Vikings... 20, Giants... 19

Ryan Longwell’s 50-yard field goal as time expired lifted the Minnesota Vikings to a 20-19 victory over the resting New York Giants, making Minnesota NFC North champions for its first postseason appearance in four years.

David Carr took over at quarterback for Eli Manning after halftime and threw a touchdown pass to Domenik Hixon midway through the third quarter to take a 16-10 lead, but New York (12-4) was on cruise control from there. The Giants clinched the top seeding in the NFC last week.

The Vikings (10-6) pulled to within two points on a 54-yard touchdown pass by Tarvaris Jackson to a wide-open Bernard Berrian. Vikings running back Adrian Peterson became the fifth back in league history to reach 3,000 yards in his first two seasons, joining Eric Dickerson, Edgerrin James, Earl Campbell and Clinton Portis.

Quoteworthy: “It wouldn’t have felt the same if we won the division by default.” -- Steve Hutchinson, Vikings guard