"If you throw picks and turn the ball over, you are going to lose," said the 14th-year NFL veteran. "Sometimes you have to force it and bad things happen. For the most part I just try and make the right decision."

It has worked well enough for a 2-0 record since he took over as the starter for injured Daunte Culpepper, who underwent season-ending knee surgery this week.

While Johnson hasn't exactly inspired visions of fireworks with his production -- he passed for just 11 yards in the first half Sunday against the New York Giants -- he has played a significant role in each of those victories because he hasn't thrown an interception.

In fact, he doesn't have one in 81 attempts this season. That's the most attempts without an interception in the NFL this year, according to Elias Sports Bureau.

"That's his thing," said Vikings tight end Jermaine Wiggins, the team leader in receptions and receiving yards. "He's been in the league a long time. He likes to get the ball out of his hand quick, and he's not going to put himself in a bad situation."

That was an easily overlooked key to the Vikings' final-minute victory over the New York Giants in New Jersey on Sunday -- a game in which the defense scored a touchdown and the special teams scored two, along with the winning field goal.

"If we would have gone out there and gave the turnovers back it probably would've been a different story," Vikings coach Mike Tice said. "It is a big, big important thing for him to protect the football."

In large part because he did that Sunday, the Vikings earned their first road victory since last year's wild-card playoff game at Green Bay. And as they prepare for another trip to Green Bay for Monday's first game at Lambeau since then -- looking to push their record to .500 for the first time this season -- Johnson figures to be in the spotlight again, if not on the marquee.

"Turnovers and lack of turnovers in this league are the stats that will never go away," Tice said. "Those are the most important stats in winning and losing in this league and have been longer than I've been in the league."

Consider that the Packers (2-7 this year) have committed only one turnover while taking away eight combined in their two victories this season, including in Sunday's victory over Atlanta. They have a minus-14 turnover margin in their seven losses.

The Vikings, on the other hand, were a dismal 27th in the NFL in turnover ratio before Johnson took over. Their plus-6 margin in the past two games has lifted them into a tie for 17th at minus-2 for the season.

The biggest difference is at quarterback. Although Culpepper is the more explosive offensive player, he also turned the ball over 15 times, including 12 interceptions, in his seven starts.

"The main word that comes to mind when I think about Brad is 'smart,' " said Vikings safety Darren Sharper, a nine-year veteran and former Packer who picked off three passes against the Giants. "He makes all the proper decisions. I played against Brad many times when he was with Tampa, and every time we went against him in the playoffs, I said, 'Man, I'm not looking forward to this. I know I'm not going to get that many opportunities to get interceptions because he doesn't make too many mistakes.' "

Even when Johnson quarterbacked the Buccaneers' Super Bowl champion three seasons ago, he was an understated, often overshadowed part of a team that built its success on the backs of the No. 1 defense in the NFL.

"It plays a huge factor in every game," said Johnson of limiting mistakes, a conscious part of his conservative approach. "I think it has to be. Whatever uniform I've been in I tried to take pride as far as making the right read, making the throw and staying away from bad plays."

"You hit fairways and greens, you get your par," he said. "Your problem's when you hit it in the woods, and you try to make a great shot out of the woods. Take the par and put it in your pocket."

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