Sam Darnold comes up clutch again

The Vikings pull out a 23-22 win over the Cardinals on a brilliant game-winning drive by Darnold

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By Matthew Coller

MINNEAPOLIS — Are you not entertained?

The Minnesota Vikings got another masterful game-winning drive out of quarterback Sam Darnold to defeat the Arizona Cardinals 23-22 to advance to 10-2 on the season.

For the fifth straight week, it was far from perfect as the Vikings sputtered and struggled mightily at times during the game but they got a bunch of key stops from the defense in the red zone and a game-winning touchdown drive from Darnold.

There will be a lot to pick apart like the struggles to stay on the field early in the game but the opponent — a good Cardinals team — deserved credit for their strong gameplan.

At this time of year, style points aren’t necessary.

Here’s how it went down….

Kyler Murray, who ranks among the most volatile and exciting QBs in the NFL, started out simply by completing back-to-back 9-yard passes. One of the stories of the day would be whether the Cardinals could find a way to run the ball against the Vikings No. 1 run defense. The early answer: Yes. James Connor had two 6-yard carries and then Trey Benson broke out for a 10-yard gain on third-and-1. The Cards moved the ball inside the Vikings 20 but stalled out there on an underneath pass from Murray and settled for a field goal. 3-0.

The biggest question going into the first Vikings drive: Will they throw it to Justin Jefferson on every play? While Jefferson played a big role in Jordan Addison and TJ Hockenson going off last week, it’s not a viable strategy to let the other team take the best player out of the game. The Vikings also showed other teams that they can win in other ways if teams put all their attention on Jefferson.

They started out with a run by Aaron Jones, who fumbled the ball and Brian O’Neill picked it up. Maybe officially time to be concerned about the number of times Jones has put the ball on the ground this year.

Sam Darnold followed up with a short throw underneath to Hockenson, rollout that got Johnny Mundt wide open and then a scramble for a first down. The opening script rolling, as has often been the case. Jones ran for eight yards on second-and-10, setting up a third down in the red zone. But Darnold took a sack and the Vikings had to settle for a field goal. The answer to our question: Zero targets for Jefferson.

The crowd was entirely purple — not exactly a shock that Arizona fans didn’t make the trip on a 20-degree day in Minnesota — but it didn’t have much juice early on. Maybe they had been away from the stadium for so long that they needed to remember when/how to “get loud.” It still feels like Vikings fans have to be sold on this team.

Anyway, Murray remained patient with an underneath throw and then the Cards ran for a first down. He then scrambled for the first time in the game for a short gain. It’s only a matter of time before the fireworks start with him, for better or worse. On third down, the Vikings got after Murray and forced an inaccurate throw. Good pursuit of the quarterback early on. Punt.

Jones’s issues with protecting the football continued on the next drive. On a play where it appeared Darnold could have taken a shot deep to Jefferson, he checked down to Jones and the Cards popped the ball out and recovered inside the Vikings 25-yard line. Injury related? Yips? What’s going on? His career high previously was only five. He already has five this year.

The Vikings defense took care of business though. Murray made a miraculous play to create something out of nothing but the Cardinals had an ineligible receiver downfield while he was scrambling. Again they settled for a field goal. But this time, it went wide right. No harm, no foul.

They showed “Griddy Cam” on the big board inside the stadium as the Vikings offense got back on the field. Maybe now is the time to get the ball to Jefferson?

Maybe not. There was some pre-snap confusion on the play and a free runner came through and sacked Darnold. The offense shouldn’t be looking around confused or frustrated at this point but it feels like the Jones fumble took wind out of their sails.

Murray’s flashed some fireworks on the next drive. The Vikings collapsed the pocket and he shot out of the backfield for a 19-yard gain to get the drive rolling at the 30 after the Cards had been pinned back by a good Ryan Wright punt.

Then Murray dropped a dime across the field to receiver Michael Wilson for another explosive play of 22 yards. At mid-field, a Murray pass got tipped and landed in the hands of Wilson for a 15-yard gain. Murray took advantage immediately with a 19-yard completion to his tight end running a crossing route against Harrison Smith.

