Vikings Sailing Into Playoffs After Carter’s Milestone Catch

Cris Carter took his place in NFL history and the Minnesota Vikings gained a playoff spot.

The two go hand-in-hand, because the Vikings ultimately needed the 1,000th catch of Carter’s career--a four-yard touchdown reception--to defeat the Detroit Lions, 24-17, on Thursday night.

“As I watched the sign hit 990 . . . 1,000, it was almost like I was watching someone else’s life,” Carter said. “It’s hard to believe it was me.”

The Vikings also needed Robert Smith’s 43-yard touchdown run with 3:04 remaining that gave them a 24-10 lead. Smith’s second touchdown came on the first play after the Vikings stopped the Lions on a fourth-and-10 play at the 50.

Smith rushed for more than 100 yards for the fifth consecutive game, finishing with 117 yards in 17 carries.

If Dallas defeats Tampa Bay on Sunday, the Vikings (11-2) will win the Central Division.

“It’s the greatest accomplishment I have ever had, and the most humbling thing I’ve ever experienced,” Carter said. “It’s unbelievable . . . unbelievable. It’s a tremendous honor, but to polish it off would be a Super Bowl championship.”

Carter, who finished with seven receptions for 45 yards, needed five receptions to become the second player in NFL history with 1,000 catches. Jerry Rice has 1,259. Carter’s 121 touchdown catches also rank second to Rice.

Carter caught his fourth pass at the Lions’ four on the final play of the first quarter. On the first play of the second quarter, he beat safety Kywin Supernaw in the end zone and caught a pass from Daunte Culpepper to make it 14-0.

“He knows the game of football and understands coverages,” Supernaw said. “He’s out there calling our coverages when we’re lining up. It was a perfectly thrown ball and perfect timing.”

The teams traded field goals near the end of the first half, with the Lions’ Jason Hanson making a 52-yarder with 1:12 left and the Vikings’ Gary Anderson kicking a 40-yarder with four seconds left.

The Vikings remained in control until Lion linebacker Allen Aldridge intercepted a pass at the Minnesota nine. James Stewart scored on a three-yard run, cutting the Vikings’ lead to 17-10.

The Lions (8-5) faced a fourth-and-10 situation from the 50 in the closing minutes, but Stoney Case was sacked by Talance Sawyer. On the next play, Smith scored on the 43-yard run.

The Vikings needed Smith’s touchdown, because Case completed a 40-yard touchdown pass to Larry Foster with 13 seconds remaining.

The Lions played the final three quarters without quarterback Charlie Batch, who re-aggravated a rib injury late in the first quarter.

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Carter Catches

Viking receiver Cris Carter became second player with 1,000 receptions. Jerry Rice has 1,259. Carter--who played less than 16 games only in 1987 (nine) and 1992 (12, broken collarbone)--by season:

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PHILADELPHIA

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Year Catches Yds TD 1987 5 84 2 1988 39 761 *7 1989 45 605 11

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MINNESOTA

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Year Catches Yds TD 1990 27 413 3 1991 72 962 5 1992 53 681 6 1993 86 1,071 9 1994 122 1,256 7 1995 122 1,371 17 1996 96 1,163 10 1997 89 1,069 13 1998 78 1,011 12 1999 90 1,241 13 2000 78 1,050 7 Total 1,002 12,738 121 Per game 4.8 60.7 0.58

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* One touchdown on recovered fumble.