Gannon’s Bad Hand Turns Out to Be Pat Hand

Everyone had a hand in the Minnesota Vikings’ rout Sunday, and Rich Gannon’s sore right one was the most valuable.

Gannon ignored an injured passing hand and led the Vikings to their most lopsided victory in four years, throwing a personal-best four touchdown passes in a 42-7 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.

Gannon, playing with a chipped bone in the right hand, completed 19 of 22 passes for 212 yards during a 28-point first half that put Minnesota (3-1) in position to do anything it wanted. He finished with a career-high 318 yards on 25 of 32 passing.

It looked--and felt--easy.

“Sometimes it seems like everything is so clear,” said Gannon, who sat out most of the previous Sunday’s 26-20 victory over Tampa Bay. “Today was one of those days. Even when I got sacked, I’d get up and say, ‘Man, I don’t even hurt.’ ”

The Vikings dominated every phase: Cris Carter had a career-high 11 catches for 124 yards, including a pair of touchdowns; Terry Allen scored three touchdowns, and Todd Scott had three of the Vikings’ four interceptions against Boomer Esiason, who was benched midway through the third quarter.

Cincinnati (2-2) threw all-out blitzes and mixed coverages at Gannon, but nothing worked. The Vikings scored on five of their first seven possessions for a 35-0 lead.

It started when Allen turned a short pass from Gannon into a 15-yard touchdown play on Minnesota’s first possession.

Carter caught a 15-yarder for a 14-0 lead, and Allen’s two-yard run made it 21-0 late in the second quarter. Gannon completed 11 consecutive passes during the span.

Allen’s one-yard run made it 28-0 at the half, and Gannon threw a 30-yarder to Carter to complete the 35-point spurt early in the third quarter.