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Vikings hold off Texans to reach .500

Nov 3, 2008 - 1:40 AM By Mike Weimerskirch PA SportsTicker contributing writer

MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Watch out Adrian Peterson, Bernard Berrian is fast becoming the Minnesota' Vikings quick-strike player.

Berrian had two long receptions in the first half as the Vikings recorded a 28-21 victory over the Houston Texans on Sunday to climb back to .500 on the season.

The wideout set up Minnesota's first score with a 55-yard reception, then caught a 49-yard TD pass to give Minnesota (4-4) a 21-7 halftime lead. It was Berrian's fourth touchdown reception of the season.

"If you want to back people out of the box, you have to hit downfield plays," Berrian said. "I wish we could do that every game."

Berrian outjumped Houston cornerback Dunta Robinson at the 35-yard line, then sprinted past safety Eugene Wilson for the score.

"I think (Robinson) broke on the ball late," said Berrian, a four-year veteran who signed with the Vikings as a free agent in the offseason. "I jumped for the ball because I didn't want him to make a play on the ball.

"When you spend that kind of money, you hope the guy you're spending it on is capable of making those kind of plays."

Gus Frerotte completed only 11-of-18 passes for 182 yards, but threw three touchdown passes.

"We tried to run the ball and we stuck with our game plan," Frerotte said, "but when they have eight guys in the box, you have to get the ball downfield and hurt them that way."

The Vikings also rode the running of Peterson, who overcame a sluggish start to rush for 139 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries.

"The first seven games, I felt like I was patient, but I really was not," said Peterson, the NFL's second-leading rusher behind Washington's Clinton Portis. "I came in with a different mindset. I can see where I am improving."

Leading, 21-14, the Vikings put the game away with under seven minutes remaining in the fourth quarter when Frerotte hit a wide-open Vishante Shiancoe over the middle for a 25-yard touchdown.

"The linebacker tried to jam me and stumbled," Shiancoe said. "That was a crucial time to score."

Matt Schaub started the game at quarterback for the Texans (3-5) and went 11-for-16 passing for 139 yards in the first half. He played most of the second quarter with a left knee injury, but did not return after halftime.

Sage Rosenfels took over in the second half and threw a pair of TD passes for the Texans. He finished 21-of-29 for 224 yards.

His TD pass - a 14-yarder to Andre Johnson - pulled the Texans back within a touchdown with 2:58 remaining.

"When I hit (Johnson) to make it a seven-point game, I thought we had a chance," Rosenfels said.

"Rosenfels got the ball out of his hands a lot quicker (than Schaub) coming out in the third quarter," Vikings cornerback said Antoine Winfield, who had an interception in the second quarter, one of three turnovers forced by Minnesota. "He did a great job moving the ball."

After a failed onside kick, Houston forced a punt, but the Texans turned the ball over on downs, ending their hopes.

The Vikings took at the Texans' 1-yard-line and the fans wanted another touchdown. Instead, Frerotte took a pair of knees to run out the clock.

The loss snapped a franchise-record three-game winning streak for Texas.