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| Behind Defense and Favre, Vikings Beat Cowboys |
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by PAT BORZI
Source: New York Times
Jan. 17, 2010
MINNEAPOLIS — Late in the third quarter, Minnesota Vikings defensive end Ray Edwards — a serviceable but rarely spectacular pass rusher — fell to the Metrodome turf grabbing his right leg. When Edwards stood and jogged off with a noticeable limp, the crowd cheered as if Edwards was one of the famed Purple People Eaters from the 1960s and For one afternoon, he was.
Edwards led a unrelenting Vikings pass rush that sacked Dallas quarterback Tony Romo six times, a franchise postseason record, and forced two fumbles to key Minnesota’s 34-3 victory Sunday in an National Football Conference divisional playoff game. Minnesota advanced to meet the Saints next Sunday in New Orleans for the N.F.C. championship.
The Cowboys committed three turnovers, all by Romo — two lost fumbles and an interception — to help the Vikings win their first home playoff game since a 34-16 victory over New Orleans on Jan. 6, 2001. The playoff victory marked Brad Childress’s first as a Minnesota head coach, and the first by quarterback Brett Favre for any team except Green Bay.
Edwards, often overlooked on a defensive line with the Pro Bowl pass rushers Jared Allen and Kevin Williams, had three sacks, four tackles for losses, six hits on Romo and one forced fumble before leaving the game. Though Romo completed 22 of 35 passes for 198 yards, the Cowboys converted only 4 of 12 third downs and made it inside the Vikings’ 20 only once. Kicker Shaun Suisham missed 2 of his 3 field-goal attempts.
Favre threw for 234 yards and 4 touchdowns, three to wideout Sidney Rice. The first, a 47-yarder down the right sideline in the first quarter, put Minnesota ahead. The third, a 45-yard catch and run with 7 minutes 32 seconds to play, made the score 27-3. After Favre’s final touchdown throw, to Visanthe Shiancoe with less than two minutes to play, Dallas linebacker Keith Brooking — perhaps angry at the Vikings for continuing to pass with the game decided — followed Favre to the sideline and yelled at the Minnesota bench.
Though Dallas dominated time of possession in the first quarter, holding the ball for 12:05, its failure to finish off drives allowed the Vikings to take the lead.
The Cowboys’ opening drive stalled at the Vikings’ 38 when Edwards stripped the ball while sacking Romo. Williams recovered for Minnesota.
A botched snap on the next Cowboys’ possession forced Suisham to come on for a 48-yard field-goal try, which he missed left. Four plays later, Favre hit Rice deep down the right sideline.
Suisham made the score 7-3 with a 33-yard field goal about three minutes into the second quarter. But Minnesota drove for another score, when Favre got Cowboys end Marcus Spears to jump with a fake and let him sail by before hitting Rice over the middle at the 5-yard line. Rice took the ball in for a 16-yard touchdown, then stood in the end zone facing the crowd with his hands on his hips. Back near the Vikings’ bench, Favre jumped around and pumped his fists like a little kid.
Minnesota’s Ryan Longwell added a 23-yard field goal after Allen sacked Romo and forced another fumble, which was recovered by linebacker Ben Leber. Longwell connected from 28 yards early in the fourth quarter, and a Leber interception preceded the final Favre-to-Rice scoring connection, when Rice outfought Dallas cornerback Mike Jenkins for the ball. Jenkins, on his knees, extended his arms begging the officials for an offensive pass interference call.
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