Gameday: Vikings vs. Oakland

By Kevin Seifert, Star Tribune

Last update: November 18, 2007 - 9:23 AM

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WEEK 11, GAME 10

> Line: Vikings by 5

> Series: Raiders lead 9-3

> Last: Oakland 28, Vikings 18

(Nov. 16, 2003)

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THE BIG FIVE: SIDESHOWS (Hey, the NFL dog days are here)

1. Watch if Raiders QB Daunte Culpepper brings Vikings coach Brad Childress a plate of Chinese food and a Downy-fresh shirt. He's a Florida native, after all. (Confused? Google "Childress" and "strip malls.")

2. Check out RB Adrian Peterson on the sidelines and think: Two more weeks. Two more weeks and ... salvation!! Peterson will miss today's game because of a right knee injury, but he should be back early next month.

3. Take a glance up to Suite 555. Dr. Johnny Benjamin will be there with two colleagues: Dr. Al Bendova and Dr. Vinny Boombatz. (Confused again? See doctors, crackpot.)

4. Keep your eyes on Oakland coach Lane Kiffin, a Vikings ballboy last season. (Actually, it was in 2004. No, really, it was in the early 1990s.) Will he grab a K-ball as his instincts take over?

5. Don't forget about Vikings QB Tarvaris Jackson. Today he will attempt a most magnificent trick: staying on the field for an entire game.

NUMBER TO WATCH: 2

That's how many of the NFL's top five rushing teams will be on the field today. Yes, Peterson has lifted the Vikings to the league's top ranking. But don't overlook the Raiders, who have gotten a combined 1,309 yards from RBs Lamont Jordan and Justin Fargas, left. It will be interesting to see how the Raiders attack the normally stout Vikings run defense, which gave up 81 yards in the first quarter alone last week to Green Bay.

Kevin Seifert • kseifert@startribune.com