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Taylor's three TDs lead Vikings past Raiders

Nov 18, 2007 - 11:44 PM By Mike Weimerskirch PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) - Against one of the worst teams in the NFL, the Minnesota Vikings did not miss rookie running back Adrian Peterson.

Chester Taylor filled in capably, rushing for 164 yards and three touchdowns on 22 carries, as the Vikings posted a 29-22 victory over the Oakland Raiders on Sunday.

Peterson, the NFL's leading rusher, sat out the game with a knee injury suffered in last week's 34-0 loss to the Green Bay Packers.

"I was getting the ball quite a bit before Adrian started to take off," Taylor said. "(Today) I felt like my old self."

Prior to Sunday, the Vikings (4-6) had 10 rushing touchdowns all season - eight by Peterson.

"Chester has been overshadowed the entire year with Adrian, but I'll take Chester Taylor on my team anytime," Minnesota center Matt Birk said. "He runs hard, he fights for every yard he can get."

"I try to run harder and break a few more tackles (than Adrian)," Taylor added.

Perhaps looking to open up his offense in Peterson's absence, Vikings coach Brad Childress surprised the Raiders on the game's first play, as rookie wide receiver Sidney Rice completed a 79-yard pass to Visanthe Shiancoe.

"We talked about getting a spark right off the top," Rice said. "We came out, we got the first big play."

Raiders defensive tackle Warren Sapp felt it was unacceptable to give up a big play at the start of the game.

"People run plays like that because you are undisciplined," Sapp said.

On the next snap, Taylor rambled in from 10 yards out, giving the Vikings a 7-0 lead just 43 seconds into the contest.

"The offensive line made holes, like they always do," Taylor said. "All I had to do was hit them."

Back in as Oakland's starter, Daunte Culpepper provided a spark for the Raiders (2-8), completing 23-of-40 passes for 344 yards. The former Viking was making his first appearance against the team that traded him to Miami during the offseason in 2006.

"This stadium is electric," Culpepper said. "You know it's going to be crazy. It's a great atmosphere to play in."

"You always worry about guys coming back home with an emotional game," Raiders coach Lane Kiffin said. "Culpepper) was very composed. I thought he played well enough for us to win today."

The teams combined for 26 points during a wild second quarter in which Sebastian Janikowski kicked a pair of field goals in the final two minutes to pull the Raiders into a 19-19 halftime time.

Minnesota turned the ball over four times in the first half, andthe Raiders converted three of the turnovers into three field goals.

But Taylor provided the key score as his 6-yard TD run gave the Vikings a 29-19 lead on the first play of the fourth quarter.

Prior to Chester's third TD, the Raiders were in a position to take the lead, reaching the Vikings' 19-yard line.

Trailing, 22-19, Oakland came away empty as Culpepper coughed up the ball while being sacked by defensive end Brian Robinson.

"The main thing is not allowing people to score," Robinson said. "You don't want people to drive on you, but if they get down there, you want to keep them out of the end zone. That's the difference between a win and a loss."

"I wish I could have stepped up quicker," Culpepper said.

Minnesota's defense stiffened in the second half, blanking the Raiders until Janikowski kicked his fifth field goal with 3:28 remaining.

"It's frustrating when you take a loss and in the end, it was so close," Oakland running back Justin Fargas said. "It makes you think back to all the opportunities that you let go by."

Oakland reached Minnesota's 39 on its final possession, but Culpepper's desperation pass was knocked down in the end zone, sending the Raiders to their sixth straight loss.