The home team took control right away and set the tone by scoring a TD five offensive plays into the game. Drew Brees hit TE Antonio Gates in the end zone, 14 yards out before most fans had time to settle in their seats. Minnesota would also score on their initial drive, but it would be a stark contrast to the Chargers, as the Vikings ran 12 play, gained 49 yards, took almost 7 minutes to settle for a 30-yard Aaron Elling FG.The Chargers were on the move again but the drive stalled when Drew Brees was picked off, but as
good luck would have it, the visiting team could not produce any points and had to punt. Now, the Chargers were determined to put some more points on the board and increased their lead to 10-3 after PK Nate Kaeding booted a 33-yard FG. Minnesota bounced right back, after the kickoff, and on the very first play, QB Daunte Culpepper hit Kelly Campbell for a 76-yard score. Boom. Just like that, the score was knotted at 10.The Chargers punt the ball back and the Vikings took a surprising 13-10 lead with 5:24 left in the half. Minnesota's defense is prone to giving up yards and points and San Diego ran off 14 offensive plays and reached paydirt just before the half as LaDainian Tomlinson dove in from 2 yards out with 34 seconds left, giving the Chargers the lead back 17-13.
If not for some turnovers, the scoreboard might have been lit up like a Christmas tree as the second half gets under way and the Vikings, feeling generous, give the ball back to the Chargers when Culpepper is picked off. San Diego scores 7 plays later on an end-around by WR Eric Parker. Minnesota counters with another Culpepper-to-Campbell connection (8 yards out) and just like that, the score is now 24-20.Both teams fumble the ball but retain possession and a series of punts ensue. It isn't until there is 4:21 left in the game that the Vikings finally score again and take back the lead, 27-24 as Culpepper has to scramble as the defense had covered the receivers. 39-yard scamper and a head-first dive. Now it is up to Minnesota's defense to hold back the Chargers drive and hopefully allow only a FG to tie.
San Diego takes back the lead with 1:44 left, after aided by a 15-yard personal foul, flagrant face
mask which put the ball first-and-goal from the 10. Brees hit Gates again to make it 31-27. The Vikings are now looking at scoring the winning TD but they are at the San Diego 46 with 1:34 left. A draw play nets 4 yards and a timeout was called. Daunte Culpepper then throws to pass to Randy Moss who was double-covered and Donnie Edwards was the defender that picked off the pass to seal the victory for the Chargers. It sure looked like the Vikings were primed to pass their way to victory, but the Chargers were indeed the team with ball at the end of the game and did run out the clock to preserve the victory. The Chargers appear to have a very good team to make a deep run in the playoffs. The Vikings will continue to struggle defensively as the offense will have to try to keep pace.
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