1997 Wild Card Vikings @ Giants

[Music] will brave the elements to see the Giants host the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC wild-card hello everybody I'm Mike Patrick it's great to have you with us the New York Giants are the counterculture of the NFL in a league where star power wins they have very few their most productive offensive player is a fullback Charles way their quarterback Danny canal can best be described as efficient and yet first-year coach Tim fossil has been playing very smart football only 19 turnovers the best in the NFL he also has them playing a very aggressive defense 44 takeaways also the best in the NFL and that plus 25 turnover ratio is the third best ever since the merger in 1970 that's the reason they're still playing football here at the Meadowlands after Christmas let me bring in my partner Joe Theismann and Joe the weather conditions scream giant football it's cold we've got snow the wind is picking up all these good for the Giants not so good for the Minnesota office well there's no question Mike I mean even though the Vikings have a pair of great receivers in Chris Carter and Jake Reed I don't believe that Dennis green wants to put this game on the shoulders of Randall Cunningham this can be a tough place to play when the weather is bad if I'm Dennis green I think I want to get the ball as much as I can to Robert Smith now here's a guy this season that's rushed for 1200 yards and is a legitimate home run threat every time he touches the ball even though Dennis green is Owen 4 in the playoffs he has never had Robert Smith and when I talked to the Viking players they think that Smith can be the difference alright Joe the first playoff game of the season 120 seconds away the Vikings in the Giants Bank with the opening kickoff first with the Giants and Dennis green is looking for his first playoff win with the Minnesota Vikings he is oh and poor in the playoffs but he has Robert Smith this year the New York Giants won the toss they'll get the football Mitch burgers set to kick it away and deep to receive Tiki Barber in front of the sellout crowd we are underlined squib kick burger nearly missed it altogether and the Giants will have the bottle for 38 yard line mic already you can see that you've got a team that comes from a dome is used to having good footing watch when Burger plants that left foot of his he plants it slides it slips and he hits it actually with this ship it's an amazing start here so the Giants will pick it up from their own 30 [Applause] away Calaway to the nearside first down just tripped up as he got to the 43 giant offense led by Danny canal they are 7 to 81 since he took over as the starter at quarterback Tiki Barber's touched the injured Tyrone Wheatley wave the leading rusher Calloway Patton and crossed the tight end the offensive line a very physical group opened Bishop Scott stone and Greg Cannell the throw on second down in completement look like cattle way had his feet slip out from under him as he tried to make the cut answer is had changed Minnesota's defense up front Khalid a ball Williams and John Randle who won the NFL sack title he's been a terror at end the linebackers Edwards McDaniel who moved from the outside and Rudd the rookie from Alabama the secondary plays a lot of zone four and Washington at the corners ray and Griffith partly safety by whereas the third wide receiver [Applause] [Applause] quite that time has callaway trenton motion you didn't see the giants anybody you didn't see the Vikings run with him that meant very simply that it was zone and Janelle was going to have the opportunity just drop back and throw this a good job of past protecting again this offensive line has done an outstanding job for Danny canal all year long barbar and what [Applause] [Music] get a nice block at the corner and get to the 40 couple of weeks ago the Vikings ended up with four rookies in the starting lineup the first time in franchise history Stalin Kalin a one of the defensive ends they did it because of injuries they had to get the players on the field who could actually what and actually now they do have a faster defense Dennis green told us the fastest defense that he's had on the field all year no place to go this time and Tiki Barber swarmed under Griffith and McDaniel in on the stop the timing of that play was messed up for the beginning that's what happens when you get a defensive lineman who can split a double-team Stalin Colony number 99 watch him come through left guard left tackler just gets inside now all of a sudden he knocks Charles Way off there's no lead blocker and Tiki Barber's on his own in the backfield [Applause] Kalen a the rookie out of boston cowards they said he came in very well folks ready to pole position third in the level changing the core [Applause] becomes the Bliss and they got him back in giant territory at the 46 Jason Fisk number 72 the first man there a loss of nine Minnesota comes out with a lot of pressure from their front four they bring the secondary guy but here comes Randle on the outside now he just is in the area Randle requires two people to block him that means that there's going to be a lot of one-on-one for everybody else on the line of scrimmage and that time fist took advantage of Romanova randal he better pack a lunch it might be a long day [Applause] - Punk back at the ten Palmer up the sideline and out-of-bounds outside the 20-yard line forced out by Corey Whitmer 43-yard punt a 14 yard return Vikings ball when we come back Vikings got some really good news late this week Everett Lindsay spent three nights in the practice facility rehabbing a sore ankle he is their third sent her this year if he couldn't play it would have been illa shun Daniels the rookie out of Ohio State the fourth Center on the depth chart changing the play at the long play-action what he does best across the 30 Minnesota's offenses hand Randall coming in the quarterback since Brad Johnson's injury three starts six touchdowns four interceptions Robert Smith the key to the ground game his 1266 yards a new club record Evans the fullback the great receivers Reed and Carter and Glover the tight end up front a huge talented line to see McDaniel both Koval starters long ones Dixon and stringer playful Minnesota [Applause] into the arms of Robert Harris [Applause] the Giants defense has been the two strengths Michael Strahan a Pro Bowl starter has been terrific he starts along with Harris Hamilton and Halsey another Pro Bowl started Jessie Armstead is at linebacker with Whitmer and Miller and a solid secondary especially good at corner with sparks and Sehorn who led the club to six interceptions this year Luton and gone the wookie are the safety second a nine with 14 sacks third in the NFC [Applause] dropped at midfield he had his tight end Andrew Glover he couldn't hold a mic that was one of the things that Brian Billick the offensive coordinator talked about he said when Rambo goes back and sets you better be ready for the football because it's coming in a hurry he just does a real good job of putting this ball exactly where he wants to Glover who has been a bright spot for all year didn't wake him up with that catch the offensive coordinator done a terrific job having different quarterbacks I've been had to deal the different ones Leroy hoard in the 44 Texan at running back [Applause] [Music] Armstead appeared together hand Jessie Armstead has had a terrific year broke Warren's tailors tackle record with 134 Mike with Randall Cunningham in third down and long situations look for the Giants to put a spy that means it's somebody that's just going to hang out in the middle of the football field and try and mirror him that time it was Jessie Armstead all he did was focus on Cunningham's eyes and not the ball game Mitch Berger who averaged nearly 43 yards of kick fifth in the conference will pump two Amani Toomer [Applause] returning punts returnable kick [Applause] tomber trying to get outside needed one more block and he could have broken it as it was he returned six yards after a 44 yard punt Jessie Armstead in the Giants defense doing its job after the first test we'll be back in a moment [Music] but Jim fascial has done is he has seen Danny canal grow a lot a lot of times coach will give quarterbacks game plans now Danny has real input into what he likes what's in the game plan [Applause] first down grows short of Callaway getting pressure from behind from John Randall who else and Ed McDaniel too came down a late blitz up the middle didn't really allow canal to step into the throat even though he had the receiver open Danny can now you know what he lines up my he just expects to win he's wanted every level and when he lines up on the football field he has an expectation that permeates onto the other planet [Music] patent catches the short one out of the 35 drilled by Dwayne Washington seven two and one as the starter you have to go all the way back to yell curtain Abraham tittle in 1961 to find a giant's record any better than for a first-year quarterback he has half the career y8l did that be thrilled in three the Giants have been poured in the situation [Applause] [Music] right to the sticks well what a big hit though and it looked like Tiki Barber was going to have it easy and the Vikings support he just manages on second effort to make when he gets out into the flat as he turns up okay he makes Washington miss now it looks like he's going to have it but then fuller comes up knocks him almost back but he manages just barely to make the first down back to the ground game and that's the favorite thing the Giants do Charles way to the 40-yard line an all Virginia backfield with Barbara the rookie and away the three-year man [Applause] discomfort and Rodney Hampton the reason for the cheer number 27 the all-time ground gainer for the Giants is checked in the hole I know [Applause] flankers screen and he'll get it out to about 4:47 Mike that's just that's just good recognition by Danny canal when they lined up in the slot the Vikings didn't put anybody on Callaway they went to the outside receiver but not on Callaway he just stands up throws him the football and lets them run eight yards with it it's going to be down here to the right side you'll see Callaway run nobody out on him the linebackers were all inside so he manages to pick up nine yards Dewayne Washington had to cover two guys third and 2 Barbour is back in Cannell goes to the shotgun [Applause] seven past the barber that's incomplete even though underhand it's a pass [Applause] and the Giants will have to punt Giants trying to spread that Viking defense out look for a little crease I've never been a big fan of that particular play I think it's it's very difficult to execute from a timing standpoint because you have to almost let a defensive man go free field the ball cleanly and then try and pitch in I think you're asking the quarterback to do a lot high-risk play it's not the easiest thing to catch either because you do have your back to the line of scrimmage so you don't know what's there Palmer waits just outside his 10 for Brad Maynard the rookie from Ball State 744 to go close [Music] [Applause] by the Vikings to protecting the Maynard Keynes just gets into the end zone good job by Palmer to throw a block a 54-yard punt but a net of only 34 the Vikings defense hitting the