THE BREAKDOWN

* Site: Giants Stadium

* Time: 9:30 a.m. PST

* TV: Channel 11

* Radio: KNX (1070)

* The line: Minnesota by 2 1/2.

* Story line: Both teams come into the Meadowlands looking to exorcise past playoff demons. The Giants suffered a devastating last-minute playoff loss at the hands of the Vikings in 1997. Minnesota returns to the NFC championship game for the first time since they lost a heartbreaker in overtime to Atlanta in 1998. New York is counting on inhospitable weather for assistance.

* Injury report: MIN--S Orlando Thomas (hamstring/shoulder, out); CB Kenny Wright (knee, questionable). NYG--WR Joe Jurevicius (knee, questionable); WR Amani Toomer (ankle/knee, questionable).

* When New York has the ball: The Giants will keep an extra blocker in the backfield hoping to give Kerry Collins more time to pick apart Minnesota’s soft zone coverage with a combination of short slants and screens to Tiki Barber. Pounding Ron Dayne up the middle could weaken the undersized defensive front of the Vikings and force them to commit safety Robert Griffith in the box, thereby exposing routes underneath and over the middle. Giant Coach Jim Fassel should use misdirection to take advantage of a Viking defense that has the tendency to overpursue and not play disciplined in its assigned lanes.

* When Minnesota has the ball: The Vikings have any number of options. Going deep to Randy Moss should force the Giants into nickel and dime schemes that soften their run defense. If the Giants become too distracted with Cris Carter and Moss on short corner routes, the middle could open up for other Viking receivers. Play-action should keep New York wary of Robert Smith on the run or screen pass. The Giants could try to counter the Vikings’ big play ability by blitzing Daunte Culpepper. In what promises to be a riveting battle, the NFC’s best rushing offense (Vikings, 133.1) will knock heads with the NFC’s best rushing defense (Giants, 72.3).

* Keys to the game: Viking wide receivers Cris Carter and Randy Moss vs. Giants’ secondary: The Giants start four safeties in their defensive backfield. Jason Sehorn has the unenviable task of reining in Moss, and Dave Thomas will match up against Carter. Giant defensive end Michael Strahan vs. Viking tackle Korey Stringer: Strahan sets the tone for the Giant defense, Stringer is the largest tackle in the NFL. Both are bound for Honolulu after the season. Giant wide receiver Amani Toomer: The injured Toomer must make an impact for the offense to be successful. If not, the Vikings can commit hard-hitting Pro Bowl safety Robert Griffith to shutting down the run. Offensive lines: Whichever team keeps its quarterback upright will be able to exploit weaknesses in the opposing secondary.

* Fast fact: Randy Moss has scored a touchdown in five consecutive postseason games. The Giants have held opponents to fewer than 20 points in 13 games this season and are 12-1 when doing so.

THE CAPSULE

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THE MATCHUPS MIN NYG Points scored 24.8 (5) 20.5 (15) Points allowed 23.2 (24) 15.4 (5) Passing Off. 239.5 (7) 210.4 (13) Rushing Off. 133.1 (6) 125.6 (11) Total Off. 372.6 (5) 336.0 (13) Passing Def. 244.6 (28) 211.9 (16) Rushing Def. 111.8 (15) 72.3 (2) Total Def. 356.3 (28) 284.1 (5) Time of Poss. 29:35 (19) 31:39 (7) Turnover Ratio -10 (T25) +7 (9) Red Zone TD% 54.4 (T8) 54.4 (T8) 3rd Down Con. 45.7 (3) 40.2 (13) Opp. 3rd Down 45.5 (20) 35.6 (9) 3 & Out 22.4 (9) 18.2 (5) Opp. 3 & Out 16.5 (31) 27.4 (8) Sacks 31 (T23) 44 (T9) Sacks Allowed 35 (T13) 28 (T4)

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Robyn Norwood’s pick: Minnesota. The Giants have been given their due, however grudgingly. But Moss and Carter are too spectacular to be denied.