Jackson is left standing, and satisfied

Tarvaris Jackson threw for 171 yards Sunday in the Vikings' 29-22 victory against Oakland. He committed two turnovers, including an interception in the end zone.

He did not account for a touchdown and finished with a passer rating of 79.9. But you'll find no one to dispute that the performance was the best of his two-year career.

"Pretty much," Jackson said in his first game since reclaiming the Vikings' starting job. He completed a career-high 77 percent of his passes (17 of 22), albeit in a conservative game plan that limited him to a longest pass of 16 yards. Jackson also rushed three times for 19 yards.

"It felt good just being healthy," said Jackson, who has missed parts of six games this season because of a strained groin, a fractured finger and a concussion. "I haven't really been healthy since ... the second game of the year. Ever since then, I have kind of been banged up -- in a game, out a game -- and it just felt good to be out there on the field, healthy and playing."

Jackson limited his mistakes to two plays. Throwing from the Raiders 3 on first-and-goal in the first quarter, Jackson threw late toward receiver Sidney Rice in the corner of the end zone. Raiders cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha snagged the ball for an interception.

And as he attempted to run a 2-minute drill in the second quarter, Jackson lost track of his position in the pocket and was sacked by the Raiders' Chris Clemons. Jackson fumbled on the play, setting up a Raiders field goal that tied the score just before halftime.

"This is just going to be an evolution," coach Brad Childress said. "There are going to be steps forward, steps backward, just like down on the goal line. You don't learn it all or know it all right from the start."

KEVIN SEIFERT