Vikings WR Justin Jefferson
After a down week under multiple coverage against the Bears when he finished with only two catches for 27 yards, Vikings star wide receiver Justin Jefferson led the team in receiving yards for the first time since his seven-reception, 137-yard game against the Titans on Nov. 3.
Jefferson hauled in seven catches for 99 yards Sunday, though he wasn’t targeted until Minnesota’s fourth drive of the game. His longest catch was a 30-yard reception in the fourth quarter, the longest catch of the game for either team. Jefferson now has 1,000 yards on the season for the fifth year in a row.
Jefferson’s fourth-down conversion
The Vikings failed to convert on third down for the seventh time in eight tries late in the fourth quarter, leaving a fourth-and-5 situation as the Vikings trailed 22-16.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell opted to keep his offense on the field and dialed up a pass play. Quarterback Sam Darnold found Jefferson for 12 yards. The Vikings went on to score the game-winning touchdown with a 5-yard pass from Darnold to running back Aaron Jones.
The Vikings offensive line could not contain the Cardinals pass rush, and Darnold was sacked five times for 30 yards lost. That played into the Vikings offense not being able to put a touchdown on the board until the third quarter.