talks about getting an early advantage on the Dolphins.
wav: 144 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
New Orleans DE Joe Johnson talks with ESPN's Ed Werder after the game.
wav: 472 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Korey Stringer has confidence in the Vikings' QB Daunte Culpepper.
wav: 84 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
La'Roi Glover and the Saints hope to continue their success into next year.
wav: 86 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT
Ricky Williams Official Site
Jeff Blake Official Site
Kyle Turley Official Site
Randy Moss Official Site
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