Vikings start second half with unusual challenge

The Vikings were attempting to capitalize on an obscure NFL rule Sunday when they botched the opening kickoff of the second half in their 23-16 loss to Philadelphia.

On the play, rookie Adrian Peterson picked up the ball at the Vikings 1-yard line and stepped out of bounds. Officials ruled the ball down at that spot and upheld the decision after a challenge from coach Brad Childress.

NFL rules -- Rule 3, Section 20, Article 2(c), to be exact -- state that a ball in the field of play is ruled out of bounds if it touches something out of bounds.

Childress said the Vikings instruct kick returners near the sideline to step out of bounds and then field the ball. Even if the ball remains in the field of play, the receiving team gains possession at the 40-yard line as if the ball had been kicked out of bounds.

Replays, however, showed Peterson fielding the ball just before stepping out of bounds. Childress' decision to challenge cost the Vikings a timeout that would have helped slow the clock on the Eagles' final possession.

Childress defended the decision, saying officials told him "it was worth reviewing" because it was a "bang-bang play." Childress also chided reporters for questioning "a little-known rule."We coach our players quite often on that fact," Childress said.

The normally composed Peterson grew testy Sunday when asked about the play.

"It's a tough play, and I've got to review it," Peterson said. "But it was a mistake and I need to put it behind me. I'm ready to move on."

Copycats

A week after the Dallas Cowboys used creative strategy to block a field goal against them, the Vikings employed a similar tactic.

Last week, linebacker Bobby Carpenter pushed 6-7 defensive end Chris Canty through the middle of the Vikings line to block Ryan Longwell's 48-yard field goal attempt. Sunday, the Vikings inserted 6-8 Bryant McKinnie at nose tackle and had E.J. Henderson attempt to push him through.

McKinnie did not get a block but said he got close on David Akers' 20-yard field goal in the first quarter.

"If I get a few more reps at it, I think I can get one," McKinnie said.

McKinnie was used in a similar role during his rookie season in 2002.

Memorable catch

Kevin Curtis had a highlight-reel reception down the left sideline for a 31-yard gain that set up Philadelphia's final field goal. Curtis made a one-handed grab of a tipped ball at the Vikings 24 with cornerback Cedric Griffin all over him.

"I had the ball in my hands," Griffin said. "He was trying to beat me and he did a great job of combating my hands. I couldn't hold on to it, and he came down with the grab. It was a spectacular catch."

The Vikings were one of six teams bidding for Curtis in free agency after last season, but he decided to sign a six-year, $32 million deal with the Eagles, even though the Vikings offered more money.

"Back at the time, I liked my choices -- I had some really great choices," said Curtis, who had three catches for 76 yards. "Considering the Vikings, that's obviously not a factor today. It was then. But it was all over after I signed and, obviously, I'm happy with the decision so far."

Curtis, 29, has 32 catches for 582 yards.

McCauley replaced

Rookie Marcus McCauley was replaced in the Vikings nickel defense by second-year cornerback Charles Gordon.

"It felt like just giving Marcus a chance to sit back and see some things and slow the game down for him a little bit might help him," defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier said.

McCauley, a third-round pick, had been used as a third corner in passing situations since the season started. He was told last week a change would be made. Gordon had replaced McCauley for one series the previous week at Dallas.

"We're a 2-4 [now 2-5] football team, so we're trying to switch things up," McCauley said. "We've got other guys on this team making big plays, so I guess they are trying to find a rotation that works. I'm not the coach or anything; that's the coach's decision. That's pretty much all I've got to say about that. I've accepted my role."

McCauley said "nothing was said" or "needed to be said" about what he can do to improve. "Things weren't working out the way they wanted them to work, and they made some moves," he said. "I thought I was improving. But it doesn't matter what I think. I'm always going to be harder on myself than other people."

Frazier planned to take a look at the game film before making any decisions about how Gordon performed or if the Vikings would stick with him. While McCauley played the left corner and Antoine Winfield slid into the slot in nickel situations, Gordon played inside Sunday.

Injury report

In addition to quarterback Kelly Holcomb's whiplash-like condition, the Vikings had two other significant injuries Sunday.

Right tackle Ryan Cook suffered a separated shoulder in the third quarter. He was administered a pain-killing shot and returned to play in the fourth quarter, but will undergo an MRI test today.

Wide receiver Bobby Wade will also undergo testing today after hyperextending his knee in the fourth quarter.

Etc.

• Wade fielded an Eagles punt at the 1-yard line with 27 seconds to play but said he did not consider letting it fall for a touchback. His 8-yard return left the Vikings at their 9. "I'm trying to make a play. It's as simple as that. If I had let the ball fall into the end zone, we would have been [11] yards closer. We could get it [11] yards closer or take a chance at hitting a home run."

• Visanthe Shiancoe's first-quarter touchdown catch for the Vikings was his first since Jan. 2, 2005 when he was with the New York Giants. Shiancoe has four career TD receptions.

• The Vikings' onside kick after their opening touchdown was the third onside attempt in team history in the first quarter and first onside recovery in the first quarter.

• Childress was asked if coaching against his friend and former boss Andy Reid brought out any emotion: "No, it's just tough to take a loss. I would have rather taken a win." Childress was an assistant on Reid's staff in Philadelphia from 1999 to 2005.

• The Vikings streak of failing to get into the red zone ended at two games when they got inside the Eagles 20-yard line on their opening drive. The Vikings, who were the NFL's only team with fewer than 10 possessions in the red zone entering Sunday, made three such trips and have nine for the season.

• Newly acquired safety Eric Frampton was active and saw extensive action on special teams. Frampton, a rookie from Washington State, was claimed off waivers last week from Detroit. A fifth-round pick of Oakland last April, Frampton was let go by the Raiders in their final roster cutdown.

• Safety Dwight Smith (hamstring) and linebacker Vinny Ciurciu (ankle) sat out for the second consecutive game Sunday. Tank Williams started again in place of Smith. The Vikings' other inactives include cornerback Ronyell Whitaker; tight end Garrett Mills; tackle Chase Johnson; receiver Aundrae Allison; and defensive end Erasmus James. James has played in only one regular-season game. He is currently bothered by a shoulder injury.

•The Eagles inactives included safety Brian Dawkins, who hasn't played since Week 2 because of a neck injury. Receiver Greg Lewis (bruised shoulder) left the game because of an injury.

KEVIN SEIFERT, JUDD ZULGAD

AND CHRIS MILLER