Giants back [Music] since she's six years he's made the playoff show what's amazing about it he's done it with five different starting quarterback they are 92 Sean Shaw's berry the McMahon 93 Warren Moon 94 Brad Johnson last year Brad got hurt four games ago now Rambo Cunningham is bringing them in against the Giants I mean that's a real credit to I think to Brian Billick and the offense to be able to have an offensive coordinator who sets up a system for an individual and then all of a sudden has to change the good thing is that bellick had both Johnson and Cunningham who are both athletic Brad Johnson is fourth in the NFC and his quarterback rating this year he's having a tremendous season loose ball the Chinese head holls you with their recovery and they never got their hand off a wire Mike that was one of the things when we visited with the Giants yesterday or the Viking gesture they said we cannot turn the ball over we can't make mistakes that the defense does it again Randall Cunningham has got to protect the ball as Charles Evans number 29 comes through you see him hit it right on his hip I always believe that it is the quarterbacks responsibility to protect the ball that time he has it out just a little bit too far and Charles Evans hits it it's on the ground the Giants have feasted off of tall Cannell into the end zone and to be prune at sooner or a little longer Pat who was wide open that's a case of trying to make too perfect to throw Danny canal goes to a pump and then all he has to do is pump and let it go what he does is he pumps he waits and then he throws him he'll see the fake the pump now he's got to get it up right now don't resend and it gives the defense an opportunity to recover Washington beaten by two steps down Hampson straight up the middle of arms right into the strong safety Robert Griffin very important for Minnesota on defense to hold the Giants to at least just a field goal attempt that they can do that they will have accomplished what they're out on the field to do and as we already saw in the opening kickoff the kicking game not the easiest thing coach Fazzio the Minnesota defensive board [Applause] London over the left tackle clinched the net with hostage Aryans five oh banana Louisville in his second year by the office number 72 five-yard penalty is still third down Mike this is where having veterans in a playoff situation helps it off a lot Danny Cannell is just got to settle down his offense Jim fossil has to give them a play that they can execute get off and rhythm don't hold the offensive line at the line of scrimmage a long time third law is not where the Giants want to be dead the last in the NFL 18% [Applause] Tiki Barber just a little low and behind them he couldn't make the catch Mike in this series Danny canal has tried to make the perfect throw twice and he's been a little too cautious Barbara swings out of the backfield little play-action fake good move in and out on the linebacker he's just wide open all he has to do is lead them to the middle a little bit it's coming right at you right down the middle of the field is it trying to make too perfect to pass so Dalloway so we'll have to try the field goal it will be from 43 yards his percentage inside but [Music] the New York Giants convert the fumble into three points on a 43-yard field goal from Brad Galloway so and have the lead here in the playoffs three nothing over the Vikings playoffs if you turn the ball over the playoffs Joe you are dead meat it really a mic and these numbers are so drastic as compared to the regular season you know three times 80% of the time you know you win if you can take it away if we turn over three times only 110 percent of the time and just one turnover you win seventy three point two percent Dalloway so we'll kick it away and David Palmer waits at the goal line [Applause] Natalie shall good hike it Palmer yards deep has the seam up the middle [Applause] Tomer the midfield a 51-yard kickoff return by David Palmer before your man out of Alabama the AFC wild card game coming up next from my eye Stadium in Denver join now Frank and Dan the Broncos and the Jaguars in a rematch of last year's playoff classic like I think it's important in Minnesota get Chris Carter involved they cannot add their big guns outside Jake Reed and Chris Carter there's a good chance to take see horn is on par there he's the man in motion [Applause] the Germans have like we talked about every Lyndsey coming in as a center he was really late Oh the weather conditions little bit slippery Randall Cunningham doesn't get this one clean comes out and the Giants react to it the ball is up in his hands it just doesn't get away Cunningham has box two Center snaps on consecutive plays and the Giants are back in business in Minnesota territory [Applause] the block by weigh-in and affording the visiting teams in the playoffs have lost 41 straight games with a negative turnover margin right now they're - - the average margin of the loss is 18 points that's how critical it is to protect the football wrong way trying to pick his way for young got back to the line of scrimmage maybe a little more [Applause] Mike the Giants have to capitalize on the opportunity that their defense has given them the defense is given an excellent field position they just can't come away punting it here or just try for field though they need to get some points on the board and really cause Minnesota to change their game plan well you know the defense will get the credit but the defense really didn't do anything on those two turnovers in her [Applause] [Music] [Applause] is his way inside the 15 bought from Callaway and again at 27 Charles waves but 37 passes coming into this playoff game so you know he's an integral part of what they do on offense but again protection is the key roman open on John Randle stay in right square with them not really getting the chance to go Cannell gets the ball out quick way turns it up when this guy gets going with his shoulders pointed up the field he is a load what a block by callaway cut down corey fuller [Applause] laughing Hampton to the six Joely emotion right now all for the New York Giants well the figures might get John Randle is such an aggressive cancer and a smallish guy woven open this time decides to use his speed against them you want to come up the field I'll help you will let Hampton go up inside now he just lowers the shoulder and picks up a few extra yards Hampton three carries 16 yards so far spotted along too [Applause] excuse me the full-back here a clean [Applause] Lane with only five carries all year Griffith in on the style Mike's something that the Giants do on offense they love to get in and out of the huddle quick you'll see them get to the line of scrimmage on that like they did on that particular play and go with quick counts Jim fossil is constantly talking about tempo tempo speeded up let's go he wants to keep the defense on their heels the Giants have been very efficient in the situation fourth in the [Music] sweet Tiki Barber cut down into five very difficult to run wide against the Vikings they are very very fast and a very good job by Duane rut he filled the lane where Tiki wanted to turn in number 57 shows his face and forces him to go wide so they will have to settle for another field goal try and the Viking defense has to be very proud that they have survived these two turtle nearly automatic side [Music] [Applause] No Rodney Hampton giving the New York Giants offensive boost their up six nothing on Minnesota wearing the war paint there's Mo Williams he is deep with David Palmer sort of kick this time comical to get outside cut down at the 22 tonight who in a row both let the full roll possession associative James Cunningham to throw on first harder touches the ball for the first time out to the 30 Joe with 201 to go in the first quarter the first time Chris Carter's on his hands on what's the first time they've actually even tried to get the ball to him I believe that if you're the Minnesota offense you've got to get the ball to you're too big outside guys there comes to snap from center that one's clean he gets it back looks to the left does a good job of coming back to the right side where Carver was chuckling - Smith great speed goes to the outside as a first down at the 35 Smith with a club-record 1266 yards this year and most people think he should have gone to the Pro Bowl the Vikings have not had a Pro Bowl running back since Chuck Foreman in 1977 he consider last week against the Colts touches the ball 17 times runs with 160 yards the Vikings will be as successful as Robert Smith is carrying the football he's gained 300 yards in the last three weeks [Applause] Tito would nut from safety grabbed ahold and wouldn't let go my kit if you can't get any any movement in the middle of the of the offensive line to Center in the two guards there's nowhere to go if you're a running back here you see that defense of the Giants they just stop them up and force Robert Smith out to the perimeter where the safeties and linebackers are filling holes Wotan second and tackles this year with 89 and joker running behind Pro Bowl starters do see McDaniel got [Music] he's gonna roll that's one of his favorite plays there's a flag down then they'll call intentional rounding against Cunningham that's Jason Sehorn coming off the corner Jason Sehorn is developed into a complete football player intentional quarterback and ascended off [Applause] he does an excellent job of covering people is a good tackler and here he comes off the corner he's on the slot man now they know ray Valenti hands going to move now to call this intentional grounding I don't agree with this at all he's trying to make a throw and he gets hit in the meantime I mean that's just a quarterback trying to make a throw you have to understand Randall Cunningham is one of those athletic type quarterbacks he can't roll the ball like that tough break for the by future they'll go with three wide receivers push walls [Music] [Applause] pushing and shoving after the play and the referees break it up the Giants I can tell you that when they start screaming and yelling in this stadium it is as loud as any dome stadium I've played in makes it hard to communicate period Mitch Berger set to punt Amani Toomer waits back at his 30 the Vikings look rattled especially therefore the [Applause] and it takes a New York bounce [Applause] by the Vikings at the 44 a punt of only 29 yards excellent field position again for the New York Giants and a horrid start for Randall Cunningham only one four five he is fumbled twice and had an intentional grounding call Mike would put this in perspective as bad as the Vikings have played almost through this entire first quarter their one big play from being right back in this football game that the Giants are going to take advantage of these opportunities they're going to have to do it you can't just leave the Vikings in it all day this feels like a critical concern the Vikings in a lot of trouble barber picks his way for about for those own 48 yard line [Applause] Giants defense has certainly done its job so far on an emotional high [Applause] that's the end of the first quarter our score the giant six the Vikings nothing we'll be back after this message and a word from our ABC station [Music] whay Griffith got around the knees wouldn't