Vikings Stop Dickerson, Colts, 12-3

MINNEAPOLIS — Eric Dickerson would have preferred a victory to 100 yards. He got neither as the Minnesota Vikings stuffed the Indianapolis Colts’ running star in the last 2 1/2 quarters to win a critical game.

“We knew this was kind of a hump game,” cornerback Carl Lee said Sunday after his Vikings held Dickerson to 72 yards in 22 carries to defeat the Colts, 12-3.

“We knew if we could just win this one, we could go into our last 4 games and not be playing in an elimination situation.”

The Vikings (8-4) who got 4 field goals from Chuck Nelson, remained 2 games behind the Chicago Bears in the NFC Central and solidified their wild-card playoff chances.

Minnesota hasn’t allowed an opposing rusher to gain 100 yards since Oct. 26, 1986, when Cleveland’s Curtis Dickey had 106. That’s a span of 35 non-strike games and 38 straight.

It looked as if Dickerson might break that streak early. He gained 54 yards in his first 9 carries--6 yards a carry.

Dickerson gained only 18 yards in his last 13 carries--1.4 yards apiece as Chris Doleman and Jesse Solomon played especially strong defense for the Vikings, who were without tackle Keith Millard.

Dickerson, who entered the game as the NFL’s leading rusher, failed to reach 100 yards for the third straight week. Nevertheless, Dickerson increased his season total to 1,237 yards to move past Lydell Mitchell’s 12-year-old team record of 1,200.

“It would have been nice to get the 100 yards, but I’ll take a win instead of 100 any day,” he said. “It was an important game and we lost.”

The Colts (6-6) had a 5-game winning streak snapped. They must win the rest of their games and still get some help.