Colts outlast Vikings 31-28

 

By: Larry Fitzgerald
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Originally posted 11/10/2004

Indianapolis, Indiana -- The Minnesota Vikings have reached the midway point in the 2004 regular season with a 5-3 record after dropping their second straight game 31-28 on Monday Night Football. They lost to the Indianapolis Colts before 57,307 fans at the RCA Dome.

The Vikings are now 0-2 on Monday Night Football and 5-1 on Sunday. It's also the second loss in a row for the Purple since Head Coach Mike Tice introduced President George Bush in Minneapolis last Saturday at a Republican rally.

Colts quarterback Peyton Manning was very democratic in his personal duel with Daunte Culpepper, throwing four touchdown passes as the Colts improved to 5-3 and regained a share of first place in the AFC South with Jacksonville.

It's amazing how, in the NFL, the team that needs the game the most seems to do just enough more to win. Tony Dungy's Colts had lost two straight, while Mike Tice's Vikings were coming off of a 34-13 spanking by the New York Giants.

And, the Vikings had to play without superstar Randy Moss, who missed his first NFL game in his seven years with a right hamstring injury. The Vikings stumbled out of the gate fumbling the first play from scrimmage, a bad snap from Pro Bowl center Matt Birk to Culpepper that resulted in a 28-yard loss.

Two plays later, the Vikings' punter, Darren Bennett, shanked a 28-yard kick, and Manning and the Colts made the Vikings pay. On fourth and one from the Vikings' five-yard line, Manning hit Reggie Wayne for a touchdown, and it was 7-0 Colts

The Vikings were not sharp offensively, and the Colts were. They continued to pound the running game and Edgerrin James at the Vikings defense. Then Manning mixed in play action passes to connect for another touchdown, this time a 10-yard strike to tight end Marcus Pollard, and it was 14-0.

The Vikings added two field goals before the half and then tied the game in the third quarter 14-14. But they were always chasing the Colts, who continued to move the ball on the Vikings' defense.

The Colts had 408 yards in total offense; the Vikings had only 292, a season low. They had averaged a league-best 431 yards per game, which answered the question, "Did the Vikings miss Moss?"

It was the first time in 37 games that the Vikings failed to produce at least 300 yards in total offense. The Vikings' NFL record is now 36. The Vikings are 1-2 when Randy Moss fails to catch a pass.

This week the Vikings travel to Green Bay to meet the 4-4 Packers, who have had two weeks to get ready while the Vikings will travel after a short week.

The game marked the first meeting between two former Dennis Green assistants. The Colts controlled the game offensively with great balance, 26 first downs and time of possession of 34:12.

Manning has thrown an NFL-record 26 TD passes in eight games. And for the seventh year in a row, he has thrown at least 25 touchdown passes. Dungy's defense was the difference. They sacked Culpepper twice, and the Vikings took too long to catch up.