let go away gets to midfield [Music] the first quarter numbers the Vikings offensively they have been able to do virtually nothing 27 total yards and two big turnovers the time of possession 1103 2 357 but you have to say a lot about that Viking defense Mike only three first downs by the Giants they've done a marvelous job having since the game started shotgun double breaks two tackles Tiki Barber to the 40-yard line finally dumped by four and more pushing and shoving like one of the things Denis green talked about was trying to make Danny canal uncomfortable early in this football game they've not been able to do that Roman open continuing to do a good job on John Randle and getting help from Charles way now you have Scott Greg on the other side on Dwayne Clemons double trading the ends and the to center at the center in the two cards giving canal an opportunity to step up into the pot six of 11 66 yards for [Music] [Applause] again Mike the quick gross and up a little double minute that time he got it up a lot quicker and put it out and let Patton run to it blaine washington number 20 you seen the lower left part of your screen that little stop and go remember the footing is a little slick so when washington stops patent has a chance to go by him now you see how much quicker he gets this up then the last pump and go nice job by patents alternative news the football straight ahead whacked at the one jerry ball all 320 pounds plus made the stop [Applause] even though the New York Giants went through the NFC East undefeated the first time anybody's ever done that they win the division they're ten five and one they don't have a lot of respect around the United States and pretty soon people is going to say you know this is a pretty good football exactly you know you wonder who was going to be a Carolina or a Jacksonville like they were last year the Giants could be that Cinderella football team nothing there is the defense for Minnesota stiffens but now I think that Jim fossil as the coordinator has the advantage now on third and short Minnesota can't just Keo and try and stop the run because they have to respect the play-action pass down here I think this is a very good calling situation for an offensive coordinator and coach Fazio got a guess a little which way is possible going to go ball spotted at the to it is third and goal giant sorry up six knuckle tight formation canal play-action [Applause] that's a perfect scenario Mike you run the little play-action you run it a couple times we've got two Titans obviously and because it's a goal lines formation the play action is to that side but the linebacker flows that Pierce just has to find an open spot in the know and that's a terrific catch that is not an easy ball to catch Aaron Pierce caught only ten during the regular season it's the big touchdown here in the New York Giants a team that has only averaged 19 points now has 13 with 11:33 to go in the first half [Applause] Danny canal with a touchdown strike Giants up 13 nothing [Applause] [Music] [Applause] like those who returned from the down shy of the 20 Monday night at 8 o'clock for five [Applause] for Carter he dropped it at the 42 Cunningham waited waited and waited finally found Carter and if your VCRs rolling keep that one good job by that offensive line given it Randall an opportunity to make someplace Chris Carter gets away from Jason Sehorn the ball is right there Carter just can't hang on to it the Vikings can ill-afford people not making plays we saw Andrew Glover in the first series put the ball on the ground now Chris Carter puts it on the ground when your quarterback is struggling somebody's got to make a play to help his confidence out second and ten [Applause] comes the blessed dropped again at the 2930 got his hands on it couldn't hold it he and Reed were almost standing shoulder to shoulder that time Jessie Armstead number 98 just puts the pressure on Randall Cunningham you see the back try and step up to take them on Robert Smith will give you an effort but he just gets overpowered and there's the catch that Carter almost makes just snuck away from third and ten on its feet for this Giants defense that's gotten better [Music] poor man watch coming into the sideline read up at the 31-yard line Felipe's sparks on the coverage but it's enough for a first down that is a big-time throw right there Mike you've got this crowd of 78,000 Plus screaming and yelling you put two balls where they belong the guys have put them on the ground now you come back and keep firing Randall Cunningham just showed an awful lot right here Jake Reed with a nice reception for the first down Reed had his fourth straight thousand yards season this year Minnesota the first half counting death [Music] [Applause] they'd sit out near the 35-yard line and being wolf that a little bit by Corey Miller Mike Everitt Lindsay the center's only been there for three games he's on a bad ankle so what you do is you put Robert Harris you take the big guy and you just put him on there's no here's Harris and there's Lindsay he's just going to take and drive him right back in just keep working and working up you can push the center back in to the left of the running back gives them a limited area operated second and seven any set by Hamilton Keith Hamilton has really come on this year with eight sacks during the regular season Michael you have no place to go with the football you have to hold it a little bit longer Jason Sehorn matched up on Chris Carter and this looks like what John Fox wants to do today he wants to put the big guy on appellee P sparks over on the lawn and all of a sudden when there's no place to go with the football you're asking your offensive linemen the Block forever Randall McDaniel can't keep Hamilton out 14 [Applause] roll [Applause] throws back across the middle complete the short of the first down up at the 38 yard line they'll have to punt away Jake Reed makes the catch but the Giants defense does its job again also Mike for the Minnesota Vikings if there is a little flicker of hope what it's going to be is that there's an opportunity now to punt the Giants back and maybe play a little bit of the field possession game well they're go to some of your hope as Jake Reed has to be helped off the field look like an ankle [Music] and this is really a to wide reciever team with Carter and Reid tomber waits for the punt from Mitch Berger at a 17 [Applause] not a particularly good kick tumor lets it bounce back to a 20 in the berry good hustle on specialties by mo Williams a loss of two on the return after a putt of 40 any brain and his Vikings down by [Music] [Applause] director Dennis green doesn't want to all by himself I just going to says he's got to be a better way to put that you don't want to own that kind of lead I think he's done a terrific job with this football gave his players care an awful lot about him they respect him and in talking to them that he's one of the finest motivators that they've ever seen all that said this still may be his last year in Minnesota [Applause] the barber runs very very hard for kid is 205 pounds Stalin colony makes the tackle second round draft choice out of the University of Virginia that 511 yard T game this year number three among rookies and the Giants present different types of backs Rodney Hampton has a pounded his foul Oh Charles way Tiki Barber could give you a little bit of a shake and has the speed to take it outside way of course is a big bounder who can just take it by himself up the middle Jake Reed being carted off to a lot the Blitz blows the barber in the flat and colony with a nice job gets out there and coverage - just drills it Reid came off on the previous possession limping on that left ankle a lot of times offensive receivers can recognize when and when they should not get the ball barber he sees colony come and he does not expect canal to throw it to him and cats acquittal he doesn't really make much of a play on him third and five for New York 756 to go first down [Applause] [Music] I had a shot at it here the 40 and couldn't hold it the receivers aren't helping quarterbacks on either side a whole lot so far now but they're both hanging in the pocket well and the reason why Cannell is able to do that is roman open continues to do a good job on John Randle if he's not blocking him himself he's forcing him down the line and just takes John a little bit longer to get the penetration Maynard on to punt to Palmer [Applause] to the 28 dangerous dangerous return man get that one back for 11 yards after a 48 yard punt [Applause] seven to go first half all big blue 13 nothing [Music] [Applause] [Music] for the Giants have just looked wonderful on defense anytime the Vikings have tried to hit the perimeter outside the tackles on the tight ends the safeties have been up making place or the corners we saw Jason Sehorn watch the left part of your screen now Sam Carnes will show right away he's hanging up around the line of scrimmage the Giants are basically challenging the Minnesota Vikings to throw the football they've got eight people in the box they're saying hey look on first and Jamie will make [Applause] slow motion misses his tight end Greg DeLong it was opened to sideline [Applause] they don't like as a quarterback you throw the ball into people's hands and they're not catching it it becomes deflating to you now all of a sudden what you start to do is you say well jeez I'll try and throw it just a little more perfect and it really affects your performance Randall can't let that happen he just gotta keep throwing the Vikings are no way out of this thing yet [Applause] third and 15 and Paul are the facts [Applause] steps up and go but Carters say [Applause] when the screen a 36-yard return of the interception the third turnover for Cunningham and Mike why do you match a Jason Sehorn on a Chris partner in this game great move by John five but watch the timing of his jump defensive coaches are always stressing go to the highest point and go get the ball there is a classic example that is textbook defensive play right there in basketball terms Jason Sehorn has some serious hops I could never jump that canal goes out in the flat Callaway forced out of bounds by fuller right in front of the giant bench and they didn't like the way their man was taken down Giants defense led the league in interceptions 27 pitch they led the league in total takeaways and in turn for margin and I don't think you can say enough about the job John Fox has done with this defense he has been absolutely brilliant I think Jim fossils coach of the year John Fox deserves assistant coach of the Year honors because he has really turned this ballclub into an aggressive turnover producing Union barber breaks the tackle step on it first down he just threw d'Alene Washington on the ground with that Stefan Mike the Giants on the offensive side of the ball are now playing with that same kind of attitude that the defense is it's in your face you can't stop me good job by Charles way as usual just creating a whole big explosion on Rudd now watch this good switch of the ball slide it over a stiff arm get out of my way the way he blocks intended for Patton the two long Mike Patrick joke Tonkin Ron Jaworski Lesley Visser were all here at the Meadowlands and the Giants are roughing up the Minnesota Vikings 78,000 strong and every