LONDON — In a game they absolutely had to have on Sunday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the Vikings found a way to escape with a 21-17 win over the Cleveland Browns.
It wasn’t pretty by any stretch of the imagination.
The sloppiness is something head coach Kevin O’Connell said he needs to get cleaned up moving forward. But O’Connell also praised his team for its relentlessness, crediting them for making it through an unprecedented international swing over the past week and a half.
Though they lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Dublin, the Vikings made sure that they returned home with a win over the Browns in London.
The Vikings are now 5-0 in games played in London. Here are some takeaways from the latest:
Carson Wentz’s toughness
After getting crushed on a scramble up the middle, veteran quarterback Carson Wentz got checked out in the blue medical tent, then made his way to the locker room shortly before halftime. It started to look like rookie quarterback Max Brosmer might be thrust into action. Instead, Wentz emerged from the locker room after halftime and played through the pain to lead the Vikings to a comeback win. He was at his best on the final drive, completing 9 of 9 passes for 71 yards and a touchdown with 21 seconds left that proved to be the difference.
Justin Jefferson’s excellence
It was almost as if Justin Jefferson knew he had to be the best player on the field. The Vikings’ star receiver was spectacular throughout, with a performance that seemed to elevate everybody around him. He had a leaping grab over the middle on which he put his body in harm’s way without hesitation. He also made an incredible catch near the sideline after winning a battle at the point of attack. The latter came on the final drive and helped put the Vikings in position to win.
Jordan Addison’s benching
The absence of star receiver Jordan Addison was conspicuous in the opening 15 minutes. He wasn’t playing despite being on the sideline with his helmet on. The reason for him not playing was initially unclear, but O’Connell said after the game that Addison was benched as a punishment for missing a walkthrough this week. As soon as he was allowed to return to the huddle, Addison made his presence felt, recording a handful of receptions, including a touchdown in the final seconds that put the Vikings on top for good.
Christian Darrisaw’s snaps
As the Vikings were trying to mount a comeback, star left tackle Christian Darrisaw was watching from the sideline. That caused some shuffling on the offensive line, forcing left tackle Justin Skule and right tackle Walter Rouse to serve as the bookends. Asked about having to sit out down the stretch, Darrisaw explained that it was part of a plan that has long been in place, designed to limit his snaps as he continues to ramp up after having surgery on his left knee.
Ryan Wright’s punt
It’s not often that punter Ryan Wright gets talked about during a game. That’s how impressive his 77-yard punt was in real time. It came at a big moment, too, as the Vikings very much needed to flip the field to avoid potentially surrendering points. Though it didn’t actually contribute to the scoreboard, the punt helped swing the momentum. Who knows what happens if Wright doesn’t step up with his right foot? Maybe the game gets out of hand before Wentz and Addison have a chance to win the game.
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