Sam Darnold threw a go-ahead touchdown pass to Aaron Jones with 1:13 remaining, and the Minnesota Vikings stormed back for a 23-22 win over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday afternoon in Minneapolis.
Darnold completed 21 of 31 passes for 235 yards and two touchdowns for Minnesota (10-2), which never led until the final 73 seconds. Justin Jefferson had a team-high seven catches for 99 yards, and Johnny Mundt joined Jones with a touchdown reception.
Kyler Murray completed 31 of 45 passes for 260 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions for Arizona (6-6). Trey McBride caught 12 passes for 96 yards, Marvin Harrison Jr. had a touchdown reception and James Conner led the team with 68 rushing yards.
The Vikings trailed 19-6 late in the third quarter before rallying to score 17 of the final 20 points. In doing so, the Vikings secured their fifth straight victory.
Jones darted out of the backfield and caught a pass in stride for a 5-yard touchdown to complete the Vikings’ comeback. The score capped an eight-play, 70-yard drive that took just 2:07 off the clock.
Arizona had a chance to respond when it got the ball back at its 30-yard line with 1:13 to go and three timeouts. Murray struggled against the Vikings’ pass rush on the final drive, which ended with an interception by defensive back Shaq Griffin.
The Cardinals inched to a 9-6 lead at halftime thanks to three field goals from Chad Ryland. Minnesota got two first-half field goals from John Parker Romo.
Ryland’s fourth field goal gave Arizona a 12-6 lead with 8:33 left in the third quarter.
Harrison tallied the game’s first touchdown on a 15-yard reception. Murray rolled right and lofted a pass toward the back of the end zone for Harrison, who made the catch and got two feet in bounds to make it 19-6 with 4:37 remaining in the third quarter.
Minnesota answered with a touchdown on the following possession to pull within 19-13 with 1:17 to play in the third quarter. Darnold hit Mundt for a 4-yard score.
Romo made a 31-yard field goal to cut the Vikings’ deficit to 19-16 with 11:08 left.
Arizona pulled ahead 22-16 on Ryland’s fifth field goal, this time from 23 yards, with 3:20 remaining.
–Field Level Media