second [Applause] block by way Griffith can't bring him down after dragged him out of bounds Michael that was just a case of wonderful patients by Tiki Barber a lot of young backs have a tendency to want to run outside real quick what Tiki does is he just gets the ball in his hands waits for stone and cross the two guys up front stone there goes stone the left guard and you see cross sealed as the corner now he just waits patiently goes outside the block makes it a positive yardage play this Viking defense is predicated on speed they're not the kind of team with Stan and that's what the Giants again [Applause] trouble throws it away had a receiver out in the vicinity Jason Fiske who had a sack earlier with the pressure and a real good job by Danny canal of knowing where the tackle box is to get himself out of it so that when he makes the throw he's not going to get nailed with an intentional grounding fall that would take away the field gold opportunity he's not only playing well with his arm but he's playing very well with his head right now Galloway so has already hit from 22 and 43 this one will be full 41 yard [Applause] grab Maynard hora [Applause] Galloway so true again [Applause] and the trouble deepens for the Minnesota Vikings 454 to go in the half down by 16 mrs. Bello here in the first half Dalloway so falls down on the kick and it turns out to be a little squib in Minnesota we'll have it up at the 38 so burger fell down starting the game Dalloway so falls down on this one Joe that's tough when the footing isn't good enough to kick off it's tough on everybody I mean the kicker can't plant that left foot that's his plan foot watch when he comes forward the left foot it's just gone please just slides if you get up on that you on the side of it just a little bit you want [Applause] stuffed in the backfield the Giants doing a tremendous job like what's most impressive about this giant defense is they really get it done with usually the four guys up front that John Fox likes to send and then he adds just just the Armstead so really he's only bringing five that allows them to double cover the wide receivers angle 101 with the tight end so he's got both ends of the offense covered Jake Reed back in the ball game good news which comes the Blitz coming in the flap toodle-oo long knock down at the 38 yard line [Applause] michael strahan dropped off from his defensive end spot and made the tackle the Giants on defense Joe looked like they are throwing so many different looks at Minnesota at all at the right time [Applause] [Music] and other blitz just throws that one out about [Applause] good job this secondary is doing it the reason why they call interferences because they considered the ball uncatchable but there's Jason Sehorn on Chris Carter right in his back pocket Felipe's sparks all over Jake Reed as Randall Cunningham tries to step up belief he makes some contact but the ball was considered uncatchable the Minnesota Vikings have run 24 half they have 40 [Applause] pretty Punk this time and the Vikings have it up to 27 yard line Dwain Butler with the recovery as Amani Toomer had it knocked loose and the hip from Chris Walsh Armani tumor is the type of a punt returner that really will not benefit he'll take a chance and go with it but he's got to protect the ball see how the ball is getting away from a little bit and then all of a sudden slides out from behind this crisp wall kitchen I'm George as he goes by just grabs it and pulls it out the first Giants turnover penny hand to throw inside that tent see horn got turned around Armstead made the tackle but it's a gain of 18 yards randall kuhnian we talked about the strength of his arms he is gonna force the ball to Chris Carter he doesn't care about percentages if Jason Sehorn is not looking back there's no it allowed Chris Carter to go up and make a play and that's exactly what he does on this one first and goal Vikings from the 7 Audi i smith to began garance the safety up again Widmer the linebacker but they can't run inside they can't run outside and I don't think they're going to be able to run down here Mike I think that the best chance at the Vikings have of getting points on the board with a touchdown is going to be trying to get the bag of Jake Reed and Chris Carter go through the matchup put it out there one on one let the beat guys make a big play Cunningham will wait to the two-minute warning he wants to go to the sideline and talk it over in what looks like a critical possession for the Minnesota Vikings down by 16 here in the Meadowlands [Music] [Applause] [Music] tended but Carter knocked away by sea what a point this time they run the play-action gas they try and run a little pig play on Jason Sehorn DeLong comes out they try and run the pig it doesn't work see horn does a great job of time and it just as he comes in good tiding on the ball for the past offense absolutely brilliant defense again [Applause] [Music] you stay to go straight back to the end zone incomplete it was intended for was broken up by Felipe sparks who really laid the lumber tour and that is a play that Chris wall should have made the Arriba Cunningham has not had his receivers make plays for him this is a good call Strahan comes up hard on him what Cunningham just hangs in the pocket you see Walsh he's the outside guy number 81 he's coming off a reads tail he comes inside he sits in the hole he's got to make that play he's got to make that play for his corner but that was not a tough catch at all they will settle for the field goal OD mode knocks it through the oldest player in the NFL gets the Vikings on the board after the turnover and it's 16 3 with a minute 47 to go in the half [Applause] and this tick will go out-of-bounds we wonder what else can go wrong for the Minnesota Vikings burger fell down on one earlier you start directional kicking a little bit Mike you want to kick it to one corner you come over the top a little bits like it's like hooking that for iron its way left instead of a little bit left of where it should be so the Giants get great field position out there pulling Danny canal we've been very efficient in the first half that was wrong and I think this changes what what fossil wants to do on offense simply because now he can take some chances all time outs long ways [Music] [Applause] you'll get the killer turns the corner of pickup by [Applause] Cory fuller makes the tackle way at 247 pounds very adept at getting outside I always thought that this was the most fun I had as a quarterback on game and you got to the two minutes you were in more control of what you wanted to do Randall Cunningham has been doing a good job Mike the guys just aren't hold on the football I think in the stats have been okay what Siddhant space drill is incomplete they were trying to set up the screen Department but Dwayne Ruud was all over Danni canal that stops the clock with a minute and 11 to go in the half it's very important for this giant offense to keep what they call convertible third downs that's third down they're in third and five they feel like they can make it most of the time they're not looking over the defense for the zone [Applause] [Music] first down [Applause] that's the one we talked about Nuka you know what you have to have though to run a good shovel pass - you have to have the cooperation of a defensive end that's going to come up the field like a John Randle you're using his aggressiveness against him he comes up the field you see Roman Open he just pushes him back and Tiki Barber just slides in right behind him on the shovel pass still think it's a tough one to execute open got to use his club move on that way got a good block at the quote [Applause] not only does he pick up the yardage Mike but he manages to get out of bounds and stop the clock so the Giants don't have to use a timeout Charles way is built perfect for running on this particular type of player he keeps his feet underneath them he doesn't have them out striding or out wide where he's making putts he's running basically on all the bottom of his foot sixth round draft choice in ninety five out of the University of Virginia Aaron Barbara swallowed up by ed McDaniel that times the line of scrimmage they try to get the first down and now we'll use the timeout with 51 seconds to go they'll have two left wave it's close Holliday and Randall on the stop now the Giants will use another timeout now do you get a left-footed spot or a right-footed spot that's always the question from the official Giants with one left on 34 seconds to go [Music] we always talk about we always talk about defensive linemen trying to get leverage on an offensive on look at how low John Randle is he manages to get that the offensive linemen can't get to him but they managed the trials lai manages to pick up just enough through the first down [Applause] offensive game playing strategy right now Mike what what I think Jim fossil wants to do with Danny canal is he'll want to throw the ball a little bit here because he realizes he still has to one timeout but you still want to try and put yourself in a situation to get the ball in the end zone take you a little too far out at the 29 yard line to try and throw it down into the end zone twice or three times you look for an intermediate pass route you stress to your wide receivers or running backs if you're near the sidelines get out of bounds if you do want a running running play you'll run it to the middle of the field call the timeout and then get yourself a few more shots as far as folks goes I really think that he should take a chance and go after Danny canal I playing in the zone laying back and letting the Giants dictate on offense won't get it done for him right here the Giants have two timeouts left they were not charged with the first one for the measurement they called one after the second measure actually before and then we're getting the timeout after so they will have two opportunities to stop the clock in 34 seconds well when the flatfoot barber and barber looked up to see the seamy head and dropped a football that word wasn't thrown with a lot of touch that one came out with a lot of heat though Danny canal just wanted to get the ball and Tiki Barber's hands as quickly as he could and let him make a play with of 16 to 3 to Minnesota first half ternal [Applause] wants to screen the barber and he couldn't hold back that's a good job by the Waikiki fence sniffing out the screen there they've done a nice job of making it very hard for canal to dump the ball off someplace a couple of good cause by folk quarry Fuller was right in the middle of that screen now 24 seconds left from here it would be a 46-yard field goal attempt for dalla Lisa now I think Jim fossils got to think okay let's get in position to try and kick the field goal before he was working for six now he's got to just try and figure out a way to get close enough to get a good shot [Applause] those behind Charles Wayne who was wide open inside the 25 mic that was a very inefficient series by the Giants on offense on all three downs they didn't really think first of all they couldn't get a pass complete but they got absolutely no positive yards to give DeLuise so even a closer chance to put three on the boil [Music] and now Minnesota will use the timeout with 19 seconds to go down a we so has already hit from 20 to 41 and 43 I