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Packers Baffled by Vikings

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TIMES STAFF WRITER

They probably don’t have a Kinko’s in Green Bay, maybe not even a Xerox machine yet, but now that Packer Coach Mike Holmgren has been given a head start on next year, he can begin assembling his resume.

Under work experience, suitors should note: He can’t beat Minnesota, can’t win under domes, and can’t win on artificial turf.

After smacking Green Bay, 28-14, Sunday before a record crowd of 64,471, Dennis Green’s Vikings are now 9-5 against Holmgren’s Packers, 6-1 in the Metrodome and 2-0 this season. They also clinched a playoff spot, and have a three-game lead and the tie-breaking edge in the NFC Central Division with five games to play.

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“I guess you would have to say for the year 1998 there’s been a little changing of the guard, yes,” said Packer General Manager Ron Wolf, who announced earlier this week there’s only a 20% chance Holmgren will return to coach Green Bay.

Holmgren, who came to Green Bay in 1992 to restore the luster to Titletown with two straight trips to the Super Bowl and three consecutive NFC Central Division titles, is now 12-26 on artificial turf, 10-13 under domes and reduced to battling San Francisco for the opportunity to play host to a wild-card game.

“I’m not ready to say [the Vikings are the better team],” said Holmgren, still defiant despite his team’s 7-4 record and the apparent disparity in offensive talent. “No, I don’t think anybody’s better than us.”

The Vikings (10-1), built for speed, are not only superior to the Packers along the offensive line, at running back and at the wide receiver position, but next to Dallas cornerback Deion Sanders, they have the game’s most electrifying and intriguing player in rookie wide receiver Randy Moss.

“We sure make him look like he’s Hall of Fame material, that’s for sure,” Wolf said.

In two games against the Packers, Moss has caught 13 passes for 343 yards and scored three touchdowns. He also had a 75-yard touchdown reception wiped out by a penalty in the first game, and a 61-yard play in this one.

“You’ve got to have somebody who’s just as fast, as tall and as good an athlete as him,” said Minnesota defensive back Orlando Thomas. “And I don’t think there’s too many cornerbacks like that.”

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Moss, called “slim” by his teammates because of his slight build at 6-4, 202-pounds, is considered the fastest player in the NFL. Faster for sure than Rod Smith, the unfortunate reserve Green Bay defensive back, who turned his back on quarterback Randall Cunningham to try and keep up with Moss only to fall behind like some sort of plow horse.

Smith, who took over for Craig Newsome after Newsome surrendered his body to cover Moss on a deep pass--suffering a cut leg, not only looked outclassed trying to keep up with Moss, but dizzy after being turned in circles.

“I think I’ve proved I can just play, period,” said Moss, who had eight catches for 153 yards, including a 49-yard touchdown catch to put the game away with 3:17 to play. “There are a lot of people who doubted me, who wondered if I could play in the big games. That Monday night in Green Bay could have been a fluke, so I just had to make more plays.”

Moss, passed over until the 21st pick in the draft because of off-the-field problems in his college career, has been tutored by teammate Cris Carter, and thrown into competition from day one as part of the Vikings’ potent three wide receiver set.

“Cris Carter taught me about looking up at the [TV] screen,” Moss said. “When I’m running down the field I’m looking at the screen and if I see Randall’s arm rare back then I get my legs moving before I look back for the ball. I was looking at the screen right before I caught that touchdown pass and knew I had to cut in and get it.”

Shadowed by Smith and Packer safety Darren Sharper, Moss turned just at the right time to catch Cunningham’s touchdown toss, startling Smith and Sharper who seemed unaware the ball was on its way.

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“It’s just how fast your eyes are as they look at the [TV] screen and it’s somewhat to your advantage,” said Moss, the first Minnesota rookie to have eight catches in a game since 1976 when Sammy White had nine. “Now don’t be making a big deal about me looking at the screen; I know it’s going to be in the paper that Moss has three eyes or something. . . . it’s just something that I’ve learned to use.”

The more he learns, the more dominant the Vikings will become. If defenses elect to smother Moss, Cunningham can turn to Carter or Jake Reed. He also has Robert Smith, one of the fastest backs in the game, running the ball and approaching 1,000 yards.

“The Vikings have always gotten off to fast starts,” said Packer linebacker Brian Williams, but in the past Green Bay could always count on Smith getting injured, and Green’s team swooning.

“But Smith’s still playing, and they’re still winning,” said Williams, “and it’s time you give those guys some credit.”

The Packers, not the same since losing running back Dorsey Levins to injury in the second game of the season, staged a comeback in the fourth quarter to pull within six points of the Vikings.

Quarterback Brett Favre, his team penalized four times on the drive for false starts because of the noise in the dome, overcame a seriously injured finger on his left hand to throw a scrambling two-yard touchdown pass to tight end Tyrone Davis with 7:31 to play in the game.

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The Packers had the momentum, but the Vikings had the answer, proving their mettle as a legitimate threat to become the first team to play its home games in a dome and advance to the Super Bowl. Beginning at their own 21, Cunningham moved the Vikings to the Green Bay 49, taking time off the clock and setting the stage for Moss’ heroics.

“I just told Randall to throw it up there,” said Moss, “and I’m going to get it.”

And he did, making his eighth touchdown catch of the year, and then taking a Lambeau Field-like leap into the stands, hurdling the eight-foot wall as if it were a curb along the road.

“I think my touchdown catch really got the Metrodome rocking,” Moss said. “I was so excited. The adrenaline was going through my body, and it just felt good.”

Look for the added small print on Holmgren’s resume: Will work for any team that does not have Minnesota and Moss on its schedule next year.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

PRO FOOTBALL / WEEK 12

THE REST

Minnesota 28, Green Bay 14

Arizona 45, Washington 42

Atlanta 20, Chicago 13

Detroit 28, Tampa Bay 25

Buffalo 34, Indianapolis 11

Pittsburgh 30, Jacksonville 15

New York Giants 20, Philadelphia 0

Dallas 30, Seattle 22

Carolina 24, St. Louis 20

San Diego 38, Kansas City 37

New York Jets 24, Tennessee 3

Baltimore 20, Cincinnati 13

San Francisco 31, New Orleans 20

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