NFL

NFC: Vikings trying to address mistakes

By wire services
Published January 5, 2005

Though Randy Moss is catching flak for his early departure from the field, the rest of the Vikings offense isn't finishing either.

The receiver irked his team by sulking toward the locker room with two seconds and a desperation onside kick left in Sunday's 21-18 loss to the Redskins. His frustration was obvious and predictable because lately the Vikings just aren't putting up the points expected of them.

They'll have to score plenty in Green Bay this weekend to win their wild-card playoff game against the rival Packers.

"It's time to check yourself and do what you can do ... the extra things to help the team," wide receiver Marcus Robinson said.

Leaky pass defense was a big reason Minnesota closed the regular season by losing seven of 10, but the offense can't escape blame.

Injuries and a suspension kept the Vikings from using Moss, Pro Bowl center Matt Birk and running backs Michael Bennett, Onterrio Smith and Mewelde Moore for at least four games each. They've all since returned.

"We've been shooting ourselves in the foot a little bit," coach Mike Tice said.

Poorly timed penalties have been the biggest problem.

The Vikings were draining the clock late in a tie against the Packers on Dec. 24 when Birk's holding call erased a 16-yard run by Bennett to the Green Bay 40 that would have given Minnesota a first down just before the two-minute warning. The Packers forced a punt and won 34-31 on a game-ending field goal.

"It seemed like earlier in the year we were able to overcome them, but lately we haven't been," Birk said. "So that's big. Don't beat ourselves. Don't make it any harder than it needs to be."

EAGLES: While quarterback Donovan McNabb and running back Brian Westbrook draw the most attention, David Akers is his team's most consistent threat.

Akers had another outstanding season, converting 27 of 32 field-goal attempts (84.4 percent) and earning his third trip to the Pro Bowl. He set an NFL record with 17 field goals from 40 yards or longer this season, including four (51, 42, 42, 40) in a 19-9 victory in Chicago in October.

"It's special to me," Akers said of the record. "It means coaches have confidence in you making long kicks. It's hard to make kicks of that distance."

Akers finished the regular season as the second-most-accurate kicker in NFL history behind Indianapolis' Mike Vanderjagt. Akers, who doesn't have the luxury of kicking in an indoor stadium like Vanderjagt, has made 83.2 percent of his field goals (139-for-167) in seven seasons.

If the Eagles have to rely on Akers' left foot to win a playoff game, they're confident they'll advance. Philadelphia hosts Seattle, St. Louis or Minnesota on Jan. 16.

"I think he has a chance to be the best kicker in NFL history," special-teams coach John Harbaugh said. "He is very talented, very strong. He's so compact and so consistent with his technique and that has been developed through really hard work. I think he is the best in the business."

FALCONS: Jim Mora says Warrick Dunn's latest 1,000-yard season was a surprise even to the Falcons. "He ran for 1,100 yards and really, if you look at his season, they kind of sneaked up on you," Mora said.

The 5-foot-9, 180-pound Dunn has heard that a lot in his eight-year NFL career, even though he has three 1,000-yard seasons and has topped the 900-yard mark two other times.

"When I have a 100-yard game and have a great game, it's not talked about, but when you have other backs who have been out there a lot and have been expected to do it, they're more glorified," Dunn said. "As long as the people around me know, I'm good. But it's frustrating at times."

Dunn started all 16 games for the first time in his career and set career highs with nine touchdowns rushing and 265 carries. His 1,106 yards rushing fell just below his personal-best 1,133 with Tampa Bay in 2000.

"I'm not tired, you're not going to wear me out," Dunn said. "Just give it to me and I'm going to make it happen."

[Last modified January 5, 2005, 00:41:12]