mean flags go down Vikings are applauding and it looked like Ron stone moved Erlich full start by the offense number 65 bug yard penalty is still fourth down that is Ron stone this will make it 52 and that's why it was so critical to try and pick up just a few more yards in that series that the Giants had they were right at the edge as it was DeLuise those long kick this year is 52 yards he has always been a very good long-range kicker and if there is any wind on the field it will be at his back [Applause] stop but career-high in the first half for Brad Galloway so officially it's 51 yards and officially the scoreboard reads 19 to 3 this is a good job by the holder this is just a terrific job we'll watch this they get caroms off the inside you're gonna play it played to the inside and let it kick on in bread Dalloway so knew it was close got to kiss little body English good job by Brad Manor - and Larry Macduff the special teams coach you got to be happy when your kicker knocks through four field goals in the first half especially in the playoffs because it's the first time it's ever happened in the NFC [Music] right now the Vikings on offense are going to have a chance to win and talk about the first half and say hey look if we can hold on to the ball we can make up some yards here balls loose and the Vikings cover with nine seconds to go right DeLong had trouble finding the handle [Music] like Mike I'll tell you on that on that last book I really think that holding is an art form unto itself I just want to show you the good job that Brad manor did this ball is high and inside it's high up there he gets it down turns the laces just enough the laces act as a rudder for the ball gets it down perfectly so the DeLuise so can get it through [Applause] good job by a woman nine seconds to go in the half Jen through the whole gets it up to about the 35 yard line and the Vikings will go to the locker room without throwing the football that's the end of the first half the score 19 to 3 now let's go Daniel Jill's recovering from an ankle injury palmer starts at the 5 we gets it out to the 28 yard line take a look at the first half statistics here in the playoff game Minnesota held the four first downs 21 yards rushing and only 47 passing they had the three turnovers and Joe those numbers reflect what's happening on the field they're getting thumped they are in the and the Giants have done a good job of holding down that running game the Minnesota Viking [Music] and get to carry hammers is ways forward near the 34-yard line and maybe they are going with the bigger back trying to grind rattle well I think it's a good first and ten call you need something positive the way everything has happened for them in the first half you just want to come out with some kind of a positive plate Leroy hoard is just going to get up behind the right side Dixon and stringer and just gain some yards now Robert Smith is back in you put a little more versatility back in his offensive Smith only with ten yards [Applause] struggling to get yardage across the 35 to about the 36 where middle linebacker Corey Whitmer makes the tackle Smith has been brilliant the last three games can't get untracked here this afternoon the Giants on defense have wanted to turn Minnesota into a one-dimensional offense they basically done that by shutting down the running game they're forcing Randall Cunningham to throw the football [Applause] for the first down [Applause] and the flat he's got the first down knocked out about Felipe's parts of the coverage that's taken advantage of Randall Cunningham's athletic ability that's it it's just a simple speed play or a sprint out what you do is you start Carter in motion very difficult for anybody to jam a wide receiver when they're moving he starts in motion now Phillippi sparks automatically he's trailing just by being in position and Carter move and he's automatically behind them Cunningham puts the ball out quiet five straight thousand [Applause] blocks along and gets the midfield where he's plastered at about I gotta believe that this is the way Minnesota envisioned this game starting absolutely they wanted to come out establish some type of a running game make the giant defense think a little bit about what they're gonna have to do but after Randall Cunningham crumbled back-to-back stamps plan change [Applause] in the backfield Mike we talked about the center being so critical Evert Lindsey that time just gets blown back by Keith Hamilton once again I mean there's nowhere for Robert Smith to run to watch it he's just going to drive him right back and there's going to be a big collision there and Robert Smith winds up on the back end of it then they just can't control the middle of the football field the middle of the offensive line is being controlled by the giant tackle Lineback six-year veteran out of Pittsburgh possession secondhand which comes the Blitz coming into flat he had no chance wrapped up immediately in drought Tina would was right there see that's a case of just good defense what you do is you force Randall Cunningham to throw the ball the only place he can to the hot receiver there comes politi off the corner Randall knows now he's got to get the ball to Jake but unfortunately he can't get far enough to get the first down it's very important that the tackle be made and that's exactly what happened on that one tomber weights it is tanpopo Buster's up to the 19 yard line to make the fair catch a punt of only 33 yards 1114 to go third quarter it has been all New York Giants perfect job up front Giants get back to work on offense and barber across the 20 to the 21 yard line Mike you just don't see that Giants changing from what they want to do offensively Jim fossil very deliberate in trying to double-team John Randle make sure he doesn't put a lot of pressure pressure on on Danny canal and get the ball up quick that's the way they want to do it that's exactly the way they've had it the first half second and nine for the Giants clock will come fully play to go third period [Applause] [Music] [Applause] the Vikings heaven at the 5-yard line Gary Baun makes the recovery and the hit by Tony Williams shook it loose and the sigh from Jim fossil well that's the way that's to it that's why they wanted to get Tony Williams on the field he's a playmaker and he makes some tackles the second giant turnover this time he's lined up over the right guard right here he's just going to take a hard charge and knock the ball loose comes inside they can't cut him off gets the ball knocked loose from Tiki Barber all of a sudden of momentum starting to sway ever so slightly in this game fifth turnover in this game the first four have led the field goal [Applause] horn straight ahead power run touchdown [Applause] so the Giants who came in with the best turnover ratio in the NFL all year long have turned it over twice on fumbles and the Vikings have turned those mistakes into ten points we talked about that offensive line Mike that's a big big right side David Dickson 350 Korey stringer 350 they just plow it over and Jessie Armstead gets knocked back they just follow the big guys into the end zone there it is wata push up front by the big guys on the right side the point after is goodbye Eddie Murray and the Vikings suddenly back in the ball game down by 9 with 1026 to go in the quarter [Music] thirty thirty to forty three Barbara tackle made by Corey fuller five combined turnovers and 19 points off of those five turnovers and we've told you all during the regular season how important they are during the playoffs they are even more so right now the Giants with a +1 turnover margin and that figure wins 73 percent of the time you're not going to convince the Minnesota Vikings of that way I think they have a little bit of animal Takas at to the 39 yard line Cory fuller had to make the stop when you run into a team like this Joe that wants to run the football that wants to play field position you have to make those tackles if you have a shot at the line of scrimmage phone Fazio can call the right defense against Dana Jenelle in this offense the problem is is you have to have guys making place for you and if Wade continues to break tackles and come up with good yardage on first and ten it's going to make it more difficult for folks to decide what he wants to do picked up six on that carry way and when a stutter step hit in the backfield he'll lose a couple on this one excellent play by Tony Williams the rookie out of Memphis the guy that created the turnover on the last series Minnesota has decided they want to be more aggressive on the defensive line they're coming after Roman open this time we talked about number 72 excuse me Bishop he comes and beats him inside Tony Williams is a guy they felt had to get on the field somehow with this youth movement they got him out there third and seven with time those short that came in on the hop to patent did a great job scooping it off the turf but it's incomplete Dewayne Clements got to canal just as he threw Danny Cannell was not able to step into this throw so it just died before it got there and Minnesota will get the ball right back giant stain committed to the way they run the offense run on first and second down keep it in a manageable third that time Minnesota's defense up to the challenge but in this half they from five plays in lost seven yards and they'll blow this play dead Ed Hochuli our referee today both stars by the offense left tackle before the snap 5-yard penalty is still fourth down so now it's fourth and 12 only the fourth penalty in a well officiated ballgame the Giants had the luxury of having excellent field position in the first half Jim fossils team was only able to come up with just a couple of field goals in the early turnovers now Minnesota is starting to enjoy a better field position down Palmer voice nice high floater from Manor the late fair ketse gone makes it at the 29 Danny canal struggling a little bit in the second half defensive play the Vikings [Applause] [Music] the pullback Evans plowing his way forward to the 39 yard line let's go to Ron Jaworski jaws yeah thanks Mike you know the giant defense has been rock-solid and no one's been more solid than Jason Sehorn and man-to-man technique here you'll see what he does he gets his hands on Chris Carter that's critical he feels the route once he gets out of he feels her out and drives it gets the right hand in there and knocks the ball down matched up against Carter all day in the zone he reads triangle Carter in the quarterback plays outside he's got help inside here's that lettuce to some to freight guys going up he makes the interception he has been brilliant to blow this play dead and a lot of pushing and shoving after place more snaps full start by the office number seventy-three five you got finger is so second down Tod's do see let's go back to Ron thanks Mike you know that matchup we talked about Carter and C horn it's a big one in this one thrown a he's when matched up 35 times thrown at seven times Carter only has three catches so this is a fun one to watch and if the Vikings cannot run the football and they have to throw it I'd say this is one that'll be worth admission to great athletes going head to head Mike absolutely R on second and six after the penalty [Applause] one two J green bike because of ranma clinging hands