Oh no. Washington touches the long-snapper on the field goal attempt, and gives the Vikings a fresh set of down on the two-yard line. You're kidding me.
Commanders vs. Vikings score, takeaways: Streaking Minnesota wins sixth in a row in thriller vs. Washington
Minnesota remained in the win column thanks to a game-winning field goal
The Minnesota Vikings won their sixth straight game on Sunday, as Kirk Cousins defeated his former team in the Washington Commanders, 20-17. Minnesota trailed by 10 points early in the fourth quarter, but reeled off 13 unanswered points in the final 10:46 of game time to steal the victory. Greg Joseph converted a 28-yard field goal with 12 seconds left to steal the victory.
Cousins completed 22 of 40 passes for 265 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Justin Jefferson had another impressive outing, as he caught seven passes for 115 yards and one touchdown. The Vikings offense scored just seven points in the first three quarters, but found another gear in the final stanza to keep them in the win column.
Commanders quarterback Taylor Heinicke engineered an impressive second-half comeback that fell just short. He completed 15 of 28 passes for 149 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in his first loss of the season. Curtis Samuel was Washington's leading receiving on Sunday, as he caught three passes for 65 yards and a touchdown.
Let's take a deeper look at what went down in Landover on Sunday.
Why the Vikings won
Cousins said after the game that the Vikings are going to have to win more convincingly, and he's right. Still, a win is a win, and the Vikings now have seven of them. Minnesota utilized a big fourth quarter to win this game. After Washington scored a touchdown to go up 10 points, Cousins led a nine-play, 68-yard drive which ended with a 25-yard field goal from Joseph. Four plays later, Heinicke threw an interception, and Harrison Smith returned it to the Commanders' 12-yard line. That set up the Dalvin Cook touchdown which tied the contest, and then Cousins was able to take his time on the game-winning drive after the Vikings defense forced a three-and-out.
The Vikings are now 6-0 in one-score games this year. They went 6-8 in one-score games last season. In my opinion, that's the big difference between the 2021 Vikings and the 2022 Vikings. Minnesota now has a 4.5-game lead in the NFC North.
Why the Commanders lost
The Commanders made a couple of lethal mistakes in the fourth quarter, which led to this lead being blown. Heinicke's interception in the fourth quarter quickly changed things, and then John Ridgeway is now the most wanted man in D.C. after his mental error.
After the Commanders stopped the Vikings in the red zone, Joseph came on to attempt a 22-yard field goal with 1:52 remaining in the fourth quarter. He made it, but Ridgeway ran into the defenseless long snapper and drew an unnecessary roughness penalty, which gave the Vikings a fresh set of downs, and allowed them to run out the clock. We didn't get a chance to see Heinicke lead a game-winning drive because of that penalty.
Turning point
The Vikings were about to score 13 straight points, but the Commanders still had 1:52 left to either tie the game with a field goal, or score a game-winning touchdown. They did it last week against the Indianapolis Colts. Maybe they could have done it again. However, the Ridgeway penalty changed the game plan.
With a new set of downs, the Vikings ran out most of clock and kicked the game-winning field goal with just 12 seconds remaining. That left the Commanders with just one play to try and make something happen. They were unable to do so.
Play of the game
Three plays into the second half, the Commanders scored their first touchdown of the game. This play is wild for several reasons:
1. It was a 49-yard touchdown pass.
2. The 49 passing yards Heinicke recorded on this play were more than the amount of yards he threw in the entire first half (48 yards).
3. Samuel caught this pass between three Vikings defenders.
4. The ref set a pick on Vikings safety Camryn Bynum that helped Samuel catch the touchdown.
Vikings go bowling
After the fourth-quarter interception which set up Cousins and Co. with great field position to tie the game, Smith and the Vikings defense got to break out this celebration.
T.J. Hockenson very involved in first action with Vikings
The Vikings sent a 2023 second-rounder and 2024 third-rounder to the rival Detroit Lions in exchange for Hockenson, a 2023 fourth-round pick and 2024 conditional fourth-rounder. Jefferson and Cook headline this Vikings offensive attack, but Hockenson may be an addition that takes this team to another level.
