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MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- The Minnesota Vikings were 6-0 when they lost to the New York Giants last October 26. The teams meet Sunday at the Metrodome for the fourth straight year.

This time, the Vikings enter in first place in the NFC North with a 5-1 mark - the only loss coming in Week Two at Philadelphia.

But the team is constantly reminded of last year's collapse, failing to make the playoffs after opening with six wins. The loss to the Giants, 29-17, turned out to be the first of four straight for the Vikings, who finished 9-7.

The Vikings posted a 28-16 victory over the Giants in November 2001 as Daunte Culpepper passed for 277 yards and four touchdowns. Three of the scoring passes went to superstar Randy Moss , who had 10 receptions for 171 yards.

In November 2002, Culpepper was benched after going 9-of-20 for 91 yards in a 27-20 win for the Giants. Moss was limited to one catch through three quarters and finished with three for 85 yards. Tiki Barber totaled 173 yards from scrimmage, including a 44-yard scoring run, for New York.

Barber scored on a two-yard run and Ike Hilliard caught a 14-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to lead the Giants to last year's win. Moss was unstoppable in the first half, catching five passes for 121 yards and a touchdown. However, he had just two catches for four yards and a score in the second half.

"They started triple covering him, that was the difference," Culpepper said.

Moss is nursing a strained right hamstring and was on the field for just two snaps in last week's 20-3 win over Tennessee.

"I'm not sure what Randy's role will be Sunday," Vikings coach Mike Tice said. "Maybe we'll just use him in red-zone situations."

Without Moss, Culpepper spread the ball around among his other receivers - Nate Burleson , Marcus Robinson and Kelly Campbell and tight end Jermaine Wiggins - in the win over Tennessee. Culpepper is enjoying an MVP-type season, completing 73 percent of his passes for 1,949 yards and 19 touchdowns with three interceptions for a rating of 124.0.

Rookie Mewelde Moore also has provided the offense with a major boost in the absence of injured Michael Bennett and suspended Onterrio Smith . A fourth-round pick out of Tulane, Moore rushed for 138 yards on 20 carries last week.

Barber has done it all for the Giants, ranking second in the NFC with 647 rushing yards and catching 26 passes for 342 yards. He caught seven passes for a career-high 102 yards, including a 62-yard TD, in New York's 28-13 loss to Detroit last week.

The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for the Giants, who have a balanced offense with Barber in the backfield and with Kurt Warner throwing to Hilliard, Amani Toomer and two-time Pro Bowl tight end Jeremy Shockey .

The Vikings will likely need to double up on Giants left end Michael Strahan . Rookie Nat Dorsey , a fourth-round pick out of Georgia Tech, is starting at right tackle for the Vikings, who lost regular starter Mike Rosenthal in the second week of the season.

Matchup to watch: Vikings receiver Nate Burleson , who had six catches last week, faces left cornerback Will Allen .

Series: Minnesota leads, 10-9.

Next week: NY Giants host Chicago on November 7 Minnesota visits Indianapolis on November 8