newness to this offense for him to start on one side of the football field and have to work his way all the way back to a third or fourth receiver it's just not his strong suit Brian bellick has to give him a side of the field to work to let him go one two and then use his athletic ability I think almost at times he tries to stay in the pocket too much and doesn't take off instinct from the 34 yard line its third and six it comes the Blitz they almost got there Cunningham unloads Jake Reed what a catch by Reed he got away from sparks a gain of 32 those are the kind of athletic plays that Randall Cunningham can make but you can't get it off unless you get the protection watch the Blitz come up the middle Charles Evans number 29 there he is right over there he's going to make the block there it is he fills in Jessie Armstead does a good job and knocking him down Jake Reed just makes a great individual effort on Phillippi sparks [Music] Smith slashes his way to the giant 30-yard line gain of three Charles Evans did a good job on that play given Randa Cunningham an opportunity to make a play picks up Jessie Armstead as he tried to come up the middle and arms does become the big play guy for that giant beef horn and long Lestrade and now we're starting to see the wide receivers of the Minnesota Vikings doing what they have to do Jake Reed and Chris Carter making plays this is the first time the [Applause] chale Michael Strahan he just splits the double-team [Applause] get outside DeLong quittin Tina Strahan just comes outside a stringer inside at the long and makes the play there he is they can't double-team him and he forces Randall Cunningham to get caught inside Strahan voted to the Pro Bowl as the starter out of Texas Southern tied for third minute in 15 and Cunningham [Applause] 5:57 ago third quarterback in a moment three-man rush [Applause] it gets back to the thirty michael strahan makes the tackle first of all that's a good job by the defensive secondary of the Giants and then a terrific job reacting to Randall Cunningham trying to run the football by the linebackers they will send on Eddie Murray to try a 47-yard field goal [Music] make it four viii his lawn this year 49 [Applause] we'll get there that was the end of the field where the wind is blowing in anybody's face it's curved up late here in the second half 19 to 10 the chariots defense holds take over [Applause] knocked out of bounds of nine maybe ten Mike if Tiki Barber just follows Charles way around the football field there's going to be holes and alleys to run into he does a real nice job here of kicking out Cory fuller after the left side of the line seals woven Tobin gets it Romanova gets a nice hook on Randall way kicks out fuller and Tinky's got himself a lane to pick up some yards I don't know Charles Way has missed a block today god-willing Carrie and gets drilled as he got back to the line of scrimmage the emotional Robert Griffith made the top made the stop it's there again Minnesota deciding that they want to put a lot of people around the line of scrimmage challenging that giant offense to throw the football so far they've not been able to do it ineffective basically at the end of the half and on their first two series and possessions here in the third quarter haven't been able to generate a first half as opposed to the season what roads incomplete intended for barber Ruud was out there along with Robert Griffith and they'll pump the ball away with 356 to go third quarter Mike the Giants I don't think can win this football game if they continue to play it this close to the vest on offense they're going to have to get some first downs they're going to have to make some plays you know you're just given the the Vikings and opportunity and you can't just rely on your defense to save you every time out the sooner Laker later Dennis greens offense is going to do some or get blown by the wind goes out of bounds let's see where they mark it gonna be right at the 40-yard line excellent field position for Minnesota after a 14 yard punt for Manor [Applause] mr. Fudd wiser NFL news the Jaguars and the Broncos the two best records among teams playing in the first round they'll come up in about now ten minutes Terrell Davis back after a shoulder injury Brett Favre and Barry Sanders both winners of The Associated Press MVP award the double clutch as those incomplete intended for read covered by working a lot of times might but the quarterback goes back on a three-set if you can't get to him you just find the throwing lane that he wants to get it into Armstead set himself in that throwing Lane gave cutting him no place to go with the football Cunningham 8 out of 21 in all fairness to him he's had several drops did commit the two big timers on [Applause] when well blow just play dead timeout New York that's their first charge team timeout that's a 30-second timeout [Applause] trying to get the first down and boy it looked like the wind had an effect on that looked like a ball changed direction about half I'll tell you what else had an effect on that Keith Hamilton number 75 caused Randall Cunningham to unload this thing in a heartbeat Randall's going back and Hamilton's coming around the corner he is working on the game they've got a double team he splits it now Randall just barely gets this thing off and does his own little corkscrew spinner just to get rid of it third and 10 except for turnovers the Viking [Applause] in the one hurdles the man revered by the Vikings Leroy horn what a break for Minnesota the third Randall Cunningham fumble this time the Vikings get it back you know that Randall Cunningham is an athlete once he gets in the open field he loves to get up in the air he told me once he said the reason I like to go up in the air I feel like the chance of getting hurt or so minimal this time he goes back on third down I don't believe he had every intention of throwing that one he just gets up in the air it gets knocked away good hustle by Leroy hoard inside the giant 40 clock running 316 to go third quarter the Blitz Cunningham unload stick Carter he gets a block and picks up a couple of more yards before he steps out of bounds the 31 [Music] sparks and Carter yakking at each other a little Mike you know defensively you can set up any scheme you want but you cannot you just cannot to compensate for a quarterbacks ability to make plays with his legs that's what Randall Cunningham has brought to this offense and created a problem for John Fox his defense [Applause] he's got the first down and more Robert Smith to the 21 yard line guard mastered them at that point Agron Lindsey number 61 the center finally gets the banner ends and at this time he's going to block Hamilton and allow Robert Smith to go right up the middle [Applause] the first down Vikings nine points let's out the corner see mrs. Cunningham took the 15 and joke to see the end of the play really covered up that football and he took him to much better care at that time but Jason Sehorn had a clean shot at Randall Cunningham where he did is he was just coming too fast was too aggressive he comes off the corner lower part of your screen now all he has to do is break down instead he wants to try and knock him over he goes flying by obviously if that's the guy on the Blitz that means he's the contain guy [Applause] seven [Applause] inside the ten dragging tackles with a meal happen first down stray and finally pulled him down along with gardens but a tough run by the full-back Charles Evans one other thing to consider Joe the giant defense have been on the field almost all of the second half a real and this is what we talked about Mike their offense hasn't helped them one bit and you've got like a tuck the size 350 with David Dixon 2015 for ease [Applause] first and Minnesota [Applause] one nice tackle by Corey Whitmer as Smith tried to cut outside the middle linebackers saved what could have been a touchdown remember like the last time the Vikings were down here they had Chris walk on what would have been a touchdown catch except he dropped it so they've been able to move the football just haven't been able to make the plays [Applause] [Music] and Randall Cunningham is not going to try to run a play the Vikings owned the Third Corps a time of possession better than three to one 21 plays to eight [Applause] that's the end of the third quarter to score the Giants 19 the Vikings 10 we'll be back after this from our ABC [Music] Gurgaon [Applause] turning in pump-fake throws the end zone off the fingertips of Chris Carter [Applause] Jim fossil the NFL coach of the year after a remarkable turnaround for this program has his team up by nine points over Denny greens Vikings green in his fifth playoff appearance has yet to win a game in postseason [Applause] 2,400 six yards third and goal [Applause] see horn on Carter also had some help Hambleton and Ellsworth were also over there well basically Randall Cunningham has decided that when he gets down close he's just going to go like Chris Carter try and make a play sea horn instead of being uptight on Carter lays back so he really just runs into him with nowhere to go that's just good defensive philosophy a lot of times you're up on a guy's face you can make that Fame throw but when the receiver has to come to you there's no place for the quarterback to put the ball and they have cut the lead to six points 19 to 13 the Vikings clawing their way back into it Jason Sehorn with another big defensive play that saves a touchdown [Music] Hamilton and strand going at it and watch John Fox John Fox is just going to go sit between them well this this game is obviously very emotional for the Giants and John just does the right thing he just sits down between the two of them give a chance to settle down have to collect themselves now they're up by six the kickoff return hot and dropped by fuller to 20-yard line let's go to Ron Jaworski thanks Mike earlier we talked about you know tremendous matchup today John Randle in Roman open then so far open has held his own here he uses real good technique by getting his hands on John Randle that's critical because Randle has a lot of moves that's the one right you feels them and then clumps them because the play is coming underneath good job of opening the hole here you'll see him going one-on-one against Randle again the hands on them and takes it away right there good job of staying between Canal and the defender good job [Applause] now going to work completes it out to patent again about eight let's go back to Ron Jaworski Mike they have been going head to head here are the numbers of the 53 plays you can see 52 have been head to head opens been helped 13 times in the last 36 plays he's only gotten help three times the Giants are beginning to feel more comfortable that open can handle Randall and know Randall came into this game with five sacks over the last couple games since he's moved to that defensive end position so far he has zero tonight great job on him has Lee jaws [Applause] the juniors offense had gained one second half they're going to you lose yardage here up from the secondary Robert Griffith the safety to wrap-up Tiki Barber and we're hearing some boos from the crowd here at the Meadow Lane Michael if you don't throw the ball down the field you don't you don't have the safeties haven't playing back they don't respect the pass