By Chad Courrier
MINNEAPOLIS — The more Brett Favre watched film of the Cincinnati Bengals this week, the more concerned the Minnesota Vikings quarterback became. Coming off a loss last week at Arizona, he knew that a victory would be essential, but not easy.
“I don’t know if there’s ever a good loss, but I thought we responded in a good way,” Favre said. “I was concerned about this game because I know how good (the Bengals) are. If we didn’t rise up and respond to the challenge, it’d be two (losses) in a row.”
The Vikings (11-2) dispatched Cincinnati 30-10 at the Metrodome on Sunday, using a defense that was sparked by the return of cornerback Antoine Winfield but still missing injured linebacker E.J. Henderson and safety Tyrell Johnson and an offense that didn’t have rookie receiver Percy Harvin, who was deactivated after missing the last three days of practice with migraines. The victory allowed the Vikings to clinch a playoff berth for the second consecutive season and move one victory from winning another NFC North title.
“Today was as big of a victory as we’ve had all year,” Favre said. “It wasn’t overly exciting, but we beat a very good football team rather convincingly.”
The Vikings defense allowed only 16 yards and two first downs in the first quarter. Meanwhile, the offense produced two drives, one which ended with an interception and another that produced a 41-yard field by Ryan Longwell that made it 3-0 on the second play of the second quarter.
“I thought our defense was disruptive,” coach Brad Childress said. “Those three-and-outs (in the first quarter) set the tempo for the game.”
The Vikings’ next possession started at the Bengals’ 43 after a late-hit penalty on Darius Reynaud’s 19-yard punt return. It took seven plays to score, with Brett Favre completing a 9-yard touchdown strike to Sidney Rice on third down. Longwell’s kick made it 10-0 with 8:45 remaining in the first half.
The Bengals (9-4) finally found some offense late in the second quarter, marching 82 yards in 10 plays in 4:49. The score came on a 15-yard pass from Carson Palmer to Chad Ochocinco, who was uncovered as he strolled into the left corner of the end zone with 3:56 to play.
Longwell added a 23-yard field goal just 38 seconds before halftime, then following a Cincinnati fumble, caused by Antoine Winfield and recovered by Chad Greenway, Longwell booted a 44-yarder on the final play to make it 16-7.
“We didn’t want to play soft and let them get into position to take a swing at (a field goal),” Childress said. “Any time you can knock one out and get three points off a turnover, that kind of helps.”
Chester Taylor had the key plays on the Vikings’ first drive of the second half, with a 26-yard reception and 17-yard run on a 10-play drive, though it was Adrian Peterson who dove in from the 1. Longwell’s PAT made it 23-7, opening a comfortable lead in what was a tight game just a few minutes earlier.
“That was huge,” Favre said. “We had a couple of big drives, that one and the one at the end. You’ve got to be able to shut the door when you have a chance.”
The Bengals had a first down inside the Vikings’ 10 early in the fourth quarter but had to settle for Shayne Graham’s 22-yard field goal, allowing Minnesota to keep a two-possession lead. The clinching drive took 11 plays and 6:15, covering 67 yards. Peterson scored his second touchdown of the day, setting a team record with his 14th rushing touchdown of the season, on a 3-yard sweep, and Longwell added the PAT for a 30-10 advantage.
“It’s rewarding, but I’m not surprised (we’re in the playoffs,” Favre said. “This is what I came back for. This team made the playoffs last year, and we made it again. But we can’t rest. There’s a long ways to go, and we’ve put ourselves in good position, not great.”
The defense allowed only 210 yards of offense, with Palmer completing 15 of 25 passes for just 94 yards. Cedric Benson nearly broke the Vikings’ streak of 35 games without allowing a 100-yard rusher, picking up 42 yards one run in the third quarter, but finished with 96 yards.
Winfield led the team with nine tackles and a forced fumble, but he drew the biggest cheers when, after dropping an interception, he went to the ground and did pushups as his penalty.
“I don’t know how I missed that one,” he said. “We do that in practice. If you drop one, you do pushups.”
Peterson ended up with 97 yards on 26 carries, his best total in the last month. Favre was 17 of 30 for 192 yards, with Bernard Berrian making six catches for 43 yards.
“I was excited that we bounced back,” Childress said. “I wanted to see our team get back to playing the way we’re used to playing.”
