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MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- On "Jim Marshall Day," the Minnesota Vikings hardly resembled the Purple People Eaters. They didn't have to. Jeff George equaled a career high with four touchdown passes, including three in a record-tying 28-point second quarter, as the Vikings outscored the reeling San Diego Chargers, 35-27, for their fifth straight win. The Vikings retired the No. 70 worn by Marshall, an end on Minnesota's legendary defense of the 1960s and '70s who holds the NFL record with 282 consecutive games played. But they surrendered 458 yards to a Chargers' team that ranks next-to-last in the AFC in total offense. "We didn't play very good defense, but we got a 'W' and we're still climbing into first place," said Minnesota safety Robert Griffith. "We made some stops when we needed to and that's the reason that we won the game. We made some mistakes today, but hopefully we will learn from them in the future. There's no way we're gonna win games if we keep giving up plays like that." San Diego (4-7), however, suffered its sixth straight loss after yielding 485 yards. George accounted for most of it, completing 28-of-43 passes for 363 yards with four scores and two interceptions. Cris Carter again was his favorite target with 11 receptions for 136 yards and two TDs, joining Jerry Rice, Art Monk and Andre Reed as the only players with at least 900 career catches. "I missed some balls today I thought I should have had," Carter said. "Our blocking wasn't as good as it should be, but we're just trying to make plays and get some opportunities." "The game had tremendous momentum swings, and that happens," added Vikings coach Dennis Green. "This was one that we won and they lost. Cris Carter, Jeff George and Randy Moss had some nice combinations." The Chargers' losing streak is their longest since an eight-game slide to end the 1997 season. "We're obviously disappointed because we didn't win the game," San Diego coach Mike Riley said. "There are some good things, but some things that we will look at or think back on as we travel home and have some big regrets. The game could have turned on a few plays. That's what we needed was a few more plays to have a chance to win the game." Minnesota (7-4) trailed 7-0 after one period before tying a team record for points in a quarter in the second. George threw touchdown passes of 34 yards to Randy Moss, five yards to Jake Reed and four yards to Carter before Leroy Hoard scored on a four-yard run for a 28-7 halftime lead. The Vikings' last 28-point period was the first quarter of a 42-7 rout of Green Bay on September 28, 1986. George capped his fourth career four-touchdown performance in the third quarter with a 34-yard strike to Carter. Robert Smith rushed for 104 yards on 20 carries, helping Minnesota regain a share of first place in the NFC Central. "It all starts with the guys up front. They were really getting a good push and creating some nice lanes," Smith said. "It's easy to run when those guys are playing the way they did today." San Diego got on the board first 6 1/2 minutes into the first quarter when Tremayne Stephens' 1-yard run capped an 86-yard drive. But the Vikings tied it on the first play of the second quarter, a 34-yard strike from George to Moss. The two hooked up again for a 60-yard gain, setting up the go-ahead touchdown, a five-yard toss from George to Reed with 9:13 left in the period. Moss caught seven passes for 127 yards, while Reed finished with four receptions for 46 yards. "I really didn't read the paper a lot, but I know I can play football," Reed said. "I was just going through some things at this time in my career. Every person who plays this game long enough will go through things. The coaches and my teammates have been behind me. I've been here for nine years, they know I can play football." Stephens fumbled on San Diego's next possession and linebacker Kailee Wong recovered at the Chargers 31. Four plays later, George found Carter for a four-yard score and a 21-7 lead. Two plays after the ensuing kickoff, defensive tackle Tony Williams recovered quarterback Jim Harbaugh's fumble at the Chargers 31. Minnesota again needed only four plays to reach the end zone, with Hoard going in from the 4. San Diego roared back into contention as Harbaugh hit Kenny Bynum for an 80-yard score on the first play of the second half. A 68-yard interception return by safety Michael Dumas set up Stephens second 1-yard TD run and John Carney's 40-yard field goal trimmed the deficit to 28-24 less than eight minutes into the third quarter. George and Carter hooked up for a 34-yard score 3 1/2 minutes later, enabling the Vikings to survive another field goal by Carney. "I think that he's coming around. He's learning the game well and he did a pretty good job today choosing the receivers," San Diego defensive end Raylee Johnson said of George. "And they ran the ball pretty well. They are a pretty good team."
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