the Giants have put themselves in these long third downs by their own decisions to be able to attack the defense by running it all the time the Giants now as you saw with two yards in the second half countable [Applause] Cannell stepson nice throw first down Lix that catch near Laporte david patten only had 13 catches coming into this game but he's really stepped it up of late 17 yards receptions two touchdowns he's had both receptions on this particular play he's got four in this game for 70 good protection by the offensive line watch Patton go up and make this reception he's not a big guy he's only five nine but comes down with the ball [Applause] Cannell the throw again over the middle caraway try Dazz it again yes Calloway at the 39 heckuva throwing a great catch by Callaway some excellent calls to buy gym fossil now he's opening up a little bit Callaway has the inside he just goes down on it and yes he does does an excellent job of protecting the ball [Applause] back to the ground game Tiki Barber running over tacklers in the 32 and this is exactly what the Giants had to have and they have squandered their lead seen it cut to six points now they respond but they also throw it down the field so that you can't get the safeties up around the line of scrimmage now Jim fossile can go back and start to pound the ball a little bit and work the clock that is first and foremost on his mind is working the clock leading this clock down take as much time as you can on off it it'll also settle down his defensive unit which has really got a bird going right hands up they ever second and three [Applause] lay one outside the lead the play Barbara thought he saw something cut back inside there was nothing there Tony Williams number 94 really has come into play the tackle position having a heck of a half it's allowed John Randle to move outside and when you talk to John Randle he says Tony Williams has the same kind of motor I have he says it's nice to have this youthful enthusiasm with someone else besides me bird and now for for the Giants with protections watch an ad and he fits one in there and away another nice throw by canal Robert Griffith made the tackle this is a terrific throw this is a big-time big-league throw there is just not a lot of room to put the ball in it's up first down and Danny canal focuses down the field he's real patient watch where this ball is it's low in a way Griffith could not have been all over Calloway any more than he was another first down as we approach the Farber with Vikings doing a much better job here in the second half defensively guess who Tony Williams the rookie from Memphis they call him the miniature John Randall but at 291 pounds at six one hard to imagine he's a miniature anyway he's just got to be you're right he's got terrific speed he just beats off the block and runs sideline to sideline doing a good job on lance scott the center eating up a lot of time on this drive down to nine and [Music] play action by canal good protection again it's captain inside the 15 Washington on the coverage and Danny canal right now looks like he did during that streak in a regular season when he was just perfect well he's back in a rhythm now and that's because the offensive line continues to give him an opportunity to step up and throw Roman open once again working on John Randle taking them wide outside now the Giants are moving the ball down the field a little bit this makes it more difficult for the safeties to be up there stopped in the run and Patton having a career game five catches 84 hit in the backfield falls forward to the line of scrimmage Dwayne Clemons 9th through [Music] they have not really had much of a drive going until all the third quarter didn't do much now here they have Tim plays started at their own 21 but more importantly eating up six minutes of the clock that's the biggest number on that step inside the ten dives forward near the seven they need to reach the floor for a first down when you've got a quarterback that has good movement not great movement like say Randall cutting but good movement Jim fossil just picks his spot they keep running running on Elvis had a little quick play-action you get Danny Cahill on the perimeter with an easy throw for a completion any kind of a score down here a field goal would make it 20 to 13 that makes it a two score situation for Minnesota [Applause] 14:17 [Applause] to the five that will still be shy of the first down it'll be fourth and one I can't imagine gym fossil going for it here Joe no way I think you've got if you've got to put try and put the points on the board to try and make it like you said like a to score game he's waiting to see how close it is the field goal team is not on the field yet when the officials have stopped the clock I think what the Giants did was called for a measurement even though it's a yard short that's smart it really is it's something that when I played for coach Gibbs whenever we got close he insisted that we get measurements and the reason why is it gives fossile a chance to talk it over figure out exactly what he wants to do but I agree I think if it's if it's not a first down which we don't think it is he's got to try and kick the field goal it's a free timeout you had a chance to match strategy right and this is the right decision to make now sometimes in a situation like that the officials will not stop to talk to measure because they say it's not even close they have to they have to give you the measure but what if it was for it fourth and five what are you gonna do with that hi there's a cut-off there somewhere Dalloway so we'll come on to try his fifth field goal he's it from 2241 43 and 51 they'll record in the first half [Applause] [Music] two yard effort from Dalloway so what a job by Maynard he may have saved the ballgame [Music] he showed us the hands of Joe Theismann on that one Maynard snatched it over the top of his helmet put it down and Galilee show not get through it's not thirteen [Music] and we'll be back to see what the Vikings do on offense in just a moment Robert Smith his day may may be done because they're gonna have to go to the past right now [Applause] gross short deleruyelle horn horde gets it out to the 32 maybe the 33 sparks made the tackle Mike the thing that the giant defense cannot do is they can't give up too much room and allow them to pick up 8 9 10 12 yards and getting an opportunity to score with a lot of time left on the clock John foxes guys just they can't fight among themselves they don't have to go tackle the guys in the white church under six and a half minutes left [Applause] horde and quite honestly Joe I don't think they have enough time to run the ball at all lady to score I think it's important right there to pick up the first down but I think they do my kid here then taking a look at the doctor checking out games Pannell showing them some pictures down there Mikey's taking a lot of time now chuckles the snap from center again see right now I got to believe that they have to go into somewhat of a two-minute offense they just can't walk going back to the huddle there's gotta be some kind of place to this offense that they don't have again the snap of the Center difficult Randall Cunningham just getting out too quick that's his fourth fumble today's lost two of them Joe they're just burning the clock right now they're not going in there's no pace in this offense they've got to do what they got to move the little urgency coming into Rossellini this is tied in injured blubber for a very short game Mike they continue to huddle with five minutes to go you're down I get it well you're down by two scores I don't think that you can have the luxury of going back and taking 20 seconds every time just to try and get a playoff then the Vikings are defeating themselves as much at this point as the giant defense it's third and four they're the rhythm is almost like they're protecting a lead rather they'll get to sniff on the run on third and fourth holy cow what a call and they're taking forever at the line of scrimmage Michael Strahan number 92 coming around the corner does a good job of sliding in he comes out wide and then cuts up hard inside well here's one I don't really believe Joe there's 405 to go in a game they're down by two scores they sent on the punt team I don't understand it Mike I just don't understand it and they're letting the clock continue to run down he gets this off with 8 seconds to go that is staggering fair catch made it to 15 a punt of 44 yards there is a flag down on the play back near the line of scrimmage it is against Minnesota what I do now is you know I mean fossil looks like he's going to refuse him I wouldn't I put him back let him kick again one more time off it's a member of the kicking team number 57 is he illegally down field before the punt the penalty is declined New York keeps the ball 1st down ABC's New Year's Day ballgames starting at 1:00 o'clock Eastern Thursday the CompUSA citrus ball Penn State against Florida then at 4:30 the Rose Bowl Michigan looking for its first national title in 50 years against Washington State and then at 8:30 the Nokia Sugar Bowl Ohio State and Florida State that last sequence is totally beyond me how they could take that much time at the line of scrimmage and huddling and then punt the ball down to scores it's a poor job of clock management by the quarterback and you got to get it in and out of the huddle not going to be much doubt about what the Giants will do here we [Music] excuse me Hampton he does a good job of staying in bounds Minnesota continuing to let the clock run you know I would have tried to spin the strategy ad a little bit say okay Mike what you do is call timeouts now use up the timeouts make them get a first down and get the ball back but they're even conserving them well they'll use I assume and I was certainly wrong about the last possession they'll use it after second and third down either that or they just mailing him the rest of this Danny Cannell is going to snap this thing with about three seconds to go on the clock [Applause] Hampton brought down at the 19-yard line and now they call a timeout with three minutes to go well the Vikings will go back and take a look at the last time they have possession of the football and I think just be amazed at how much time they've burned off the clock without accomplishing anything giant just walking on the breaks another tackle stays inbounds got it to the 22 yard line - good job by Tiki Barber just taking it as far as he could and then getting down the Vikings used their final or did they the clock is running again this is beyond belief Mike I don't I do not understand the clock management here at the end of the game the Giants are just continuing to go along with it and let the clock run to 20 left in the game - 19 the play clock is down to two and they'll call a timeout at one this timeout is taken by the Giants just to make sure that they have everybody on the field this job is just a kick not a great kick but he accomplished his purpose the ball goes out of bounds near midfield a 25 yard punt but all you want is to avoid the block 206 to go in the ball game the Vikings still down by two scores [Music] [Applause] if the Giants hold onto this lead it would be their first playoff victory since 93 when they beat the same Minnesota Vikings the last time