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Taylor, Jackson keep Vikings' playoff hopes alive

Dec 10, 2007 - 1:23 AM By Tom Kent PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) - The Minnesota Vikings moved one step closer to a playoff berth - with a little help from the lowly San Francisco 49ers.

Chester Taylor rushed for 101 yards and a touchdown as the Vikings kept their playoff hopes alive by drubbing the dreadful 49ers, 27-7, on Sunday.

Minnesota (7-6) won its fourth straight game and moved one game ahead of the Arizona Cardinals and Detroit Lions for an NFC wild card berth.

"It was a great team effort," Vikings coach Brad Childress said. "They did a great job, and the coaches did a did a great job. This game was a testament to how hard these guys have worked all season long. It was a great collective effort."

The Vikings will face three teams with losing records in their remaining games as they attempt to make their first postseason appearance since 2004.

Minnesota struck early when, on the first play from scrimmage, defensive tackle Kevin Williams intercepted Trent Dilfer's pass and rambled 18 yards into the end zone for the first score of the game.

"It was about me being in the right place at the right time and cashing in on the opportunity," Williams said.

It was the Vikings' sixth interception returned for a touchdown this season, tying the team record set in 1992.

"He made a great play," Childress said. "It's rare you get one of those in your career. I'm just glad he didn't have to run further because he would have needed oxygen."

Taylor put his mark on the game with an 84-yard jaunt - the longest run from scrimmage in the NFL this season - in the second quarter to give Minnesota a 27-0 advantage and put the game out of reach of the hapless Niners with 5:02 left in the first half.

"It was a call to the weak side," Taylor said. "The offensive line did a great job picking up the blitz and all I had to do was get into the secondary."

"We gave up to many big plays," San Francisco coach Mike Nolan said. "The 84-yarder was one of them. He ran right into our blitz and that was it."

Taylor collected his 101 yards on just eight carries for the Vikings, who entered with the league's best rushing offense. Taylor's performance marked the eighth 100-yard effort for Minnesota running backs this season.

The performance by Taylor picked up the slack for vaunted rookie Adrian Peterson, who entered the game leading the NFL in rushing but managed zero yards on 12 carries.

Emerging second-year quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, who was coming off one the best games of his career against Detroit last week, completed 16-of-25 passes for 163 yards and a touchdown.

"Each game, each play you learn something," Jackson said. "That's the mind-set I'm taking. Everything in the NFL is a process and I'm just trying to learn and continue to take small steps right now."

With the victory, the Vikings snapped an eight-game losing streak in San Francisco, which included three playoff appearances.

After winning its first two games, San Francisco has now lost 10 of 11 and each of its last five home games, marking the franchise's longest home losing streak since the 49ers also dropped five in a row in 2004.

Dilfer, who was filling in for injured starter Alex Smith, left the game shortly before the first half ended after sustaining a head injury while attempting to dive for a first down. He was replaced by third string quarterback Shaun Hill, who connected with Arnaz Battle on a 5-yard strike for the 49ers' only score.