Knight Ridder Newspapers
PITTSBURGH -- Coach Mike Tice acknowledged Thursday night after the Vikings' 17-14 loss to Pittsburgh that his biggest decision remaining is whether to keep kicker Doug Brien.
Tice said he was disappointed that Brien didn't get to try a field goal in the team's final exhibition game. Brien made 1 of 5 attempts in the four games.
"I would have liked to see more," Tice said. "We're still looking at our kicking situation very closely…; I have to go with my gut."
Minnesota 0 7 0 7 -- 14
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; Pittsburgh 7 7 3 0 -- 17
; First Quarter
Pit--Bettis 2 run (Peterson kick), 1:42.
Second Quarter
Pit--Zereoue 1 run (Peterson kick), 6:12.
Min--Moss 5 pass from Culpepper (Brien kick), :47
Third Quarter
Pit--FG Peterson 33, 9:26.
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Fourth Quarter
Min--Bouman 3 run (Brien kick), 4:57.
A--57,062.
Min Pit
; First downs 15 20
; Rushes-yards 20-92 41-177
; Passing 214 172
; Punt Returns 1-23 2-22
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; Kickoff Returns 3-79 3-67
; Interceptions Ret. 0-00 2-3
; Comp-Att-Int 17-33-2 14-27-0
; Sacked-Yards Lost 1-9 0-00
; Punts 6-41.7 4-40.0
; Fumbles-Lost 0-0 1-1
; Penalties-Yards 11-67 5-27
; Time of Possession 25:15 34:45
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; INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING--Minnesota, Chapman 11-58, Bouman 2-23, Bennett 3-12, Culpepper 1-6, Wofford 2-(minus 1), Davis 1-(minus 6).
Pittsburgh, McCray 16-67, Bettis 6-36, Fuamatu-Ma'afala 6-36, Stewart 2-18, Zereoue 3-17, Kreider 2-3, Mays 1-2, Batch 4-(minus 1), Haynes 1-(minus 1).
PASSING--Minnesota, Culpepper 10-16-0-121, Bouman 7-17-2-102. Pittsburgh, Stewart 7-12-0-105, Batch 7-15-0-67.
RECEIVING--Minnesota, Moss 6-85, Dawkins 4-76, Bates 2-24, Campbell 2-22, Kleinsasser 1-6, Chamberlain 1-6, Kostrewa 1-4. Pittsburgh, Burress 2-47, Randle-El 2-33, Mathis 2-21, Mays 1-34, Jackson 1-24, Haynes 1-8, Kreider 1-7, Brown 1-6, Bruener 1-4, McCray 1-(minus 4), Zereoue 1-(minus 8).
MISSED FIELD GOALS--Pittsburgh, Peterson 41 (WL).
