Bernard Berrian returned a punt 82 yards and caught one of Tarvaris Jackson's four touchdown passes Sunday, boosting the Minnesota Vikings past Arizona 35-14. The Vikings (9-5) won their fourth straight and stayed a game in front of Chicago in the race for the NFC North title.

Minnesota running back Chester Taylor said Wednesday Tarvaris Jackson will replace Gus Frerotte at quarterback this Sunday. Although the Vikings have said they hope Frerotte will be able to play, Taylor said during an interview with WCCO-TV in Minneapolis that a decision has already been made to start Jackson because Frerotte is suffering from a lower back injury. Jackson has not started since being replaced following Minnesota's second straight loss to open the season on Sept.

Tarvaris Jackson's fourth-quarter TD pass Sunday helped Minnesota escape with a 20-16 win over winless Detroit and retain first place in the NFC North. Jackson, benched early in the season for lackluster play, replaced the injured Gus Frerotte in the second quarter and completed 8-of-10 passes for 105 yards with no interceptions. Before he hurt his back, Frerotte went 7-for-10 for 70 yards and two interceptions. Adrian Peterson rushed for 102 yards on 23 carries and caught one pass for 15 yards. Chester Taylor scored once, while Ryan Longwell kicked two field goals for the Vikings (8-5), who have won three straight. Minnesota maintained its one-game lead over Chicago for first place in the North Division. Daunte Culpepper, a former Viking who came out of retirement mid-season, led Detroit with 14 completions on 24 attempts for 220 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. Calvin Johnson scored once on three catches for 84 yards, and Jason Hanson kicked three field goals for the 0-13 L

Gus Frerotte passed for one touchdown and ran for another Sunday, helping Minnesota assume sole possession of the NFC North with a 34-14 win over Chicago. The Vikings had entered the game in a three-way tie with the Bears and Green Bay, who fell to Carolina. Frerotte earned a spot in the NFL and Minnesota record books when he hit former Bear Bernard Berrian for a team-best 99-yard score late in the second quarter that came on the first play after Minnesota stopped Chicago on four straight tries to get into the end zone from the 1-yard line.

A tough itinerary brought out the best in the Kansas City Chiefs. With Hurricane Wilma scrambling the schedule, the Chiefs landed less than six hours before kickoff but shook off any jetlag to beat the Miami Dolphins 30-20.