Vikings vs. Giants score, takeaways: Greg Joseph boots walk-off 61-yarder as Minnesota downs New York

The Vikings win another one-score game in dramatic fashion

A week after pulling off the greatest comeback in NFL history, the Minnesota Vikings nearly blew a double-digit lead of their own before walking off with a dramatic 27-24 victory over the Giants on a Greg Joseph 61-yard field goal.

Minnesota jumped out to a 10-0 advantage early in their Week 16 battle, but struggled offensively for much of the rest of the afternoon. The Vikes actually fell behind 13-10 at one point, but a timely touchdown by T.J. Hockenson (his second of the game) put them back in the lead. Naturally, because every Vikings game has to be as dramatic as possible, that was not even close to the end of things. 

The Giants would add a field goal midway through the fourth quarter, cutting Minnesota's lead to just 1 point. They would even get a chance to take the lead late in the game with their four-minute offense, but they stalled and went three-and-out. New York had all of its timeouts left and so prepared to punt the ball, play some defense, and get possession back, but things didn't work out that way. 

Jamie Gillan's punt was blocked by special teams ace Josh Metellus, allowing the Vikings to regain possession deep in Giants territory. Minnesota quickly capitalized with a Kirk Cousins touchdown pass to Justin Jefferson, and it looked like the Vikings were going to walk away with a win. 

The Giants had other ideas. Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley methodically marched New York down the field, moving the Giants deep into Minnesota territory with a series of chunk gains. On fourth-and-2 from Minnesota's 27-yard line, Barkley burst through the middle of the line and took it all the way to the house, putting the Giants down by only two. On the two-point conversion, Jones rolled out to his right and lofted a perfectly placed pass to tight end Daniel Bellinger, netting the Giants a surprising tie with 2:01 on the clock.

The Vikings looked like they might be in danger of punting the ball back to New York with enough time on the clock to drive for a win, but the Giants sent the house after Cousins on third-and-long, and he ultimately found Jefferson for a conversion. A few plays later, Cousins found Jefferson on a screen pass that ultimately gained 17 yards to the New York 42-yard line. From there, Joseph booted the game-winner as time expired.

Why the Vikings won

They have Justin Jefferson and T.J. Hockenson, and the Giants don't. The pair of Vikings pass-catchers were dominant all day long, with Jefferson finishing the day with 12 catches for 133 yards and a score and Hockenson matching him with 13 grabs for 109 yards and two scores. Jefferson also became the Vikings' all-time single-season leader in both receptions and receiving yards thanks to his exploits on the day. 

Why the Giants lost

They just couldn't get third-down stops on some very important drives. Hockenson's second touchdown grab, Jefferson's touchdown, and each of Jefferson's big plays on the final drive all came on third down. Minnesota went 6 of 13 on third downs on the afternoon, but the conversions carried a lot of leverage. Meanwhile, the Giants went only 3 of 11 on third downs.

Turning point

Late in the third quarter, Kirk Cousins looked like he had finally thrown an interception after seemingly trying to do so several times throughout the afternoon. Giants defensive back Cor'Dale Flott appeared to have made a diving interception in front of Adam Thielen. But during the commercial break, a replay review was initiated and it was eventually determined that the ground dislodged the ball from Flott's grasp as he went to the turf. So, the turnover was overturned and the Vikings retained possession. Later in the drive...

Highlight play

With third-and-5 from the 15-yard line, the Vikings lined up with trips to the left side and T.J. Hockenson in the slot. They gave him a couple of natural pick routes and sent him on a wheel up the sideline, and he absolutely skied over the top of two Giants defenders to come away with a 15-yard touchdown. 

What's next

The Vikings improve to 12-3 with the victory, and they remain undefeated in one-score games this season. They still need some help from each of the Philadelphia Eagles' remaining opponents in order to capture the No. 1 seed in the NFC, but they have a leg up on getting the No. 2 seed. They square off with the division rival Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears over the next two weeks. The Giants drop to 8-6-1 here and their path to the playoffs gets a bit murkier. There are so many competitors for the last two spots that I can't work out all the tiebreakers right now, but the Giants would presumably like to see the Eagles win today against the Cowboys or next week against the Saints so they don't have incentive to win the Week 18 game against New York. Before that contest, the Giants host the Colts next week.

