MINNEAPOLIS, Nov. 10 (UPI) -- With Minnesota quarterback Daunte Culpepper sitting on the bench, the New York Giants had their best offensive day of the season Sunday as Tiki Barber totaled 173 yards from scrimmage and Kerry Collins passed for 300 yards in a 27-20 victory over the Vikings.
After managing only seven offensive touchdowns in their first seven games, the Giants (5-4) have six in the last two, including three against Minnesota, which has the worst-ranked defense in the NFC.
With Coach Jim Fassel calling the plays for the second straight week, New York totaled a season high in points and 458 yards of offense. Barber had 127 yards rushing and Ron Dixon had 107 receiving.
The Giants threw away eight points in the kicking game and a 13-point fourth-quarter lead before marching 80 yards on eight plays, taking the lead for good on Barber's eight-yard run with 2:43 to play.
"You have to show some toughness and some grit when it's time to stop a team and win a football game," said Vikings Coach Mike Tice, whose team was the first to seven losses in the NFC. "We didn't do that."
Collins then hit third-string tight end Marcellus Rivers for the two-point conversion -- New York's first attempt of the season -- to cap the scoring.
All three of the Giants' touchdown drives were for at least 72 yards. They went 91 yards on six plays late in the third quarter, taking a 19-6 lead when Collins found a wide-open Amani Toomer in the end zone from 11 yards.
The Vikings (2-7) even made Ron Dayne look good. The embattled former Heisman Trophy winner carried six times for 40 yards, 30 of which came on one play as he ran up the middle untouched to make it 13-3 with 8:48 left in the first half.
While they built a seemingly comfortable 19-6 lead, it could have been even better for the Giants, but holder Tom Rouen misplayed the snap on an extra point and field goal. Matt Bryant also missed an extra point and 31-yard field goal try.
"It shouldn't have been that close," Fassel said. "We left eight points off the scoreboard. But offensively, we gutted it out and made plays."
Collins completed 25 of 35 passes, chewing up a mistake-prone defense that began the week last in the conference in total defense (376.5 yards per game) and passing defense (282.1). Both numbers went up Sunday.
Minnesota's offense was not much better. Booed often, Culpepper was benched after going nine of 20 for 91 yards. Greeted by a standing ovation, Todd Bouman took over and sparked a touchdown drive. But he also fumbled twice.
"They can boo," Culpepper said of his home crowd. "They don't understand football."
Michael Bennett had a career-best 167 yards rushing -- his third straight 100-yard game -- on just 15 carries, including a 78-yard touchdown that put the Vikings ahead for the first time, 20-19 with 8:36 remaining.
"We had our little lapses, but our offense picked it up when we needed them to," Giants defensive end Michael Strahan said. "And defensively, we went out there at the end and closed it out."
Bennett was the only offensive factor for Minnesota, which had 356 yards. Randy Moss had just one catch through three quarters and finished with three for 85 yards.
It was the first game for Vikings first-round pick Bryant McKinnie, who plays left tackle and was beaten several times by defensive end Kenny Holmes. He entered on the Vikings' second possession and played until the middle of the second quarter.
While the Giants went just one of 11 on third-down conversions -- the teams combined to go one for 20 -- the Vikings' defense extended three drives with third-down penalties. Minnesota had 10 penalties for 84 yards. New York finished with nine for 84.
"Thankfully, we made some plays on first and second down that helped us out," Collins said.
The only successful third-down play came on the decisive drive as Collins hit rookie tight end Jeremy Shockey for six yards on third and four from Minnesota's 23, quieting a crowd that began to roar following Bennett's go-ahead touchdown.
"They had all the momentum and it was loud," Fassel said. "But our guys came out and executed."
Two plays after Shockey's catch, Barber scored the decisive touchdown. After hauling in a nine-yard reception, he ran off right guard, losing his balance inside the five before crossing the goal line.
"It was a big win, especially the way the game went," Collins said. "We got up early, they come back and take the lead. For us to respond in that situation says a lot about our team."
