NFL Recap (Jacksonville-Minnesota)
Posted: Mon December 21, 1998 at 1:17 a.m EST
MINNESOTA 50, JACKSONVILLE 10
MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- The road to Super Bowl XXXIII in the NFC goes
through the Metrodome.
The Minnesota
Vikings clinched home-field advantage throughout the playoffs with a
convincing 50-10 victory over the depleted Jacksonville Jaguars by
using their big-play trademark and frustrating first-time starting
quarterback Jonathan
Quinn.
Randall Cunningham
and sensational rookie Randy Moss hooked up on a
perfectly executed flea-flicker for a 43-yard touchdown pass early in the
third quarter that began the onslaught for the Vikings (14-1), who with
every win set a franchise record for victories.
Cunningham left in the third quarter with a broken left hand, which he
suffered in the opening stanza, but still threw three touchdowns afterwards
before giving way to Brad
Johnson.
"I didn't really feel it when it happened, but I knew it was broken
when I felt the bone moving around," said the Pro Bowl quarterback.
Minnesota became the first team that plays in a dome to own the
home-field edge for the postseason.
"It was an important win for us. The home-field advantage gives us
the best chance to win," Minnesota coach Dennis Green said. "I think we're
trying to catch magic in a bottle. For this team to win 15 games this year
is amazing."
Despite the loss, the Jaguars (10-5) claimed their first AFC Central
title earlier in the day when Tennessee lost to Green Bay. The outcome was
important to the New York
Jets, however, who clinched the AFC's second seed and earned an
all-important first-round bye.
The 50 points marked Minnesota's highest offensive output since a
51-10 victory over the Houston Oilers on October 13th, 1974. It also was
the first time the Jaguars have allowed 50 points in their four-year
history.
Quinn, a rookie from Middle Tennessee State, began the season as the
third-string quarterback but was forced into action due to injuries to
starter Mark Brunell
and backup Jamie Martin
the last two weeks. He completed 12-of-27 passes for just 88 yards and a
late touchdown while rushing five times for 33 yards.
"I felt I played like a rookie," Quinn said. "I knew the game plan
well, and I just did not execute. I don't want to feel like this again.
It's embarassing and it hurts."
Brunell, who missed his second straight game with a severely sprained
left ankle, is expected to be ready for the playoffs.
Although the Vikings rank second and the Jaguars ninth in offense, the
first half produced few fireworks, with Minnesota opening a 12-3 lead. But
that changed on the second play from scrimmage in the third quarter.
With the ball at the Jaguars 43, Cunningham handed to Robert Smith, who turned
and flipped the ball back to his quarterback. With the defense totally
fooled, Cunningham had all the time he needed to throw a strike down the
right sideline to Moss, who had beaten safety Travis Davis and hauled in
the TD pass.
We ran the same play at Dallas and it worked there," said Smith, who
had 19 carries for 101 yards. "Randy Moss is just an amazing receiver."
The play allowed Moss to tie the NFL record with his 10th TD of 40
yards or more. He caught three passes for 72 yards.
Jacksonville went three-and-out on its next two possessions and the
Vikings began at their own 17 with 9:08 to play in the quarter. Minnesota
drove 82 yards in 11 plays and opened a commanding 26-3 lead on
Cunningham's 14-yard TD pass to tight end Andrew Glover.
Cunningham completed 16-of-30 passes for 210 yards without an
interception, while Smith has rushed for at least 100 yards 17 times in his
career. The Vikings have scored 530 points this season, 11 shy of the NFL
record set by the 1983 Washington Redskins.
Johnson came into the contest in the third quarter and hooked up with
Cris Carter on a one-yard
score early in the fourth period to complete the scoring. It was Carter's
100th career receiving touchdown, which ties him with former Seattle Seahawks star
Steve Largent for second behind San Francisco's Jerry Rice.
"It means a lot if you look at the people who I joined in that list,"
Carter said. "I've been lucky to play with people who have been able to
get me the ball. This record is one of the highlights of my career."
After Gary
Anderson's third field goal, a 44-yarder with 7:46 remaining thjat ran
his record streak to 37 in succession, the game got out of hand. Cornerback
Jimmy Hitchcock picked
off Quinn and returned it 30 yards for a score, and moments later, Charles Evans converted Fred Taylor's fumble into
a one-yard scoring run.
On the verge of the biggest loss in club history, Jackonsville finally
got into the end zone with 2:56 to play when Quinn hit tight end Pete Mitchell for a
one-yard score, his first career TD pass.
Minnesota's 40-point margin was the biggest in the NFL this year.
Seattle beat Philadelphia by 38 points on September 6th and the New York
Jets matched that two weeks later against Indianapolis.
The first half belonged to the 39-year-old Anderson, who kicked six
field goals in last week's victory at Baltimore. He opened the scoring
with 8:31 to play in the first quarter when he capped a 10-play, 43-yard
drive by connecting from 48 yards. He lined up from 53 yards late in the
second period and calmly split the uprights with room to spare.
The Vikings extended the their advantage to 12-0 with 1:52 to play in
the half when Cunningham found Glover for a 13-yard TD.
Jacksonville got its only points of the first half as the gun sounded
when Mike Hollis
connected on a 25-yard field goal.
Taylor racked up 105 yards on 23 attempts for the Jaguars, who will be
the AFC's third seed in the postseason and play the final wild card entrant
on January 2nd or 3rd. Jacksonville closes the regular season next Monday
night against Pittsburgh.
"We played as hard as we could with as many people as we could in
support of a young quarterback," said Jaguars coach Tom Coughlin. "The
first half was a well played half. In the second half, the offense did not
contribute. It got out of hand and with that is the emotion of
dissapointment.
Minnesota visits Tennessee on Saturday seeking to tie the 1985 Chicago Bears and 1984 San
Franciso 49ers for most victories in a 16-game season.
© 1998 Sportsticker Enterprises, LP
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