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Vikings Pick Off Manning

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By TOM CANAVAN, The Associated Press

Published: November 26, 2007

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The Minnesota Vikings know how to make Eli Manning look bad, and this time they did it in front of big brother, Peyton.

With Peyton watching in the stands, Darren Sharper, Dwight Smith and Chad Greenway picked off passes by Eli and returned them for touchdowns in leading the Vikings to a 41-17 victory against New York on Sunday.

"It's not necessarily that we have a good read on Eli," Sharper said. "I just think we have played well against him the last couple of times."

Well isn't the word. Great is. The Vikings (5-6) have picked off Manning eight times in the two games, scoring on four of those picks and coming close on another.

Sharper scored on a 20-yard return, Smith rumbled 93 yards and Greenway followed from 37 yards just a few plays later as the Vikings set a team single-game record for interception returns for TDs.

"When you throw four interceptions, it's never a good day," said Manning, who finished 21 of 49 for 273 yards. "They took advantage of it and scored on three of them. Every one has its own story."

Sharper's interception came after Manning and tight end Jeremy Shockey had a miscommunication on a blitz read. It seemed Sharper was the only one who knew where the pass was going. Smith's score came on a tipped pass and Greenway's TD came with Manning under pressure.

"I'm just disappointed," Manning said after the Giants (7-4) lost for the second time in three weeks.

Asked if it was tougher playing like that in front of his brother, Manning grimaced. "It doesn't make any difference," he said.

The NFL record for interceptions returned for touchdowns is four, set by Seattle against Kansas City on Nov. 4, 1984.

The Vikings nearly had a fourth return in winning consecutive games for the first time this season. Smith returned a second-quarter interception 19 yards to the Giants 8, setting up a touchdown run by Chester Taylor. Another pick late in the third quarter was overturned by a Giants' challenge.

"Whenever a quarterback makes a throw and gives up a touchdown by interception, it does make you a little gun-shy," Sharper said.

Min-Rice 60 pass from Jackson (Longwell kick), 14:19.

NYG-Droughns 1 run (Tynes kick), 9:25.

Min-Sharper 20 interception return (Longwell kick), 3:15.

Second Quarter

Min-Taylor 8 run (Longwell kick), 9:49.

Min-FG Longwell 46, 3:16.

Third Quarter

NYG-FG Tynes 48, 11:07.

Min-FG Longwell 26, 1:43.

Fourth Quarter

Min-Smith 93 interception return (Longwell kick), 13:41.

Min-Greenway 37 interception return (Longwell kick), 12:59.

NYG-Burress 6 pass from Manning (Tynes kick), 5:54.

A-78,591.

RUSHING-Minnesota, Taylor 31-77, Jackson 5-38, Moore 3-12. N.Y. Giants, Droughns 15-46, Bradshaw 4-29.

PASSING-Minnesota, Jackson 10-12-0-129. N.Y. Giants, Manning 21-49-4-273.

RECEIVING-Minnesota, Rice 3-82, Wade 2-14, Taylor 2-12, Shiancoe 1-13, Williamson 1-8, Dugan 1-0. N.Y. Giants, Burress 7-93, Toomer 4-83, Shockey 4-44, Moss 3-39, Droughns 1-6, Hixon 1-5, Matthews 1-3.

MISSED FIELD GOALS-None.

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