REASONS TO BE THANKFUL

VIKINGS 33

PATRIOTS 26

Wait...so the Dallas loss didn't end the season? It wasn't the only game that matters? 

In their first ever Thanksgiving home game, the Vikings bounced back in a major way. On a short week, they took down the soon to be winningest coach in NFL history. And in typical 2022 fashion, they did it with a 4th quarter comeback. 

Going into this game everybody was all doom and gloom about the offense, since the Patriots have a top 5 defense in many of the major categories, and we were starting Blake Brandel instead of Christian Darrisaw.

No matter. We still went right down the field to start the game. We tested that pass defense immediately, and Kirk hit 1st down throws to Mundt and Thielen, plus a Jefferson catch where he got his facemask grabbed. Then Jefferson actually THREW a pass himself to Thielen, setting us up in the redzone, where Jefferson then caught a Kirk dart in the front of the endzone and took a pop but held on for a 7-0 lead.

But, oh, that Vikings defense. In a sign of things to come, on their very first play of the game, Mac Jones fumbled the snap but still was able to easily recover and hit a deep shot for like 30 yards.  Just a few plays later it was another deep shot to a wide open Nelson Agholor and the game was tied.

We traded 3 and outs, but then we made our first big mistake. Kirk fired a pass downfield for KJ Osborn (who was clearly held) and it was intercepted, plus a long run back inside the redzone. But to their credit the defense quickly held serve and the Patriots only got a field goal off the turnover. 

The Vikings responded with a field goal. It should have been a touchdown, but an Ed Ingram holding penalty wiped out what would have been a 3rd down conversion inside the 5. 

We gave up a long kick return, setting up the Patriots in good field position which they used to take the lead on another field goal. 

Then the Vikings drove the field, with Kirk hitting a deep shot to Jefferson, and finally hitting TJ Hockenson for his 1st TD as a Viking.

We led 16-13, but it stayed at 16 because Greg Joseph missed his FIFTH PAT of the season. It's become a nearly weekly occurrence now. The only reason he didn't miss one against Dallas is because we never got a touchdown. How much longer will this be allowed to continue? 

Anyway, we let the Patriots drive the field again just before halftime. At least Duke Shelley was able to make another clutch pass breakup in the endzone. But Nick Folk's 3rd field goal tied the game at halftime. 

The Vikings defense offered minimal resistance to start the 3rd quarter, letting the Patriots drive 75 yards in 8 plays, the last a rather embarrassing 37 yard Hunter Henry touchdown catch.

The Vikings desperately needed a spark, and one arrived in the form of Kene Nwangwu. Nwangwu has provided very little on returns this year, but he picked a stellar time to break through. King Kene sprinted to the home sideline and burst through the opening for a 97 yard touchdown that swung momentum back to the Vikings and energized the crowd. Certainly one of the biggest plays of the season. 

Our defense decided momentum is overrated though, and let the Patriots zip back down the field. The key play was a 40 yard deep shot inside the 10. They looked to have cashed in on another Henry TD catch. But they went to replay to confirm, and it showed the ball just barely hit the ground before Henry had control. I guess Patriots fans were all pissy about this, but hey, that's the rule. Folk hit the field goal to retake the lead.

But....it was now the 4th quarter. And in 2022, the 4th quarter has been a magical time for the Vikings (at least in the games that were in doubt). It's surreal how little worry I get from watching this team late in close games.

Kirko Chains went to work. The big play on this drive was a 25 yard pass on 3rd down to Jalen Reagor of all people (his biggest catch as a Viking). We also got a personal foul flag on a dirty hit on Thielen. This drive likely ends in a TD but Brandel got beat for the one sack in the game. Honestly, anyone would have taken just 1 sack allowed in this game, even if this one was a bummer. Brandel held up fine. Anyway, it wasn't a PAT so Joseph made the kick to tie the game again. 

Part of the 4th quarter magic this year has been seeing an often inept defense right itself in the final frame. It happened again. We forced a 3 and out and got the ball back. 

Time for THE drive. It almost ended early after the refs somehow missed an offsides and called it a false start. But on 4th down Ryan Wright was run into and we got a first down. Again, Pats fans wanna whine? It was a direct helmet to foot hit. 

Two plays later, Kirk uncorked a deep shot to Jefferson, who went up and made a brilliant catch between 2 defenders. He took a shot here too but held on. This one goes to #2 on best Jefferson plays of the year. 

Kirk wasted no time, firing a dart to Thielen in the back of the endzone for the go ahead touchdown.

The defense was not going to let this one get away. Even though we couldn't fully salt the game away on offense after this, the Patriots never got closer than our 30. We finally got a sack on Mac Jones, who then missed a deep shot on 4th down. And on the final desperation drive we nearly got a safety on Jones before a couple fruitless passes ended the game.

9-2. 8th 1 score win. Another 4th quarter comeback.

The "Kirk Cousins stinks in primetime" narrative was obliterated again. 30 for 37, 299, 3 touchdowns. Against a top 5 defense and with little help from the run game. It was a MUCH better gameplan, helping to negate the loss of Darrisaw. Lots of quicker throws.

The defense remains the team's biggest weakness, but to be fair they have been without Dalvin Tomlinson for weeks and were down 3 corners in this game. I still think the scheme itself is to blame, as it makes things incredibly easy for QBs both good and bad. But in the 4th they covered well and got actual pressure. I don't understand why they so often don't even display the intent to do those things early in the game. This needs to be fixed by playoff time. 

But hey, we won. Again. As November began I thought that if we went 2-2 this month I would be satisfied. Instead they went 3-1, and yeah, the 1 was really bad, but the other 3 were really good. That Washington win looks very good now. Obviously Buffalo was incredible. And this win over the Patriots was a reassuring gut check. Sorry, haters and doomers, but there will be no great collapse. The Vikings will be cruising into the playoffs. They even have a chance to clinch the NFC North next week with a win over the Jets (very possible) and a Lions loss to Jacksonville (well, maybe).

Either way it is just a matter of time. This was a tremendous win to cap a very good month. December and early January will be all about seeding. The #1 seed is likely going to require at least a 5-1 finish, but that is doable with the remaining schedule (honestly the game at Detroit might be the toughest game left). And we still hold a 2 game lead over the 49ers (who ARE surging, watch out) for the 2 seed.

It's been a long time since the Vikings were in this kind of high perch with so much season to go. As always nothing is guaranteed once the playoffs hit, but if any team dares to not put us away by the 4th quarter, they are in trouble.