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(AP)  Steven Jackson and the St. Louis Rams ran
like contenders in this meaningless matchup. Minnesota clearly had
the look of elimination.
 

     Jackson had a career-high four touchdowns and 166 yards from
scrimmage, helping the Rams finish the year with a 41-21 win over
the woeful Vikings on Sunday.

      With his team leading 34-7 early in the fourth quarter, Jackson
raced up the left sideline for a 59-yard score. That prevented
Minnesota from establishing a post-merger (since 1970) NFL record
for fewest yards rushing allowed in a season, missing by 15 the
mark of 970 yards set by the Ravens in 2000.

      Minnesota (6-10) and St. Louis (8-8) each qualified for the
postseason in 2004 as 8-8 wild-card teams, but their mediocrity was
not rewarded this year - even in the diluted NFC.

      The Vikings were dumped from the playoff chase last week in a
9-7 loss to the Packers when they managed only three first downs,
and the Rams were ousted from contention at their hotel Saturday
night when the Giants beat the Redskins.

      Any drama remaining vanished, limited to Minnesota's pursuit of
the rushing defense record, rookie quarterback Tarvaris Jackson's
first home start and, well, first-year St. Louis coach Scott
Linehan's return to the Metrodome - where he was the offensive
coordinator under Mike Tice from 2002-04.

      The Vikings officially extended their sellout streak to 95
games, but there were plenty of people who prepaid for their
tickets and didn't show up on a rainy afternoon. At one point in
the first half, the T-shirt gun used by stadium workers to give out
souvenirs was louder than the library-like crowd.

      Fans came to see Jackson - Tarvaris, that is - give them some
hope for next season, and the rookie showed mixed results. He was
intercepted on his second pass by Ron Bartell, who returned it 38
yards for a touchdown to open the romp.

      Bartell picked Jackson off in the second quarter, too, but the
kid from Division I-AA Alabama State put on a decent performance
with 213 yards and one touchdown passing and another rushing score.
He completed 20 of his 34 throws.

      Chester Taylor set a Minnesota record with 304 carries this year
and also became only the fourth Vikings back to reach 1,200 yards
in a season. Taylor had 29 yards on 13 attempts, with one
touchdown.

      He was the only offensive bright spot in 2006 for the Vikings,
who stumbled under first-year coach Brad Childress. Veteran Brad
Johnson, who was replaced by Jackson last week as the starter,
completed a third-quarter pass when the rookie was shaken up and
left briefly for medical attention. Johnson, ironically, was
cheered when he entered the game - just two weeks after fans booed
him repeatedly in another rough game.

      But Pro Bowl-bound Steven Jackson was the show, finishing his
third year in the league with an impressive display of power and
speed. He rushed 25 times for 142 yards and finished with 1,528.
      


Gallery

Sports

Steven Jackson and the St. Louis Rams ran
like contenders in this meaningless matchup. Minnesota clearly had
the look of elimination.


St. Louis plays like Rams, Vikes like lambs in season finale

Go Deeper.

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