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Jets visit Vikings in critical game for both teams

Dec 17, 2006 - 3:14 PM NY Jets (7-6) at Minnesota (6-7) Sunday 1:00 pm EST

MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- The New York Jets and Minnesota Vikings both feature first-year coaches who would like to make the playoffs.

Sunday's matchup at the Metrodome could go a long way toward determining the playoff fate of each team.

Under Eric Mangini, the Jets have been one of the NFL's biggest surprises. They are one game behind Cincinnati and Jacksonville in the wild-card race in the competitive AFC.

The Jets play two of their final three games on the road, also visiting Miami on Christmas before closing the season at home against hapless Oakland.

Minnesota is trying to reach the postseason under coach Brad Childress. The Vikings are a game behind the New York Giants, Philadelphia and Atlanta in the NFC wild-card race.

The Vikings do have a favorable schedule. They visit Green Bay and host St. Louis - two teams with a combined 10-16 record - in their final two games.

If they are going to have a chance at reaching the playoffs for the second time in three seasons, the Vikings will have to find a way to beat an AFC East opponent for the first time in four tries. Minnesota has losses to Buffalo, Miami and New England.

Childress' offense remains a work in progress but there is no questioning the Vikings' run defense, which allows just 54.1 yards per game to rank first in the NFL.

The Vikings' run defense may force Mangini to spread the field and rely on his passing game led by quarterback Chad Pennington.

Last Sunday, Pennington threw two interceptions and lost a fumble as the Jets endured a 31-13 home loss to Buffalo.

Artose Pinner rushed for a career-high 125 yards and three touchdowns as the Vikings posted a 30-20 victory at Detroit last week. The Vikings held the Lions to minus-three yards rushing on 10 attempts.

Pinner started in place of Chester Taylor, who missed the game with injured ribs. Taylor has rushed for 1,098 yards and five touchdowns.

The Jets are making their first visit to the Metrodome since 1994.