In his first game with Minnesota, Hockenson caught all nine of his targets for 70 yards. Keep an eye on him moving forward, because he could play an important role in Kevin O'Connell's scheme.
What's next?
The Vikings will stay on the road in Week 10, and take on the Buffalo Bills next Sunday. As for the Commanders, they will hit the road to take on the undefeated Philadelphia Eagles on "Monday Night Football." Philly is coming off of a 29-17 win over the Houston Texans on Thursday night.
St-Juste has had a very up-and-down day, but his pass breakup on Justin Jefferson on third down was very clutch.
Commanders had a chance to earn back some momentum, but instead the offense goes three-and-out. Huge sack by Danielle Hunter on third down.
What a game! Tied up with 7:46 left. Both Jefferson and Dalvin Cook now have touchdowns. Let's see how Heinicke rebounds after his costly mistake.
Taylor Heinicke sails a pass, as he's done before, and it's picked by Harrison Smith. Vikings now steal momentum and are just 12 yards from the end zone.
Vikings convert a 25-yard field goal to trim Washington's lead to 7. 9-play, 68-yard drive. Adam Thielen in the blue injury tent getting checked out for what may be a head or neck injury (?)
Kirk Cousins is back, but he gets drilled on his first play!
Wow! Kirk Cousins hits Justin Jefferson for a gain of 47 yards on third and 7.
Cousins is injured after being laid out by Payne.
Dax Milne! His first career touchdown catch puts the Commanders up 17-7. That was a 78-yard, 10-play drive and Heinicke is rolling. You can hear the chants from FedEx Field.
Big yikes. With the lost challenge, Washington has just one timeout remaining for the game. Why even challenge that?
The Vikings offense on the other hand has completely sputtered. A three and out on their second possession of the third quarter. Three pass attempts for -3 yards.
RiverBoat Ron. Goes for it on fourth and 1, play-action pass, and Terry McLaurin can't reel it in. That feels like an important decision.
The Commanders are moving the ball so much more effectively in the second half. They have already matched their yard total from the entire first half.
The Vikings couldn't answer the Commanders' hot second-half start. 16 yards on six plays. This Washington defense is really flying around in the secondary. Playing with juice.
Bro...
WHOA. Three plays into the second half, and the Commanders have their first touchdown of the game. Curtis Samuel caught a ball between three Vikings defenders while the ref got trucked.
Under review, but whoa.
Also something to note: New Viking T.J. Hockenson had four catches for 42 yards in the first half.
HALFTIME IN LANDOVER
Third down efficiency: MIN 3-7 WAS 1-6
Total yards: MIN 180 WAS 96
TOP: MIN 16:17 WAS 13:43
Kirk Cousins: 13 of 20 for 158 yards, 1 TD 1 INT
Taylor Heinicke: 6 of 14 for 48 yards
Dalvin Cook: 8 rushes for 28 yards
Justin Jefferson: 5 catches for 57 yards and 1 TD
I wonder if that end-zone interception is going to be an important play. Stole three -- or seven -- points from the Vikings. What a catch from Danny Johnson. That's a huge play right before halftime.
The Commanders put together their best drive of the game, going 37 yards on 11 plays. That drive really stalled near the red zone, however, and Slye converted on a 44-yard field goal. Washington staying in it, but has to stop the Vikings offense on this final drive.
The Vikings are really playing sound defense. Getting pressure on Heinicke, disciplined in coverage. Washington to punt for the fourth time in the first half.
We have now seen five punts in a row. Washington gains 12 yards on four plays., and Heinicke hit Terry McLaurin for a gain of 18 yards on the first play of the drive.
Not a typo.
I don't think Taylor Heinicke is a franchise QB, but he makes throws not every quarterback can make. Kid is a baller.
Tress Way is seriously one of the best punters in the NFL. Too bad his special teams couldn't help him out.