[Dec 24, 2022 at 4:06 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

61 YARD FIELD GOAL FOR THE WIN!!!!!!!

[Dec 24, 2022 at 4:04 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Gonna be a VERY long field goal attempt here. Meanwhile, Jefferson now has the single-season record for both receptions and receiving yards for the Vikings now.

[Dec 24, 2022 at 4:03 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

What is Cousins doing there? You absolutely cannot take that sack. Awful stuff.

[Dec 24, 2022 at 4:02 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Of course, Justin Jefferson picks up the first down. What a player. Wow.

[Dec 24, 2022 at 4:02 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Giants could get the ball back with plenty of time on the clock if they can come away with a stop on this third down.

[Dec 24, 2022 at 3:58 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Vikes have 2:01 and one timeout to go 75 yards. (Or some lesser distance to get a field goal.)

[Dec 24, 2022 at 3:56 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

WHAT A TOUCH PASS FROM JONES TO BELLINGER!!! GAME TIED!!

[Dec 24, 2022 at 3:55 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

SAQUON GETS LOOSE AND HITS THE END ZONE!!!!

[Dec 24, 2022 at 3:53 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Big play from Slayton and the Giants are suddenly on the move and still have their timeouts and the two-minute warning.

[Dec 24, 2022 at 3:49 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Justin Jefferson is VERY, VERY GOOD.

[Dec 24, 2022 at 3:47 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

This possession deep in Giants territory is putting the ball in harm's way too often for Minnesota.

[Dec 24, 2022 at 3:43 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

A blocked punt! 

[Dec 24, 2022 at 3:43 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Welp. Giants presumably punting here and trying to get another stop to get the ball back for another try.

[Dec 24, 2022 at 3:41 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Alright, the Giants have 4:24 and all their timeouts to try to take the lead. 

[Dec 24, 2022 at 3:40 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Holy cow what a hit on Hockenson. Came down with the ball anyway but sheesh.

[Dec 24, 2022 at 3:40 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Enormous sack from the Giants defense on second down. Sets up third-and-very-long.

[Dec 24, 2022 at 3:37 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Graham Gano is on fire, man. 8-9 from 50+ yards this year now.

[Dec 24, 2022 at 3:36 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Wowowowow James was WIDE open over the middle and he just dropped it when he tried to take off and gain some YAC before fully hauling it in.

[Dec 24, 2022 at 3:34 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Saquon had looked much better the last couple weeks running the ball. He went through a stretch where he was very inefficient but he's back to getting some nice gains.

[Dec 24, 2022 at 3:30 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Really good coverage on the fourth-down play from Darnay Holmes, who came away with the PBU to give the Giants possession near midfield. Had a bead on that the whole way.

[Dec 24, 2022 at 3:28 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Not much doing on that third-down play, and Cousins kinda hung KJ Osborn out to draw by throwing him right into an oncoming defender. 

[Dec 24, 2022 at 3:26 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

BIG hole for Mattison to run through without Leonard Williams on the field right there.

[Dec 24, 2022 at 3:24 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

...and then he gets picked by Patrick Peterson. Great timing, Dubin.

[Dec 24, 2022 at 3:24 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Daniel Jones having one of his best games of the season throwing the ball, by the way: 24-30 for 277 and a TD. The Vikings have one of the NFL's worst pass defenses, but it's still impressive.

[Dec 24, 2022 at 3:22 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Not sure who that pass was actually intended for but it ended up in the arms of Hodgins yet again. Dude is having himself a day.

[Dec 24, 2022 at 3:17 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Remember, this drive almost ended in an interception a few plays ago. Now, it's a touchdown for Hockenson to give the Vikings the lead back.

[Dec 24, 2022 at 3:16 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

What a grab over the top of two defenders. Holy cow.

[Dec 24, 2022 at 3:16 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

HOCKENSON