the giant fans got to see Warren space phil simms here in the Meadowlands Cunningham throws on almost intercepted it almost caught Glover had a shot at it after it was off the fingertips at the defender Tito wooden had a crack at the pick and nearly handed it to Glover we've reached the two-minute warning sell out house on its feet a nine-point lead with 157 to go by the Giants the darlings of the NFC's have become the darlings of the NFL Minnesota's got to eat up a bunch of yards then the defense has done all they could for the Vikings they've gotten a lot of put opportunities for this offense they just haven't been able to make plays crowd chanting defense here comes the Blitz [Applause] the juggling Kent gets it down to the 30 even the catches haven't been cleaned now they're starting to move with a little urgency Giants doing a good job of hustling back for the other side Cunningham will kill the clock at 138 [Applause] they thought that's what they should have been doing about six minutes ago [Applause] they have lost six in her on the postseason this would be seven breaking the Giants and worker these are records you don't want you can't hear the Giants on defense you don't want to give up a quick Big Score right here you want to make a work for every yard they're gonna get [Applause] precious steps up goes for the endzone Jake Reed touchdown [Applause] there was the athletic ability of rainbow cutting and that's the one thing that Giants could afford with a minute 30 to go and I think Tina Wooten ran into the camera of one of the photographers and he's Burt the photographer was checking his equipment Randall steps up in the pocket now Jake Reed just gets on top Pitino routine he makes the play and you'll see the photographer to the right good job of getting his feet down the official book is sure the left ones in and watch Wooten go into the photographer so it's 2219 [Applause] [Music] you got to take a good look at Jake reads left foot that's going to be the one the right one comes down in bounds the right ones down oh boy that's close now that you see the official trailing it so he's really not in a position to be able to see whether it hit the line or not now if the heel hit first in bounds it's good that's right heel toe good toe toe heel no good no matter and now woken us up a little gimpy Randall Cunningham to say hey look guys just get us the ball one more time just give us an opportunity well Joe you hit it right on the head they wanted to make him earn every yard and instead they get burned on one big plot two plays they wind up going the entire distance burning very little time off the clock the Giants you know this just started to celebrate a little too early Murray for the point after it is day two point ballgame took them 36 seconds bike to get that touchdown on the board on the previous drive they were in the huddle longer than that in Eddie Murray instead of Mitch Berger will be the kicker Murray the onside kick specialist [Applause] the Vikings look like they've got and they did instead of letting the ball bounce they just tried to go and make a play on it bounced right off his chest [Applause] there's the official signal this is just a low liner that never really gets up in the air he hits it crooked Galloway it it comes out funny now that slippin and slidin Giants can't quite get to it [Applause] [Music] [Applause] is gained about 30 yards on the shoulders of that good they show blitz everybody jumps they'll blow the play dead [Applause] the Giants jumped in in Everett Lindsey the center snapped the ball but did Lindsey move before he snapped it officials illegal snare both start by the center here reset the clock 120 let's Utz in read 125 Thank You Margaret Lindsay really never played center till three weeks ago where he is over the ball you see a moon but they had a little bit of flinch a little bit of flinch wasn't he can move around [Music] one shoulder first [Music] Cunningham throws completely [Applause] all we're going to want to see this one again Chris Carter never quite has has possession remember on the last Drive Mike had a little trouble hanging on to it this is the same thing cutting hair moves around this ball is bouncing around he never quite gets control of it good call by the official [Applause] Glover Glover will pick up about five and get out of bounds at the 44 Scott Galen chased it out 109 left by plenty of time left on the clock also the Vikings still have one timeout Eddie Murray looking for that opportunity now like you talked about if there is a win it's going to be at his back if he has an opportunity to get the field goal [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Turner to the 35-yard line first down a gain of 20 are you believing this Jason Sehorn was right up on his nose Carter managed to get up into the seam and make the play six catches 82 yards for Carter Cunningham kills the clock with 50 seconds left by Gordon we know about the efficiency of the clock before huh whoa Cunningham really done a terrific job perfectly thrown ball Chris Carter comes up with a big play he's the man that had to have it happen for him did it last week against the Colts to get in the last Roy team to overcome a deficit like this to win 72 Gallus against San Francisco [Applause] and it's gonna be interference sparks against read and this puts them in field goal range Jim fossil can't believe it [Applause] they make a defensive pass interference they would think the Vikings have just continued to battle and battle this interference by the defense number 22 automatic first down [Music] Jake Reed against Felipe Sparks Felipe's right on top of them just a lot of contact and obviously can't quite get to the ball from here the field goal try would be 38 yards the Vikings have one timeout left [Applause] [Music] five a gain of 16 there's really no hurry now the Vikings on offense could just take this time do the things they want to do knowing we're playing you good job I'll just keep an eye on the clock [Applause] and he just drops it down and they'll kill the clock with 13 seconds to go Randall Cunningham was in total control and Chris Calloway couldn't control the onside kick it just got away from him and that was a tough fall to come up with arm spinning sideways all the Giants had to do was get their hands on it they probably could have run the clock out but they never had an opportunity Rob be honest with you five minutes ago I wouldn't be giving you a plug nickel for the Vikings chances help this will be 12 on the 19th regular-season game winning chicks and now the Vikings will use their last timeout by that's the difference when you have big play people on a football team they're never quite out of it the Giants nearly don't have those big play guys that they can eat up big chunks of yardage win for the Vikings we've got Chris Carter you've got Jake Reed and you've got Randall Cunningham who can do with his legs three opportunities to make plays versus really none the Giants big play guys are on defense right and the Giants are stunned by the turn of events it looked for all the world like they had this game in their backpack and Randall Cunningham has survived all the mistakes for the game-winner sneaks it inside the left upright and the Vikings go on top 23 22 with ten seconds left that has been a total team effort by the Minnesota Vikings their defense came up strong remember in the beginning when they couldn't think the Giants couldn't capitalize on the two big turnovers only wound up with field goals and Wellington Merritt just stands there as the snow comes down and total disbelief the Giants have a a brilliant season but this would be a disastrous end to it Murray he sure used it all but he got it through and Cunningham able to celebrate the fruits of everything he did on that ground Jamie has played one courageous football he is and these guys looked in his dream he wouldn't let him quit whatever he told them at halftime made a world of difference and heartbreak for Callaway now ten seconds left if you go with the squib kick have you put them reasonably close to feel cold hurts they don't think you got it's not I'm not going to be a short script that I think you roll it along the ground just rolled it along but hit it hard maybe one of the big guys in front pick it up they're gonna have probably one shot at a pass play and you know with DeLuise shows late again he'll be now kicking into the wind Mike his range is well over 50 burger will kick off Tiki Barber deep to receive at his own seven neither team without timeouts the Giants course more importantly without I have never heard 78,000 people of this quiet and stunned absolutely [Applause] clock won't start until it's we're getting after a 37-yard line with seven seconds to go three ticked off on the kickoff what Danny Jenelle is going to have to do is he's going to complete have to complete about a 20-yard pass in less than seven seconds so it's going to have to be towards the sidelines to have any kind of an opportunity for a gigantic field goal attempt by DeLuise so [Applause] you don't mic you look at the Vikings and the snow coming down somehow or other it just doesn't seem like there at dome team no seems like this weather is theirs if they gain 20 yards it would still be something along the lines of a 60 yard field goal Jason Sehorn is in on offense he's part of the three guys and pinellas control it as far as he can in complete triple zeros on the clock and the Minnesota Vikings have completed a remarkable comeback to beat the New York Giants a steady turn of events [Music] Randall Cunningham day the second half this was one of the big crazy hits we'll be back to the Meadowlands in just a second total wins it over the Giants 23 22 let's go to Lesley Visser we came to win today one of the more remarkable games in NFL playoff history a part of it I tell you I can't think of a greater group of players and coaches they couldn't manage trainers Roger Hedrick in a game where we never gave up played all the way to the finish what did you tell your team at halftime you trailed by 16 point gotta stop the run first if you can't stop the run you don't win so we get a great job of stopping the run in the second half and that kept us in the ball game you scored 10 points in two minutes how did that happen well I think you got to use a clock you gotta manage the time properly you have to do some good proper kills and you got to make big plays Chris Carter made big plays Jake Reed made big plays we had longside Bigfoot and Danny what does this mean to you your first playoff victory well it's the first of all four I guess I'm serious I think this all we're worrying about is trying to do the best we can it was a good day for us I'm glad we won but the bottom line is we always want to go out get 100% that's the best we can do thank you now going back to your barren graduations back to you Mike alright thanks Leslie once again our final score the by Keys 23 the Giants 22 coming up next the AFC wild card at Jacksonville takes on for Joe Theismann Ron Jaworski Lesley Visser and our entire ABC sports crew this is Mike Patrick thanks for watching everybody let's high end defense

Channel: Bart Simpson

Views: 29,294

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Id: ahEHESa496E

Length: 130min 6sec (7806 seconds)

Published: Wed Oct 02 2019