Raiders stave off Vikings in Minnesota 27-21

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MINNEAPOLIS -- Raiders receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey suffered what appeared to be a neck injury after catching a four-yard pass across the middle early in the fourth quarter.Heyward-Bey took a knee to the back of his head, popping his helmet off. He was immobilized on the ground and strapped to a stretcher.His legs were moving in the immediate aftermath and he was taken to the hospital for reactionary X-rays.A.P. all day? Not on this day: Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson has been a study in durability in his NFL career after being banged up in college. Sunday, late in the first quarter, Peterson had his left ankle rolled up on by Raiders free safety Michael Huff. Peterson was helped off the field before being carted into the locker room. He walked back out in uniform at the start of the second half but did not play again after going for 26 yards on six carries, including a 12-yard touchdown run that gave the Vikings a 7-0 lead.Li'l Wiz back at center: Samson Satele did not play at San Diego with a balky left knee and suffered a concussion late in the second quarter against Minnesota, again forcing rookie Stephen Wisniewski to move from left guard to center. While Stephon Heyer again came in at left guard, Wisniewski should be getting all-rookie team recognition.Penalties, again: Everyone knows the Raiders are the most penalized team in the NFL. But even the most jaded of observers would have had trouble with the three personal foul penalties assessed on Oakland on Minnesota's first scoring drive, giving the Vikings 42 free yards -- a roughing-the-passer call on Tommy Kelly, unnecessary roughness on Aaron Curry and a face mask on Tyvon Branch.Bush Push II: Remember when Reggie Bush pushed his USC teammate Matt Leinart into the end zone at Notre Dame? Michael Bush (no relation) took a page from his namesake's book when he gave Carson Palmer a shove from one yard out, eight seconds left in the first half and no timeouts remaining.Turnover battle: Before Michael Bush lost his fumble with less than six minutes to play, the Raiders had been winning the turnover battle, 4-0.A game of firsts: Not only did Tommy Kelly get his first career interception, off a Lito Sheppard deflection, but Sebastian Janikowski had his first field-goal attempt blocked since the 2007 season opener. Janikowksi was attempting a 49-yarder a play after Heyward-Bey was injured.Fourth-quarter woes continue: The Raiders had to sweat out another win after being held scoreless again the fourth quarter. They have not scored in the final quarter since a Janikowski field goal with 10 minutes to play at Houstonon Oct. 9five games ago.Jared Bowl: : Raiders left tackle Jared Veldheer bested the NFL's leading sack artist, Vikings defensive end Jared Allen, holding him sackless and being called for only one penalty.

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