MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Vikings have rapidly change into a assured and resilient workforce beneath rookie coach Kevin O’Connell and his workers, they usually positive confirmed it on this quick week.
Kirk Cousins threw for 299 yards and three touchdowns, the final a go-ahead rating to Adam Thielen with 9:34 left to push Minnesota previous the New England Patriots in a 33-26 victory Thursday evening.
Justin Jefferson had 139 receiving yards and one of many landing passes from Cousins, who delivered the clutch efficiency in opposition to a formidable protection the Vikings (9-2) wanted to bounce again from a blowout loss 4 days earlier than.
They rebounded a number of occasions throughout the recreation, too. After an overthrow by Cousins was intercepted by Jonathan Jones and returned 55 yards to arrange a area aim within the first quarter, the Vikings scored on 5 straight possessions excluding a kneel-down to finish the primary half.
“Kevin has empowered me a lot. This workforce has empowered me a lot,” stated Cousins, who went 30 for 37. “At occasions, it virtually brings me to tears the way in which these guys assist me.”
Mac Jones handed for a career-high 382 yards and two scores to snap a lagging offense to life for the Patriots (6-5), however they ran out of steam down the stretch. Their fourth quarter included two three-and-out punts, a turnover on downs on the Minnesota 39 and a quick desperation final drive.
Jones discovered Hunter Henry for a wide-open 37-yard landing move to start out the second half for a 23-16 lead. Kene Nwangwu scored on a 97-yard kickoff return to strike proper again for the Vikings.
Jones — who has accomplished greater than 77% of his passes over the past two video games — appeared to hit Henry for one more rating on the subsequent possession with a twisting catch on the aim line that was dominated a landing on the sphere. The replay reversal to an incomplete move compelled the Patriots to accept Nick Folks’s fourth area aim of the sport.
“My hand was beneath it even when it hit the bottom,” Henry stated.
One other very important name went the Vikings approach a couple of minutes later when Pierre Robust Jr. was referred to as for working into punter Ryan Wright. With a recent set of downs, Cousins and the Vikings cruised up the sphere for the go-ahead landing.
“We undoubtedly needed to are available and present those that final week, it simply wasn’t our week,” Jefferson stated.
O’Connell additionally acquired the bonus of a win over Invoice Belichick, who drafted him with the Patriots in 2008.
“This one means an entire heck of rather a lot, simply because I've a lot respect for that group and coach Belichick,” O’Connell stated.
The Patriots allowed simply three factors in every of their final two video games and introduced the NFL sack chief Matt Judon to the stadium the place the Vikings have been decimated by Dallas on Sunday whereas Cousins took a career-high seven sacks.
With standout left deal with Christian Darrisaw sidelined by a concussion, the Vikings gave backup Blake Brandel loads of additional assist and put Cousins in way more favorable conditions with shorter drops and faster throws. The Vikings had 231 yards within the first half, greater than the Patriots allowed within the earlier two video games mixed.
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