By Doug Haller, Alec Lewis and RJ Kraft
Sam Darnold’s touchdown pass to Aaron Jones with 1:13 left in the fourth quarter lifted the Minnesota Vikings to a 23-22 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.
Jones, who had fumbled twice (and lost one) in the first quarter and lost playing time to Cam Akers and Ty Chandler during the game, caught a 5-yard touchdown pass to give Minnesota the lead for the first time in the game. Shaquill Griffin sewed up the win in Minnesota with an interception off the Cardinals’ Kyler Murray with 40 seconds left.
The win keeps the Vikings (10-2) in the hunt for the NFC North crown — one game behind the Detroit Lions. Minnesota also improves to 7-1 this season in one-score games.
Sam Darnold to Aaron Jones to give the Vikings the lead in the final minutes!
📺: #AZvsMIN on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/T7eiscO1IY— NFL (@NFL) December 1, 2024
Wide receiver Justin Jefferson crossed 1,000 receiving yards for the fifth time in as many seasons. He is one of four receivers to have 1,000 receiving yards in his first five seasons, joining Mike Evans, A.J. Green and Randy Moss.
Arizona led for much of the game, but its red zone woes (1-for-6) reared their head at the wrong time with coach Jonathan Gannon electing to settle for a 23-yard Chad Ryland field goal to put the Cardinals up 22-16 with 3:20 to go. That set the stage for Darnold’s game-winning drive. Murray threw two fourth quarter interceptions in the defeat.
The Cardinals’ loss combined with Seattle’s win over the New York Jets leaves Arizona (6-6) a game back of the Seahawks heading into the team’s Week 14 matchup.
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Minnesota’s offense eventually finds footing
For the first 40 minutes, the Vikings’ offense was inept. Jones fumbled the ball away on the Vikings’ second possession. Minnesota did not target Jefferson until late in the second quarter. The offensive line could not pick up the Cardinals’ exotic pressures. And Darnold fidgeted in the pocket.
Then the tide turned.
Darnold completed a pass to Jalen Nailor for 18 yards, and Akers bounced an outside run for 18 yards. Four Darnold passes later, the Vikings scored their first touchdown of the afternoon. Minnesota converted a field goal on the following drive, placing themselves in striking distance.
Darnold, specifically, found a rhythm. He threaded passes into tight windows. He dropped balls over defenders. He completed five passes on the go-ahead drive in the fourth quarter, capping the game off with a touchdown pass to Jones in the flat. Darnold went 21-of-31 for 235 yards and two touchdowns, marking his third straight game without an interception. Jefferson, meanwhile, caught seven passes for 99 yards. — Alec Lewis, Vikings beat writer
Late penalties hinder Arizona
Late in the fourth quarter, Murray hit Trey McBride for 9 yards setting up first-and-goal from the Minnesota 5. Leading 19-16, the Cardinals had a chance to go up two scores, positioning themselves for a massive road win. Instead, they lost 20 yards in two plays, flagged for a false start on the first and intentional grounding on the second. Arizona had to settle for Ryland’s 23-yard field goal. It was the defining moment of a disappointing loss. — Doug Haller, Arizona senior writer
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Gilmore’s injury exposes defensive hole
In the third quarter, Vikings veteran cornerback Stephon Gilmore slowly left the field. He visited the medical tent, then entered the locker room with trainers. Gilmore injured his hamstring and didn’t return. The Cardinals heavily targeted Gilmore’s replacement, veteran cornerback Fabian Moreau, in the second half.
Moreau was flagged for two critical plays in the second half: one for a 13-yard Cardinals gain, another for a 38-yard Cardinals gain. Each time Moreau lined up across from Marvin Harrison Jr., Murray hurled it in Harrison’s direction. Arizona threw the ball 45 times Sunday, and Murray completed 31 of those passes. — Lewis
Cardinals’ costly red zone woes
Arizona went 1-of-6 in the red zone — a bad habit that began in last week’s loss at Seattle. Instead of scoring touchdowns, the Cardinals settled for five Ryland field goals. It’s not the best way to beat a difficult opponent on the road. McBride had 12 catches for 96 yards and Harrison Jr. caught a 15-yard TD pass. But it wasn’t enough. Murray was great at times, throwing for 260 yards, but he also failed to move the Cardinals into field goal range on their final possession. — Haller
Defeat sets up must-win Seattle showdown
Arizona’s defense played well enough to win. The Cardinals limited the Vikings, who entered with the NFL’s ninth-highest scoring offense (24.9 points per game), to 273 yards. Arizona sacked Darnold five times after it struggled to rush the passer throughout the season’s first half. Linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. was outstanding with two sacks and a pass deflection. But after Ryland’s field goal gave the Cardinals a 22-16 lead, the defense gave up the winning drive, 70 yards in eight plays. After winning four in a row, the Cardinals have dropped their last two, which turns next week’s home showdown against Seattle into a must win. — Haller
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(Photo: David Berding/Getty Images)
