PRO FOOTBALL : Vikings Lose More Than Just Game : Oilers’ Upset Victory Eliminates Minnesota From Playoffs

Houston’s Tony Zendejas kicked three field goals, Warren Moon passed for 280 yards and rookie Ernest Givins caught 6 passes for 108 yards in Sunday’s 23-10 upset victory over Minnesota.

But that was only the beginning of the adversity absorbed by the Vikings, who lost their quarterback and their chances for the NFL playoffs and also had two controversial calls go against them in a frustrating second half.

Viking quarterback Tommy Kramer, the NFL’s top-rated quarterback, suffered a bruised elbow in the second quarter and was replaced for the rest of the game by backup Wade Wilson.

The loss eliminated the Vikings from the NFL playoffs with an 8-7 record.

“This was very disappointing, I had been looking forward to coming home,” said Kramer, a former Rice quarterback. “Knocking us out of the playoff picture is very disappointing.

“We made enough mistakes in the first half to last us three games.”

Early in the third quarter, officials ruled Houston safety Keith Bostic intercepted a pass although a television end-zone camera showed the ball was dropped.

Zendejas missed a field-goal attempt with 2:21 to play but Viking tackle Tim Newton was called for holding on the play. That gave Houston a first down at the nine, and two plays later, rookie Allen Pinkett ran one yard for the Oilers’ final touchdown with 1:58 left in the game.

Minnesota Coach Jerry Burns, who was critical of officiating earlier in the season, said: “It was bad officiating just like it’s been all year. Those guys don’t know what they are doing.

“I asked the official on the field to ask the official upstairs to look at the end zone shot (on the Astrodome scoreboard). He said he would. I don’t know what he did.”

The Oilers, rebounding from last week’s 27-0 loss to San Diego, took advantage of six Vikings turnovers in winning for the fourth time this season.

The Oilers, who have the worst turnover ratio in the NFL, had only one lost fumble against the Vikings, who had three passes intercepted and lost three fumbles.

Kramer, the NFL’s top rated passer at 93.7, completed 3 of 13 passes for 47 yards before leaving the game late in the second quarter with a bruised elbow.

Wade Wilson replaced Kramer and finished with 11 completions on 28 attempts for 148 yards, with three interceptions.