NFC Championship Game Capsules

NFC NEWS ‘N’ NOTES
FOR USE AS DESIRED		FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION,
NFC-N-25 1/9/01		CONTACT: CHRIS McCLOSKEY (212/450-2080)

MINNESOTA AT NY GIANTS SUNDAY IN NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

SUNDAY, JANUARY 14
MINNESOTA VIKINGS-NFC CENTRAL (12-5) AT NEW YORK GIANTS-NFC EAST (13-4)
SERIES

	VIKINGS	GIANTS
LEADER	9-6 (Includes playoffs)
STREAKS	3 of past 4
COACHES VS. OPP.	Green: 3-2	Fassel: 0-2
VS. COMMON OPP.	Min: 6-1 (Ari 1-0; Chi 2-0; Dal 1-0; Det 2-0; StL 0-1) NYG: 5-2 (Ari 2-0; Chi 1-0; Dal 2-0; Det 0-1; StL 0-1)
PLAYOFF RECORD	17-22	15-19
LAST WEEK	W 34-16 vs. Saints (Divisional)	W 20-10 vs. Eagles (Divisional)
LAST GAME	12/26/99: Vikings 34 at Giants 17. Minnesota WR Cris Carter has 5 receptions for 131 yards, including 27-yard TD catch from WR Randy Moss.
LAST GAME AT SITE	12/26/99
LAST PLAYOFF	12/27/97: Vikings 23 at Giants 22. Minnesota scores 10 points in final 1:30 on WR Jake Reed’s 30-yard TD reception & K Eddie Murray’s 24-yard FG with 10 seconds remaining.
BROADCAST	FOX (12:30 PM ET): Pat Summerall, John Madden, D.J. Johnson (Field reporter). CBS Radio: Howard David, Matt Millen, Boomer Esiason, John Dockery (Field reporter). Game will be televised live in United Kingdom by Sky Sports.

2000 STAT LEADERS

QBs	Culpepper: 297-474-3,937-33-16-98.0 (3C)	Collins: 311-529-3,610-22-13-83.1
RBs	Smith: 295-1,521 (1C)-5.2-7	Barber: 213-1,006-4.7-8
WRs	C. Carter: 96 (3C)-1,274-13.3-9	Toomer: 78-1,094-14.0-7
OFFENSE	372.6 (3C)	336.0
TAKE/GIVE	-10	+7
DEFENSE	356.3	284.1 (2C)
SACKS	Randle: 8.0	Hamilton: 10.0
INTs	Tate, Wong: 2	McDaniel: 6
PR	Walters (R): 14.5	Barber: 8.5
KOR	Walters (R): 23.1	Dixon (R): 21.2
PUNTING	Berger: 44.7 (1C)	Maynard: 40.6
KICKING	Anderson: 111 (45/45 PAT; 22/23 FG)	Daluiso: 85 (34/34 PAT; 17/23 FG)

NOTES

GAME FEATURES NFC’s No. 1 (Vikings, 133.1) & No. 4 (Giants, 125.6) rushing teams……Teams have combined for 23 Championship Game appearances (Giants, 16; Vikings, 7).

VIKINGS: Have made 5 consecutive playoff appearances, longest active streak in NFL. Have been in playoffs in 8 of 9 seasons under head coach DENNIS GREEN. Make second NFC title-game appearance in 3 years (1998)……Club’s 397 points scored ranked second in NFC to St. Louis’ 540……Ranked second in conference with 6.25 average gain on first down ……Finished 2000 with NFC’s top TD passer (QB DAUNTE CULPEPPER, career-high 33), top rusher (RB ROBERT SMITH, career-high & club-record 1,521), top punter (P MITCH BERGER, 44.7), No. 2 in scrimmage yards (Smith; 1,869), No. 2 in TDs (WR RANDY MOSS, 15), No. 3 WR in receptions (CRIS CARTER, 96), & No. 4 WR in rec. yards (Moss, career-high & club record 1,437)……Culpepper’s 33 TD passes combine with 7 rush TDs for 40 total on season. Led NFC with 95.4 third-down passer rating, including 10 TDs vs. 5 INTs, & ranked third in conference with 100.6 fourth-quarter rating, with 9 TDs vs. 4 INTs. Also was 6-6 converting third-and-one rushing attempts. His 120.7 passer rating vs. Saints in Divisional was highest in team playoff history……Led NFC in rushing offense (133.1) & finished third in conference in pass (239.5) & total (372.6) offense……Carter ranked third in NFC with 26 third-down receptions (354 yards & 3 TDs). In 12 career playoff games, he has 58 catches for 835 yards & 8 TDs. Moss became player to reach 4,000 yards the fastest vs. Packers on 12/17 when he hit milestone in 47th career game. Old record of 48 was held by JERRY RICE. Since 1998, only Rams RB MARSHALL FAULK (48) has scored more TDs than Moss’ 44. In 5 career playoff games, Moss has 26 catches for 584 yards (22.5 average). Moss’ 68-yard TD vs. Saints was second-longest in club playoff history. Has scored TD in 5 consecutive postseason games, tying for second all-time with JAMES LOFTON. Record is 8 by JOHN STALLWORTH. Carter & Moss have each had 100-yard receiving game in past 2 postseason games……DE JOHN RANDLE led club (or tied) in sacks for eighth consecutive year with 8.0. Has 5.0 sacks in 3 career games vs. Giants……S ROBERT GRIFFITH has 3 INTs in past 5 playoff games……Vikings All-Stars: C MATT BIRK, Carter, Culpepper, Griffith, Moss, Smith and T KOREY STRINGER.

GIANTS: Clinched first NFC East title & first playoff berth since 1997. Host first Championship Game since 1/11/87 vs. Redskins (W 17-0). Have won past 2 NFC title games……Club is participating in 25th postseason, second-most all-time behind Dallas’ 26. Are 6-2 all-time in playoff games at Giants Stadium. Have outscored opponents 186-61 in those contests……Have won 6 in a row & 10 of past 12 (including Divisional). Have outscored past 6 opponents 135-72……Including playoffs, Giants are 9-0 when leading after first quarter, 10-0 when leading at halftime & 10-0 when leading after 3 quarters……QB KERRY COLLINS is 2-1 career in postseason……Club rushed for 112 yards vs. Eagles. RB TIKI BARBER finished 2000 with first career 1,000-yard season. Had 2,085 all purpose yards (1,006 rushing, 719 receiving, 332 punt returns, 28 kickoff returns)……WR AMANI TOOMER finished 2000 with second consecutive 1,000-yard season ……Held opponents to less than 20 points in 12 games. Finished 11-1 in those 12. Have held 6 opponents to single digits & are 6-0 in those matchups……Club’s 246 points allowed this season were second-fewest in NFC to Philadelphia’s 245…… Defense ranked first in conference against run (72.3) & second overall (284.1). Allowed fewest rushing first downs in NFC (62) & 3.2 yards per carry, best in conference……Permitted NFL-low 2 20-yard runs in regular season……Defense held Eagles to 186 total yards -- 46 rushing & 140 passing……DE MICHAEL STRAHAN has 3.0 career sacks in 2 playoff games, including 2.0 vs. Eagles……CB EMMANUEL MC DANIEL led club with career-high 6 INTs……KR RON DIXON returned opening kickoff 97 yards for TD vs. Eagles. Was first KR-TD in Giants playoff history. Was first opening KR-TD in playoffs since NAT MOORE on 12/21/74……K BRAD DALUISO is 7-7 career on field goals in playoffs……LB JESSIE Armstead & G RON STONE are NFC All-Stars.