That might seem like an odd desire for an NFL quarterback, but for Carr, the one-time No. 1 overall pick who now is the Giants' backup, it's all about his desire to get some snaps.

The only thing worse than a passer rating of zero is what Carr has at this point in the season: an almost-perfect 127.1. He's thrown one pass - a 5-yard touchdown - and that's it.

Sure, he did his job when called upon. But he'd like to get a few more throws in before the regular season ends.

That opportunity could come today. With the Giants facing the Vikings after already having clinched the top seed in the NFC playoffs, Carr could be asked to take the place of Eli Manning for part of the game. It's something he said he would welcome.

"I'd love to get in there and throw the ball around a little bit," said Carr, 29, adding that he hasn't gone this long without playing since he was 4 years old. "It's like riding a bike. I don't think it's going to be an issue if I went in. I've been playing this game my whole life."

But for the first time in his professional career, he's winning. After five years as the quarterback of an expansion team that never expanded in Houston and a backup who lasted just a few months in Carolina last season, Carr is enjoying the ride with the Giants - even if he doesn't have a grip on the steering wheel.

In training camp, Carr bluntly said he was trying to use the opportunity with the Giants as a springboard to another starting job somewhere else. Lately, though, he's considering whether he'd mind being a career backup here with the Giants.

"I didn't know how the whole thing was going to be," he said of the season. "Just being around this [winning team] and having mental and physical health is a great deal. They take care of guys, they do a great job and it's hard to beat."

The Giants also get something out of the situation. If something were to happen to Manning, they would be able to pull another overall No. 1 draft pick off the shelf and plug him in. Plus, the defensive players rave about Carr and the work he does running the scout team for them in practices.

"The nice thing about Dave is when you face a team that has a scrambling quarterback, he can scramble, and when you face a team that drops back, he can do that," defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo said. "He's been invaluable for us."

Carr said that when he's working the scout team, he'll sometimes do impersonations of opposing quarterbacks, mimicking their tics or styles. Nothing too comprehensive, just the broad impressions he gets from watching highlights on TV.

And today, he might get a chance to act like the one quarterback he has not been able to pin down this season: himself.

And even if his passer rating doesn't go down - no one says he has to throw an incompletion - there are some stats Carr can work on improving. He's taken a knee five times for a loss of five yards at the end of games.

That rushing average really needs to go up.

Giants AT MINNESOTA ,

1 p.m.

TV: Ch. 5

Radio: WFAN (660)

ABOUT THE Vikings

Head coach: Brad Childress, third season (23-24)

Last week: Lost to the Falcons, 24-17, with a chance to clinch the NFC North.

The skinny: The playoffs start today for the Vikings, who believe they must win to get in (although a Bears loss to the Texas would also get them an invite). "If we win, we are in and we continue to play," safety Darren Sharper said. "If we don't come out and play well, we won't be playing anymore Football." The Vikings' offense starts with the two running backs, MVP candidate and NFL-leading rusher Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor who have combined for 2,046 yards and 13 rushing touchdowns. Taylor also has two receiving touchdowns. QB Tarvaris Jackson was benched early in the season but his seven TD passes in the last three games are tied for second most in the league during that time. Defensively the Vikings will be without DT Pat Williams (shoulder), but they still have Kevin Williams to stuff the run and DE Jared Allen has 14.5 sacks.

MEET THE ENEMY

Darren Sharper, SAFETY

In his past two games against the Giants, Sharper has had four interceptions off Eli Manning, returning two for touchdowns. No wonder he's one of the few Vikings probably hoping that Manning and the Giants starters see significant playing time today. "He's playing at a new level, an MVP quality level of play, led his team to a Super Bowl, so I believe he is a different quarterback," Sharper said of Manning. "But we still feel as though we can be effective against him." Why is that? "Eli is a guy who has a strong arm and will try you down the Football field," Sharper said. "Whenever a quarterback does that I feel like I have more opportunities and it seems as though I cashed in on them when I played against the Giants."

INJURY REPORT

Giants - Out: CB Aaron Ross (concussion), LB Gerris Wilkinson (knee). Doubtful: TE Kevin Boss (ankle/concussion). Questionable: DT Barry Cofield (knee), RB Brandon Jacobs (knee), T Kareem McKenzie (back). Probable: DT Fred Robbins (shoulder), DE Justin Tuck (lower leg).

Vikings - Out: DT Pat Williams (shoulder) Questionable: WR Bernard Berrian (ankle), OL Artis Hicks (elbow), WR Darius Reynaud (foot). Probable: DE Jared Allen (knee), QB Gus Frerotte (back), RB Maurice Hicks (back), S Darren Sharper (knee), CB Decrid Griffin (illness).