Led by 10 points at the start of the fourth quarter, the Vikings found the solution to chain a sixth victory.
Washington Commanders (4-5) – Minnesota Vikings (7-1): 17-20
In this former duel in Washington, it was Kirk Cousins (22/40, 265 yards, 2TDs, 1int) who came out the best. Manhandled by the pass rush from Washington, the line of the purples was unusually porous and it was the whole attack that suffered, in particular a ground game limited to 2.5 yards per race. For his first game with Minnesota, TJ Hockenson (9 receptions, 70 yards) has already shown that he could greatly contribute to this team.
Faced with the franchise that launched him in the NFL, Taylor Heinicke (15/28, 149 yards, 2TDs, 1 int) showed his limits. His desire to succeed is undeniable, but he remains too fair to hope to exist in this NFC East. Too bad for Washington whose attack seems to spoil a very solid defense and yet deprived once again of Chase Young.
A festival of punts
A touchdown, 8 punts in a row, a field goal and an interception, that’s what the first half boils down to.
Everything starts perfectly for Cousins and Jefferson (7 receptions, 115 yards, 1TD) who connect 4 times to arrive in the promised land. Behind, Minnesota is well blocked on the ground, Washington does not advance in the air, and the two teams chain the punts.
On their last possession of the second quarter, the Commanders progress enough to unlock their field goal counter. Cousins responds well by finding Thielen (3 receptions, 67 yards) on a pass from 36 yards and the purples return to the redzone. But a forced pass to Jefferson ends up in the hands of Danny Johnson. At halftime, the score is 7-3 for the Vikings.
The Vikings in reaction
At the start of the second half, Heinicke is aggressive and tries a long pass to Curtis Samuel (3 receptions, 65 yards, 1TD). As Camryn Bynum prepares to intercept him, he is hit by a referee. Samuel catches the ball and ends up in the endzone, 10-7.
Triple coverage? Not a problem !
Tyler Heinicke finds Curtis Samuel for a long distance TD 🏈#MINvsWAS #HTTC🎥 @NFL pic.twitter.com/ovSUYCHZsc
— DNA of Sports.com – NFL News 🏈 (@DNA of Sports) November 6, 2022
Washington’s defense continues to harass Cousins, Minnesota’s begins to crack. The locals put a second touchdown at the start of the fourth quarter and took off, 17-7.
Back to the wall, the attack of the Vikings finds a little life and reduces the gap on field goal. The defense also reacts and Harrison Smith intercepts Heinicke. Change of possession immediately punished by Dalvin Cook (17 races, 47 yards; 2 receptions, 9 yards, 1TD), 17-17.
The purples don’t stop there. The defense does not let anything pass and the attack continues to advance. While the Commanders will limit the Vikings to a field goal with two minutes to play, their special team commits the irreparable. A penalty for charging the center on the kick attempt gives Minnesota the first attempt back. A boon for Cousins and company who are content to let the clock run before Greg Joseph gives the victory, 17-20.
With this sixth victory in a row, the Vikings rush to first place in the NFC North. The Commanders miss an opportunity to hang on in a division where the slightest mistake is paid for in cash…
