The Minnesota Vikings are on a remarkable run, having won eight one-possession games this season, with a 13-2 record. In their latest victory, a 27-24 win over Seattle, quarterback Sam Darnold made a clutch play to secure the win. With just over four minutes remaining, Darnold dodged a sack and threw a one-footed laser to wideout Justin Jefferson for a 39-yard touchdown, a play that coach Kevin O’Connell called “absolutely the play of the game… and maybe even the season as well.”
The win is the Vikings’ fifth game decided by three or fewer points, and it shows just how confident the team is in their quarterback and each other. “The level of confidence that that group has in their quarterback and the level of confidence the quarterback has in the 10 guys in the huddle is significant,” O’Connell said.
The Vikings’ winning streak is their longest since 2017, and they enter Week 17 tied with the Detroit Lions at 13-2, although the Lions have a head-to-head advantage. The NFC North teams will be the first in NFL history to enter Week 17 with 13-plus wins and not have the outright lead in their division. With two games remaining, the Vikings can secure a No. 1 seed in the playoffs by winning out.
Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell praised his team’s confidence, saying “I’m not going to get into what we’re capable of… we know exactly what kind of team we have and we know exactly the kind of guys we have in that locker room.” With players like Justin Jefferson, the Vikings are looking like a championship-caliber team.
