Volume 7, Katie Marriott, Week 16 2022: Minnesota Vikings vs New York Giants

 

As Christmas Eve drew in and we were relaxing with the tree all decorated, presents sitting nicely below and family all gathered around. It might be expected that we were chatting about our lives, playing games and watching the children in excitement. Not in our home!

We were building up to the moment that the Vikings and Giants took to the field, nervous to know which Vikings team was going to show up to this game. Would we see the team that went down 0-33 or the team that would go onto win 39-36? 

 

The First Half 

Will this be another one score game? I would say overall, it was a standard but sloppy start to the game. The Vikings did draw first blood in the game with T.J. Hockenson caught his second Vikings touchdown to start the game: 7-0. Basically after that point, we can fast forward to the second quarter as there isn’t much going on.   

At the start of the second quarter, Brian Asamoah II came in big on the D to force a fumble and recover it early on. This brought the offence back onto the field, pushing to an important 3rd and 1, which we converted. Sadly this followed on with only a field goal, bringing us up 10-0.   

The Giants then had a decent push to the red zone, converting with a throw to Isaiah Hodgins, bringing it to 10-7 with 4 minutes left in the first half. One would have thought that would have seen the first half out, but with 37 seconds left in the half, we got the ball back for one last push. Although the defence encroached and gave us a first down, we nearly lost the ball with an interception that was luckily overturned with an interference call at the end of the half.   

It meant that far too much time was lost and the first half finished with a sack on Cousins. Vikings are up 10-7.    

 

The Second Half 

In the second half, the Giants started with the ball. They were looking confident and moving the ball down the field easily, converting a huge throw to Darius Slayton.  The defence worked hard to hold them on the second half of the drive, tying up the game at 11:18 in the third: 10-10.   

Sadly the Vikings were unable to come back and score in response, which put the Giants in the driving seat for the first time in the game. The Giants then had another huge catch from Richie James, 33 yards, putting them in great field position. This set them up to take the lead for the first time in the game, but after a huge Vikings sack by D.J. Wonnum, they only managed a field goal to take their first lead of the game 13-10.  

When the Vikings got the ball back, a big throw to Adam Thielen (in double coverage) sent the whole house into uproar, with it being intercepted, and people cursing Kirk Cousins for throwing into double coverage. Luckily in the booth review it was found that he had dropped the ball, which brought the Vikings back to a 2nd and 10 situation.   

The overruled interception was then followed by a holding call by the defence that then brought new life into the team. The Vikings finished the 3rd quarter just outside of the red zone.   

In the 4th quarter, we saw both teams wake up and start to play better football.  The beginning of the 4th saw Kirk Cousins hit T.J. Hockenson in double coverage with a giant catch to get a TOUCHDOWN! — his second of the game — and bring the Vikings to the lead again: 17-13.  

The mood in the house quickly changed when the Giants fought back by moving the ball very quickly down the field, with imminent dread that we would be down once again in the 4th quarter. Luckily, with over 11 minutes left in the fourth, veteran Patrick Peterson intercepted the ball at the Vikings 17 yard line – another huge defensive moment shutting the Giants down. The Vikings took over possession, and moved down the field with a huge 4th and 2 play, but taking a questionable timeout.   

Coming out of the timeout, a poor play call led to a failed 4th down conversion. Who would take a deep shot to Jefferson who was in double coverage? It was later discovered that Adam Thielen appeared to have run the wrong route which led to that double coverage, and was shown on the sideline owning up to it right after the play. So it was a Giants ball…

With the clock starting to tick down, stress is now starting to ramp up in the room.  Again, the ball moved well by the Giants with a few dropped balls that helped the Vikings hold them to a 55 yard field goal. The score is now 17-16 to the Vikings and only 6:24 left in the 4th. Another possession is gone and the Vikings give the ball back to the Giants with just over 4 minutes left. STRESS!   

The defence again stepped up and made a huge play making the Giants have to punt it away.  On that punt, special teams player Josh Metellus stepped up with a HUGE punt block, setting the Vikings up on the Giants 29 yard line.  Sadly, we had to call a timeout as the play clock ticked down. Another wasted timeout. Grr!   

This was quickly forgotten when Kirk Cousins hit Justin Jefferson for a TOUCHDOWN!  24-16 to the Vikings. Three minutes left though meant that there was plenty of time left in this game, plenty of time to stress. This was proved when the Giants answered back with less than a minute when they had scored a Touchdown with a Saquon Barkley 27 yard run on a 4th and 2 play. This was followed by a 2-point conversion to tie the game up, 24-24 with 2:01 left in the game.   

With only one timeout left and players not getting out of bounds, the time on the clock went so fast. A sack on Kirk Cousins with only 19 seconds left meant that the last time out had to be used. One play got us into a very long field goal range. With 4 seconds on the clock, the team was able to get to the line and spike the ball to stop the clock.   

Mixed emotions were in the room. Some say throw the ball, that a 61 yard field goal is not something that we can do. I can understand that, as field goals are something that we have had so many problems in the past.   

One more Giants time out later, the snap was taken and Greg Joseph not only nailed that field goal, but I reckon that he could have been another 4 yards longer and still made that kick.  VIKINGS WIN!  27-24. 

Another heart attack but another one score victory for our Vikings.  SKOL! 

 

A Record Breaking Season 

No matter what will happen in the games in the playoffs, we know that this season is something special and one to remember.  In KOC’s first season, we saw the biggest comeback in NFL history last week against the Colts with a 33 point deficit being overcome.  We have overtaken the NFL record of one score wins in one season with this win against the Giants (11).  Justin Jefferson broke two teams records: most receptions in a single season and most receiving yards in a single season. 

Finally, Greg Joseph has hit the longest field goal in Vikings history, breaking the previous 56 yard record, an area that we have historically struggled with.   

Now for the biggest question, can the Vikings break one last record and bring home that Lombardi trophy?  Only time will tell…   

 

Author: Katie Marriott

Editors: Tommy Beauchene, Rich Dawson, Jacqui Melrose, Ella Burt