Moss Tries to Keep Home Fires Burning

Randy Moss sounded as if the Minnesota Vikings are stumbling into the playoffs just as the Detroit Lions are.

“As far as the momentum and the desire and being hungry to go out there and fight for a championship, I don’t think we’re there yet,” Moss said after the Vikings sent the Lions to their fourth consecutive loss, 24-17, Sunday. “It’s just about how bad we want it.”

Moss had five receptions for 151 yards and a touchdown as Minnesota (10-6) earned the NFC’s fourth berth in the playoffs and a home game next Sunday against Dallas (8-8) with its third victory in a row. The Vikings beat the Cowboys, 27-17, at the Metrodome on Nov. 8, rallying from a 17-0 deficit following two touchdown runs by Emmitt Smith, who was having a career-best rushing game until he broke a hand.

Detroit (8-8) also has defeated its first-round playoff opponent--a 33-17 victory over Washington (10-6) at the Silverdome on Dec. 5 that was its last before the current losing streak. The Lions will play at Washington on Saturday, and may be without quarterback Charlie Batch, who re-injured his broken right thumb against the Vikings.

Batch, making his second start since fracturing his right thumb Nov. 7, was injured when he hit center Eric Beverly’s helmet while following through on a pass just before halftime.

Gus Frerotte was intercepted by Robert Tate near the goal line on his second throw in place of Batch, behind whom the Lions had converted eight of nine third-down opportunities.

After Leroy Hoard’s three-yard touchdown run gave Minnesota a 24-10 lead with five minutes remaining, Detroit answered with Johnnie Morton’s second touchdown reception--a 36-yard pass play from Frerotte--with 2:16 left. But the Lions didn’t try an onside kick, and Robert Smith--who had 97 yards in 22 carries--and the Vikings ran out the clock.

Smith, who went over 1,000 yards rushing for the third consecutive season, scored Minnesota’s first touchdown on a four-yard run that came two plays after a 53-yard reception by Moss.