By Lucas Vola — October 2, 2022 at 6:44 p.m.
The Vikings can thank their receiver who did everything to avoid a setback that would have been a task.
New Orleans Saints (1-3) – Minnesota Vikings (3-1) : 25-28
Justin Jefferson didn’t cross the Atlantic for sightseeing. He came to London to win and it showed. The receiver used all his talent (10 receptions for 147 yards + 1 run, 3 yards and 1 TD) in a meeting that Minnesota almost missed. With a touchdown from 3 yards in the 4th quarter, he first allowed the Vikings to regain the advantage late in the game. Before finally offering a reception of 39 yards to put his team in perfect position for the winning field goal.
A big performance from number 18 which deprives the Saints of an exceptional turnaround. In the country of soccer, the end of the match was played with a kick on the bar. Will Lutz first equalized from 60 yards at 25-25, before hitting the uprights on a kick from 61 yards to send everyone into overtime. But if the Saints were there, it was because the Vikings mismanaged this meeting that they should have killed much earlier.
This angle tho…#DoubleDoink pic.twitter.com/0lANNAoRun
— NFL UK (@NFLUK) October 2, 2022
The illusion of the first drive
In an enclosure mostly won over to their cause, the Vikings started this meeting best. From the first drive, the “visitors” of the day cross 75 yards in 13 games to score the first points of the game. A 15-yard screen pass from Kirk Cousins (25/38, 273 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT) to Alexander Mattinson and Minnesota already leads 7-0. The quarterback’s teammates have come to England on a ride and seem to be off to an easily won victory. Except that this first drive is just an illusion.
The Vikings offensive squad will never again replicate what they showed in that first offensive series. Result, Minnesota will not score any touchdowns until the fourth quarter. It is not, however, for lack of trying. Justin Jefferson struggles as he can, but Kirk Cousins can barely find him in the right conditions. And what about an almost non-existent ground game, against a team, it is true, particularly good in this sector.
The most productive then remains Greg Joseph. The kicker chained the kicks and posted a 3/3 after 35 minutes. The Vikings take off (7-16). It must be said that on the other side of the ball, the attack of New Orleans does not do much better. Without Alvin Kamara or Michael Thomas, Andy Dalton (20/28, 236 yards and 1 TD), who is acting for Jameis Winston, has a lot of trouble. And if the Louisiana players can boast of having scored a touchdown on a 4-yard pass from the pitcher to Chris Olave (4 receptions, 67 yards and 1 TD), it is in particular thanks to an interception caused by the defense on the previous drive, allowing them to have an advantageous position.
The essentials guaranteed
In the middle of the 3rd quarter, the attack therefore advances in slow motion and one wonders how the Saints will be able to score new points. The answer ? Thanks to a long drive from 78 yards, a successful fourth attempt on the wire, a reception out of nowhere from Marquez Callaway and a fine finish from Latavius Murray (11 carries, 57 yards and 1 TD) on a full 1 yard run of selflessness for the second touchdown of the game for New Orleans (14-16).
A touchdown that will completely free this offensive squad and give ideas to Denis Allen. After a new field goal from the Vikings (14-19), the technician from New Orleans will press on the ground. 6 of 9 plays called are going to be runs and the Saints are going to go 75 yards. At the end, Taysom Hill gives the advantage to his team for the first time in the game (22-19). The sequel becomes a duel between Justin Jefferson and Will Lutz. On paper, the two men do not play on equal terms, but one with his foot almost overshadows the other with his hands.
Justin Jefferson first scored his touchdown on the run (22-25). Lutz responds to him from 60 yards (25-25). Justin Jefferson then gives a layer to allow his team to score three more points (25-28). This time Lutz is a few centimeters short. The Vikings were hot and leave England with a victory. The essential is assured and it is thanks to Justin Jefferson.