NFC: Minnesota Vikings 23.2C New York Giants 22 1997–98 NFL playoffs

at giants stadium, east rutherford, new jersey

game time: 12:30 p.m. est
game weather: 46 °f (8 °c), rain , snow
game attendance: 77,710
referee: ed hochuli
tv announcers (abc): mike patrick (play-by-play) , joe theismann (color commentator)

the 1997 playoffs notable featuring 4 teams nfc central. @ fourth place vikings, had started year promising 8-2 before losing 5 straight games , barely making postseason 9-7 record. vikings had made playoffs in 4 of last 5 seasons, had lost each time in first round. time, however, managed earn win scoring 10 points in final 90 seconds of game.

vikings quarterback randall cunningham got off rough start lost 3 first half turnovers converted 9 new york points. after each team punted start game, cunningham lost fumble recovered defensive tackle bernard holsey on vikings 23. new york ended losing yardage ensuing drive, brad daluiso kicked 43-yard field goal put them 3-0. cunningham fumbled again on next drive, , new york lineman michael strahan recovered ball on minnesota 46-yard line. quarterback danny kanell subsequently completed 27-yard pass running charles way, setting daluiso s second field goal made score 6-0.

in second quarter, new york increased lead 13-0 7-play, 56-yard scoring drive. kanell kept going 11-yard pass running tiki barber on third , 4, , hit david patten 37-yard completion vikings 2-yard line. 1 play later, threw 3-yard touchdown pass tight end aaron pierce. after teams traded punts, giants defensive jason sehorn intercepted pass cunningham , returned 36 yards vikings 47-yard line. new york drove 23 yards 41-yard field goal daluiso, making score 16-0. later on, vikings caught break when defensive duane butler recovered fumble giants receiver amani toomer on new york 26-yard line. cunningham s 19-yard completion cris carter moved ball 7, leading eddie murray s 26-yard field goal. however, ensuing kickoff went out of bounds, giving ball new york on 40. taking advantage of excellent field position, giants put 26-yard drive score on daluiso s 51-yard field goal time expired in half, giving new york 19-3 lead. giants defense held vikings offense 21 rushing yards , cunningham completed 5 of 16 passes.

early in third quarter, vikings lineman jerry ball recovered fumble barber on giants 4-yard line, setting leroy hoard s 4-yard touchdown run narrowed gap 19-10. after punt, minnesota s offense got on track, moving ball new york territory cunningham s 33-yard completion jake reed. however, murray missed 48-yard field goal attempt. still defense managed force punt, , brad maynard s short kick gave them first down on own 40. time managed drive 52 yards , score murray s 26-yard field goal, making score 19-13 going fourth quarter.

new york s offense came life in final quarter, kanell completed 6 passes on 13-play, 74-yard drive, including 18-yarder patten on third , 9, , 21-yard completion chris calloway. vikings defense halted possession on own 5, daluiso kicked fifth field goal of day there, giving giants 22-13 lead 7:22 left in regulation. vikings got ball , ran 7 plays, not scoring range , decided punt facing two-score deficit 3:51 left.

if home, have been booed on place, because people don t understand game , vikings coach dennis green said after game. persuaded green punt , keep playing defense how maligned run defenders stopping new york s running attack. green admitted cutting close. had onside kick , said. practice every day. luck when preparation meets opportunity.

green s decision paid off vikings forced punt 2:06 left, , got ball on giants 49-yard line due short maynard kick. after, scored on cunningham s 30-yard touchdown pass reed 1:30 left. murray attempted onside kick, bounced off calloway s chest , recovered vikings receiver chris walsh on minnesota 39. false start penalty , incompletion left vikings facing second , 15 34, cunningham subsequently completed passes andrew glover , carter gains of 11 , 24 yards. following 12-yard pass interference penalty on defensive phillippi sparks, robert smith ran 16-yard gain set murray s game-winning 24-yard field goal.

this game biggest comeback win road team in playoffs since 1972, , first postseason win vikings in 9 years. first playoff win of green s career, following 4 first-round playoff losses on last 5 years.