Randy Moss takes it to the house. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        MINNEAPOLIS — Randy Moss , quiet for most of the season, once again burst out in prime time. Moss had 10 catches for 171 yards and three touchdowns Monday night, including a 57-yarder with 6:32 left, in a 28-16 victory over the New York Giants.

        The Vikings also gained a measure of revenge for the 41-0 shellacking they took from the Giants in January's NFC title game.

        It was about time for Moss, who had just 39 catches and three touchdowns this season entering the game.

        It was a tight and tedious game throughout until the Vikings (4-5) went ahead for good with 9:03 left when Daunte Culpepper, who passed for 277 yards and four touchdowns, threw a 1-yard fourth-down pass to Cris Carter. On the next series, he found Moss over the middle on a third-and-16 play, with Moss splitting the secondary and taking the ball into the end zone for the clinching score.

        It was a must-win game for the Vikings, who are three games behind Chicago and two behind Green Bay in the NFC Central. This was their fourth win in their last five home games, but they are 0-4 on the road.

        The Giants (5-5) fell 1 1/2 games behind Philadelphia in the NFC East race.

        It was a sloppy game with more than 200 yards in penalties — including 150 yards on 15 penalties for the Giants.

        That helped offset New York's 3-2 advantage in turnovers — two of them interceptions by rookie Will Allen that ended two Minnesota scoring threats. Three of the New York penalties were for pass interference, one of which led to the game's first touchdown.

        The Vikings led 14-13 at halftime, courtesy of Moss' two touchdown catches from Culpepper, one for 29 yards on the game's first possession, the other 25 when Moss was all alone after the Giants failed at an all-out blitz.

        The first was set up by a 39-yard pass-interference call against Allen on a pass to Moss; the second resulted in a 15-yard taunting penalty against Moss, who took the ball alone, turned around at the 5-yard line and danced backward into the end zone while waving the ball.

        But the Giants stayed close despite eight penalties for 49 yards.

        They made it 7-3 on Morten Andersen's 43-yard field goal, then took the lead on a 1-yard TD run by Tiki Barber after Barber had taken the ball 29 yards to the Vikings 1.

        Andersen added a 37-yard field goal, then hit the crossbar on a 53-yard attempt as the half ended.

        Then he kicked a 51-yarder on the first drive of the third quarter to give New York a 16-14 lead.

        The Vikings' drive to the go-ahead TD was a tedious affair, 62 yards in 14 plays. Rather than kick a go-ahead field goal on fourth-and-1, Culpepper faked into the line, rolled out and found Carter alone in the left corner of the end zone.

        A 3-minute video tribute was shown on the scoreboard, and dozens of former Vikings — including Carl Eller, Joey Browner and the recently retired Robert Smith — stood in a semi-circle behind a platform as owner Red McCombs honored Stringer in a brief speech.

        At halftime, the Vikings retired the number of Korey Stringer, who died of heat stroke during training camp. Team owner Red McCombs unveiled Stringer's No.77 jersey in a large wooden frame and presented it to Stringer's widow, Kelci.

        “Korey was loved by all Vikings,” McCombs said. “He was the ultimate team player.”

        Kelci Stringer thanked fans for their support.

        “I'm sure Korey is looking down on all of us tonight with a big smile,” she said. “Last but not least, I would like to thank every single fan here tonight and on TV. You are the reason Korey ... wanted to end his career here. I thank you.”

        N.Y. Giants ....... 10 3 3 0— 16 Minnesota ....... 7 7 0 14—28 First Quarter

        Min—Moss 28 pass from Culpepper (Anderson kick), 12:31.

        NY—FG Andersen 43, 6:46.

        NY—Barber 1 run (Andersen kick), :04.
       Second Quarter

        Min—Moss 25 pass from Culpepper (Anderson kick), 3:54.

        NY—FG Andersen 36, 1:05.
       Third Quarter

        NY—FG Andersen 51, 11:28. Drive: 7 plays, 52 yards, 3:32.
       Fourth Quarter

        Min—C.Carter 1 pass from Culpepper (Anderson kick), 9:03.

        Min—Moss 57 pass from Culpepper (Anderson kick), 6:32.

        A—64,283.

Bengals go from stellar to slumping Bengal notebook Moss breaks loose in Vikings' 28-16 win Vikings retire Stringer's No. 77 jersey NFL notebook

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