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Taylor Runs For 164, Lifts Vikes

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The Associated Press

Published: November 19, 2007

MINNEAPOLIS - Adrian Peterson watched from the sideline in a sweat suit, perhaps seeing a little bit of himself in Chester Taylor's clutch performance.

Taylor had 202 total yards and three TDs, sending the Vikings past former teammate Daunte Culpepper and the Oakland Raiders 29-22 on Sunday.

Peterson was out with a minor knee injury, so Taylor did his best impression. He rushed 22 times for 164 yards, and Minnesota (4-6) pressured Culpepper into a costly turnover and four sacks.

The Vikings turned the ball over four times in the first half, and Sebastian Janikowski followed their fumbles with three of his five field goals. He couldn't prevent Oakland (2-8) from losing its sixth straight.

The Raiders were trailing 22-19 at the Minnesota 14 late in the third quarter, when the Metrodome crowd saw the kind of mistake Culpepper made frequently here despite three Pro Bowl appearances and all those touchdown passes to Randy Moss.

Brian Robison crunched Culpepper in the pocket, the ball popped out, and Chad Greenway recovered. The Vikings went the other way and took a 29-19 lead on Taylor's third touchdown.

Culpepper completed 23 of 39 passes for 344 yards, one TD and one interception. His last-second heave into the end zone was batted down.

Culpepper came jogging out of the tunnel, across the field from his original team, drawing a brief round of boos.

Min-Taylor 10 run (Longwell kick), 14:11.

Min-Safety, Culpepper penalized for intentional grounding in end zone, 8:30.

Oak-FG Janikowski 42, 4:45.

Second Quarter

Min-FG Longwell 30, 14:56.

Oak-Madsen 10 pass from Culpepper (Janikowski kick), 12:57.

Oak-FG Janikowski 30, 11:18.

Min-Taylor 38 run (Longwell kick), 9:17.

Oak-FG Janikowski 42, 1:42.

Oak-FG Janikowski 49, :00.

Third Quarter

Min-FG Longwell 38, 8:23.

Fourth Quarter

Min-Taylor 6 run (Longwell kick), 14:52.

Oak-FG Janikowski 52, 3:23.

A-62,960.

RUSHING-Oakland, Fargas 22-60, Rhodes 2-1, Culpepper 3-0. Minnesota, Taylor 22-164, Williamson 1-26, Jackson 3-19, Tahi 4-10, Moore 2-9.

PASSING-Oakland, Culpepper 23-39-1-344. Minnesota, Jackson 17-22-1-171, Rice 2-2-0-94.

RECEIVING-Oakland, Porter 5-88, Curry 4-120, Griffith 4-31, Dwight 3-33, Miller 3-33, Fargas 3-29, Madsen 1-10. Minnesota, Wade 5-45, Taylor 3-38, Williamson 3-34, Shiancoe 2-94, Richardson 2-19, Rice 2-18, Kleinsasser 1-11, Ferguson 1-6.

MISSED FIELD GOALS-None.

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