The Vikings improved to 9-2 this season after beating the Patriots in the final game of the NFL Thanksgiving triple header, 33-26.
After being required to score in Week 11, these two offenses wasted no time getting the end zone to start this game. Minnesota needed just eight plays to go 80 yards and score a touchdown on the first practice of the night. Then New England tied that score with one of their own as Mac Jones connected with Nelson Agholor for a 34-yard touchdown. From there, those offenses continued to level each other throughout the first half and found themselves tied at 16 at the break.
New England opened the final half with a 75-yard touchdown to go up seven. It didn’t take long for Minnesota to tie the game as Kene Nwangwu fended off a 97 kickoff yards for a touchdown.
It was 26 all at the start of the fourth quarter, and that’s when the Vikings started to pull away. A penalty on New England for hitting the kicker gave Minnesota new life on a third-and-4 punt and they cashed. Two plays after the penalty, Cousins completed a 36-yard pass to Justin Jefferson and then a 15-yard touchdown. to Adam Thielen to take and hold the lead.
Kirk Cousins finished 30 of 37 for 299 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. Justin Jefferson was his favorite target and the star had 9 catches for 139 yards and a touchdown, break a record held by Randy Moss. Meanwhile, Mac Jones was 28 of 39 for a season-high 382 yards with a pair of touchdowns and no interceptions.
From there, the Patriots will return to Foxborough and prepare for another game Thursday night as they host the Buffalo Bills for their first meeting of the season. As for the Vikings, they will hang out at US Bank Stadium and prepare for the New York Jets.
