Kirk Cousins, Vikings overtake Patriots in Thanksgiving win

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MINNEAPOLIS — Kirk Cousins ​​threw for 299 yards and three touchdowns and gave Adam Thielen the go-ahead in the fourth quarter to help the Minnesota Vikings overtake the New England Patriots 33-26 on Thursday night. did.

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Justin Jefferson had 139 yards and one touchdown pass from Cousins. Cousins ​​delivered his performance precisely clutch against the formidable defense the Vikings (9-2) needed to bounce back from a crushing loss in Dallas. This gave rookie coach Kevin O’Connell a win over Bill Belichick, who drafted him for the Patriots in 2008.

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Mack Jones brought the Patriots’ lagging offense to life by passing for a career-high 382 yards and two points (6-5). Their fourth quarter included two three-and-out he punts, a turnover for downs at the Minnesota 39, and a desperate final drive that went nowhere.

Jones found Hunter Henry on a wide-open 37-yard touchdown pass to start the second half with a 23–16 lead. Kene Nwangwu struck back for the Vikings, scoring on his return from the kickoff 97 yards.

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Jones posted a career-best completion percentage of 23-27 last week. Goal He scored his catch with a twist at the line and appeared to score his second on the field for a touchdown. Replay reversal – Henry’s underhand appeared to be under the ball.

A few minutes later, another important call came down the Vikings’ trail when Pierre Strong, Jr. was called out for running into punter Ryan Wright. With a fresh set of downs, Cousins ​​and the Vikings cruised the field for a go-ahead touchdown.

The Patriots have allowed just three points each in their last two games, bringing NFL sack leader Matt Judon to the stadium. The Vikings lost to Dallas four days before that, and Cousins ​​recorded his career-high seven sacks.

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With standout left tackle Christian Dalisault out with a concussion, the Vikings gave backup Blake Blundell a lot of extra help, putting Cousins ​​in a much better position with shorter drops and faster throws. The Vikings gained 231 yards in the first half. That’s more than the Patriots have allowed in his previous two games combined.

Jefferson made his mark throughout this game from the start when a 3-yard reception on a cross route in the end zone capped the opening drive. He made catch after unlikely catch, including a 36-yard grab on the goal route, just before setting up a touchdown for Thielen flanked by Jones and Devin McCourty.

Jefferson set an NFL record for most receiving yards and passing Randy Moss in a player’s first three seasons. Jefferson has 100 yards in 21 of his 44 career games.

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little things

The first half was filled with examples of the extra edge the Patriots have long created for themselves under Belichick as one of the most well-rounded teams in the league.

Marcus Jones, who had an 84-yard punt return touchdown with five seconds left to beat the Jets last week, took the second quarter kickoff 46 yards to set up a tiebreaker field goal. Then, after the Vikings regained the lead and missed out on Greg Joseph’s fifth extra point of the season, the Patriots saved all three timeouts with 1:30 remaining, 9 for another kick by Fork. Moved 70 yards in one play.

injury report

Patriots: RB Damian Harris (thigh) was injured in the 3rd quarter and was unable to return. …WR Jacobi Myers (shoulder) was injured on the first snap when he made his reception diving 26 yards. He returned late in the second quarter. …C David Andrews (thigh) and he RT Isiah Wynn (leg) are on hiatus and replaced in the starting line-up by James Ferenc and Yodny Callaste.

Vikings: CB 4-stringer Duke Shelley starts, with Cameron Dantzler Sr. (ankle), Akeleb Evans (concussion) and Andrew Booth Jr. (knee) all missing. … DE Dalvin Tomlinson (calf) was sidelined for his fourth straight game, with James Lynch taking his place.