Aaron Jones earns redemption with a game-winning touchdown to lift the Vikings past the Cardinals: Key takeaways

By Doug Haller, Alec Lewis and RJ Kraft

Sam Darnold’s touchdown pass to Aaron Jones with 1:13 left in the fourth quarter gave the Minnesota Vikings a 23-22 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.

Jones, who fumbled twice (and lost once) in the first quarter and lost playing time to Cam Akers and Ty Chandler during the game, caught a 5-yard touchdown pass to give Minnesota the lead for the first time in the game. Shaquill Griffin secured the win in Minnesota with an interception of the Cardinals’ Kyler Murray with 40 seconds left.

The win keeps the Vikings (10-2) in the hunt for the NFC North crown — one game behind the Detroit Lions. Minnesota also improves to 7-1 in one-score games this season.

Sam Darnold to Aaron Jones to give the Vikings the lead in the final minutes!

📺: #AZvsMIN on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/T7eiscO1IY

– NFL (@NFL) December 1, 2024

Wide receiver Justin Jefferson surpassed 1,000 receiving yards for the fifth time in five seasons. He is one of four receivers, along with Mike Evans, AJ Green and Randy Moss, to have 1,000 receiving yards in his first five seasons.

Arizona led for most of the game, but its problems in the red zone (1-6) showed up at the wrong time when coach Jonathan Gannon opted to settle for a 23-yard field goal from Chad Ryland , to put the Cardinals up 22-16 with 3:20 remaining. That set the stage for Darnold’s game-winning drive. Murray threw two interceptions in the fourth quarter.

The Cardinals’ loss and Seattle’s win over the New York Jets puts Arizona (6-6) one game behind the Seahawks in the NFC West heading into the teams’ Week 14 game.

Go deeper

The Lions signed safety Jamal Adams to the practice squad

Minnesota’s offense finally finds its footing

The Vikings offense was inept in the first 40 minutes. Jones fumbled the ball away on the Vikings’ second possession. Minnesota didn’t target Jefferson until late in the second quarter. The offensive line couldn’t handle the Cardinals’ exotic pressure. And Darnold fumbled in the pocket.

Then the tide turned.

Darnold completed a pass to Jalen Nailor for 18 yards, and Akers rebounded an outside run for 18 yards. Four Darnold passes later, the Vikings scored their first touchdown of the afternoon. Minnesota converted a field goal on the ensuing drive, putting them within striking distance.

Darnold in particular has found a rhythm. He threaded passes into tight windows. He dropped balls over defenders. In the fourth quarter, he completed five passes on the go-ahead kickoff and capped the game with a touchdown pass to Jones in the flat. Darnold completed 21 of 31 for 235 yards and two touchdowns, marking his third straight game without an interception. Jefferson, meanwhile, caught seven passes for 99 yards. — Alec Lewis, Vikings beat writer

Late penalties hamper Arizona

Late in the fourth quarter, Murray hit Trey McBride for 9 yards, setting up the first score at the Minnesota 5. The Cardinals led 19-16 and had a chance to go up two points and set themselves up for a massive road win. Instead, they lost 20 yards on two plays, were warned for a false start on the first play and an intentional grounding on the second. Arizona had to settle for Ryland’s 23-yard field goal. It was the defining moment of a disappointing defeat. – Doug Haller, senior writer from Arizona

Scoop City Newsletter

Free, daily NFL updates delivered straight to your inbox.

Free, daily NFL updates delivered straight to your inbox.

Sign in

Gilmore’s injury exposes a defensive hole

In the third quarter, Vikings veteran cornerback Stephon Gilmore slowly left the field. He visited the medical tent and then entered the locker room with the trainers. Gilmore injured his hamstring and did not return. The Cardinals heavily targeted Gilmore’s replacement, veteran cornerback Fabian Moreau, in the second half.

Moreau was flagged for two critical plays in the second half: one for a 13-yard Cardinals gain, another for a 38-yard Cardinals gain. Every time Moreau faced Marvin Harrison Jr., Murray hurled the ball in Harrison’s direction. Arizona threw the ball 45 times on Sunday, and Murray completed 31 of those passes. –Lewis

The Cardinals’ costly problems in the red zone

Arizona went 1 of 6 in the red zone, a bad habit that started in last week’s loss at Seattle. Instead of scoring touchdowns, the Cardinals settled for five Ryland field goals. It’s not the best way to beat a difficult opponent on the street. McBride had 12 catches for 96 yards and Harrison Jr. caught a 15-yard TD pass. But it wasn’t enough. Murray was great at times, throwing for 260 yards, but he also failed to get the Cardinals into field goal range on their final possession. — Haller

The defeat sets up the decisive showdown in Seattle

Arizona’s defense played well enough to win. The Cardinals limited the Vikings, who came into the game with the ninth-best offense in the NFL (24.9 points per game), to 273 yards. Arizona sacked Darnold five times after struggling to rush the passer in the first half of the season. Linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. was outstanding with two sacks and a pass deflection. But after Ryland’s field goal gave the Cardinals a 22-16 lead, the defense gave up the winning run, 70 yards in eight plays. After four straight wins, the Cardinals have lost their last two, making next week’s home game against Seattle a must-win. — Haller

Required reading

(Photo: David Berding/Getty Images)