For a third straight game, the favored Minnesota Vikings spotted their opponent a two-score lead. But for the second straight week, they were able to overcome it. Dan Bailey made a 23-yard field goal in overtime to secure a 27-24 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Minnesota moved to 6-6 with the win, an ugly but necessary victory for their playoff hopes.
HOW’D THE OFFENSE DO?
They did enough to get a W, but things were still out of sync for large chunks of the game, including down the stretch. After the Vikings faltered on two attempts at a game-winning drive, Minnesota went back to their workhorse. Dalvin Cook, who had a quiet day before overtime, carried it eight straight times in Jacksonville territory to set up Bailey’s winner.
For a third straight week at home, the Vikings started slow and needed a big second half to climb back. Kirk Cousins threw a hideous pick-six on the first play of the second half, reminiscent of his fumble to start the second half in Week 12. But trailing by 10 Cousins led back-to-back touchdown drives to give the Vikings their first lead. Justin Jefferson was the focal point as he compiled another 100-yard game despite a slow first half. His sideline catch for 40 yards helped set up Cousins’ touchdown pass to C.J. Ham, and Jefferson later caught one of his own on a beautifully-run route off play-action. He finished with nine catches for 121 yards.
There were still too many mistakes against a team on a 10-game losing streak. Aside from Cousins’ interception, thrown right to linebacker Joe Schobert on a screen where Dalvin Cook never turned around, the Vikings had trouble with exchanges and committed a handful of penalties. The offensive line let Cousins get hit all afternoon and sacked three times. Cook dropped a pass early in the game, had a back-breaking fumble at the 2-yard line when Minnesota was driving for a score, and wasn’t a huge factor in the run game until OT. Cousins also missed Adam Thielen on an early third down.
As a pattern of sloppiness continues, it’s fair to wonder whether the Vikings can hang against a team better than the Jaguars.
HOW’D THE DEFENSE DO?
After a rocky start, the Vikings defense bore down against a stagnant Jaguars unit, but they gave up a late game-tying touchdown drive to spoil an otherwise strong effort. Mike Glennon converted a two-point pass to Collin Johnson with 1:08 after a James Robinson touchdown to tie it after Jacksonville had been shut out since the first quarter.
The bookends were bad for the defense. In the first quarter, Glennon completed three ill-advised deep balls: One in heavy traffic to a tight end over the middle, one that deflected off Kris Boyd for a touchdown, and another where Boyd mistimed his jump along the sideline. Glennon’s luck ran out as the game progressed, throwing an interception to Cameron Dantzler in the second quarter and fumbling in the third. He was sacked for a safety in the fourth quarter that made the score 21-16 and threw a devastating interception late in overtime. Frankly, Glennon looked overmatched except for his final drive.
The Vikings defense forced four turnovers, which have been lacking this season. Minnesota forced and recovered two fumbles in the second half (and nearly a third, but the call was overturned). With Jeff Gladney exiting in the second half with a calf injury, Dantzler stepped up big, forcing one of the fumbles to create his second takeaway of the day, and Harrison Smith picked off Glennon on a 3rd and 8 in overtime to probably salvage the Minnesota victory.
OBLIGATORY SPECIAL TEAMS REPORT
For what seems like the millionth week in a row, the Vikings shot themselves in the foot with special teams errors. Dan Bailey missed two extra points, Kris Boyd blocked in the back, K.J. Osborn fumbled, and Bailey badly missed a 51-yard field goal in the closing seconds. The pressure continues to heat up for Marwan Maalouf, who has yet to right the ship after things started going off the rails after the bye.
There was a ray of light in overtime, though. Britton Colquitt flipped the field with a 52-yard punt and Dan Chisena beat two jammers for a massive special teams tackle. The Vikings intercepted Glennon three plays later to put themselves in a game-winning position.
BIG PICTURE
The Vikings have offset their 1-5 start with a 5-1 stretch in their last six. They head to Tampa Bay in Week 14 to face Tom Brady with a chance to pass to Buccaneers in the playoff standings.
