LAST MINUTE CHRISTMAS GIFT

VIKINGS 27

GIANTS 24

In their final home game of the regular season and of the calendar year, the Vikings gave us another dose of what 2022 has offered at a record level. Another close game. Another last second finish. And another win.

In came the Giants, sitting in the #6 seed and potentially in a playoff clinching scenario. The Vikings on the other hand were coming off an NFL record comeback win that clinched the division. So there could be a disparity of drive, with New York the far more desperate team.

Neither team had the early advantage. It was actually just a punt-off for the first 4 drives. Was nice to see Ed Donatell bringing blitzes early to rattle Daniel Jones though.

Vikings offense was the first to break through. First they got some statistical business out of the way. Kirk hit JJ for a gain that officially broke Randy Moss's team single season receiving yardage record. (Later Dalvin Cook would pass Chuck Foreman for 3rd place on the all time team rushing list) Very surgical drive. We never even faced a 3rd down. And Kirk hit TJ Hockenson in the back of the endzone for the game's first score. Hockenson was targeted early and often. He too would set a team record for single game catches by a tight end (13). 

The Giants offense broke through themselves following the TD. They got down close to the redzone before we stripped a receiver and Brian Asamoah made the fortuitous recovery. We quickly drove down inside the 20, but Kirk got sacked on 3rd down and we had to settle for the field goal.

The Giants drove easily on us again. It was just easy Saquon Barkey run, easy slant, wide open Jones run. All the way. Jones threw a TD and it was 10-7. Donatell's early pass rush pretty much vanished for the day.

Our next drive ended quickly with one of those short yardage deep passes that I wish we would stop doing.

No more first half scoring. We got a Danielle Hunter sack. They sacked Kirk on a would-be hail mary.

Onto our usually brutal 3rd quarter. It wasn't quite as bad as some, but still. Wasn't good. Our defense gave up a pair of field goals to lose the lead. Could have been worse, obviously. 

Could have been a lot worse. Driving late in the quarter, Kirk Cousins made a legitimately boneheaded decision, throwing over the middle for a double covered Thielen and getting intercepted. But on review the ball had just barely hit the ground.

A reprieve. And we took advantage, as the game flipped to the 4th quarter. On a 3rd down in the redzone Kirk fired a ball to Hockenson, who went up and made a brilliant catch over 2 Giants for the go-ahead touchdown. I can't tell you how much comfort I get lately from the game just being into the 4th quarter.

This 4th quarter was a little different. I don't think we played all that well for most of the final frame.

Yes, we did get a Patrick Peterson pick on the next series. But then on a 4th and 2 just inside the 50 we went for it and, again, went deep rather than moving the chains. Turnover on downs. Giants quickly got in range for a 55 yard field goal.

We quickly go 3 and out, largely due to another sack. It's late 4th now. Margin for error is dwindling and I flat out was not trusting this defense. But we did quickly force a punt.

And in probably the biggest play of the game Josh Metellus darted through the line and blocked the punt. 4th quarter magic. So many times this year a lesser known player has made a huge play late.

But the big names cashed in. Kirk lasered one over the middle to Jefferson, who extended into the endzone and pushed the lead to 8. 

My distrust in the defense was proven to be warranted. With a chance to seal the win we let them go 75 yards in 7 plays. We had them in a 4th and 2 and gave up a 27 yard Barkley draw. Then Peterson mistimed a jump in the back of the endzone and they completed the 2 point conversion to tie it up.

Alright, so what? Fuck this defense. Kirk has been bailing that side of the ball out for years. And I had confidence he could do it again.

Wasn't the most promising start, but on 3rd and long Kirk made a fantastic throw to JJ for a first down. Kirk got sacked and we had to burn the last timeout. But then we executed a perfect screen to JJ who quickly got 17 yards and got down in time for Kirk to spike the ball. 

Still, this was very much fringe field goal range at best. When Greg Joseph took the field to try this 61 yard kick I was still pretty sure we were heading to OT for the 2nd week in a row. Not even a knock on Joseph, but this would be the longest field goal in franchise history. 

But this is the right year for that kick to go through. And Joseph hit it with room to spare. Vikings win 27-24. An NFL record 11th one score win in a season. In most other seasons this may have been the no doubt best finish. This year it may not even crack the top 3. 

It's just been that kind of insane, magical season. And now Joseph, who I will freely admit I wanted gone weeks ago, has his own signature moment.