Another third down inside the red zone. The defense getting strained quite a bit early on because of the offense’s struggles. Again, they came through, forcing a short pass on third-and-12 and forcing another field goal. The early time of possession count: 16:33 to 6:37, Cardinals. Score: 6-3.

When the Vikings took the field again, they remembered Justin Jefferson is still on the team and threw him a screen pass for 9 yards. Ty Chandler was in the backfield to start but Jones returned after a first down run. Darnold went back to Jefferson again over the middle for 23-yard reception. He does exist! But the worst screen team in the league reminded everyone how bad they truly are with a 5-yard loss.

In need of finishing the half strong to inject some energy into the building, Darnold took another sack. Parker Romo came out for a 55-yard attempt and nailed it. Best backup kicker in the league. 6-6. Snooze.

Some credit needs to be given to the Cardinals, who have a very good defensive coach and specialize in deception with their coverage looks, but the struggles to identify where to go with the ball on Arizona’s blitzes is very concerning.

Murray continued to put together a highlight reel. He ripped a pass into tight coverage to Marvin Harrison Jr. for 14 yards and a first down to get Arizona to mid-field and then scrambled around like a water bug to pick up 11 more yards. Stephon Gilmore got banged up and went back to the locker room — not great for a defense that is already thin at cornerback.

With under 20 seconds left and inside the red zone, the Vikings desperately needed their defense to stop the Cards again and give the offense a shot at getting back on track to start the second half. Murray hit a quick throw to Trey McBride and then they spiked it and kicked a field goal. 9-6.

Yeeeeesh.

The Vikings got the ball back to start the half. Maybe they’ll remember what it’s like to have it. The Cardinals ran 40 plays to their 20.

They won’t get any yardage for the first play of the half the half but it moved the ball. Darnold took a deep shot to Jefferson and the Cardinals committed interference. The Vikings continue to dominate total interference yards, even if it doesn’t help your fantasy team. But the offense bungled another opportunity. Darnold missed three straight passes and then Romo missed a field goal.

Yeeeeeeeesh.

The Cardinals offense has basically been Murray doing crazy stuff and then failing in the red zone. Would that continue? Well, he didn’t have to do anything crazy to start the drive because the Vikings committed a 13-yard pass interference on third down to get them going. At the Vikings 23-yard line, Arizona faced third-and-6. Surprisingly, they ran the ball and the defense got another red zone stop. If the Cards were even remotely good at finishing drives this would be a blowout.

No team’s pressures have given the Vikings as many problems as the Cardinals on this day. After a token first down handoff, Darnold got sacked for the fourth time and the Vikings punted again.

The crowd didn’t exactly boo, it was more of a groan.

The Vikings had played with fire for weeks and it felt like this was possible against a good Cardinals club but nobody would have expected the offense to be this inept.

Once again the Cards got their drive moving on a great throw by Murray. Though there was plenty of time to play with five minutes left in the third, it felt like one more successful drive could break the Vikings.

Murray reached back and launched a bomb into the atmosphere and Fabian Moreau dragged down the receiver Zay Jones for a 38-yard penalty. Marvin Harrison Jr. then Moss’d Moreau for a touchdown. 19-6.

Yeeeeeesh.

Darnold got back on the field. He must be feeling fresh since he hasn’t been out there all day. He scrambled and completed a pass and then got an explosive run from Cam Akers. Darnold then ripped a throw to Jefferson for a first down. Some life. Maybe keep doing that.

In an eyeblink, they were in the red zone. An underneath throw to Hockenson brought the Vikings to the goal line and Darnold finished the 6-play drive with a touchdown. 19-13. Plenty of ballgame left.

The Vikings defense, however, was probably wondering if they would ever get a long break on the sidelines. Time of possession check: 27:08 to Arizona and 17:52 to Vikings.

Fourth quarter.

Murray’s boom-or-bust play went bust. The Vikings chased him around on third-and-7 and Byron Murphy Jr. caught the fly ball.

Darnold threw a rocket to Jefferson that barely threaded the needle and put the Vikings on the Arizona side of the field. Could they take the lead here despite being outplayed for the entire game?

Again Darnold threw the football on a line to Addison for another first down but the drive stalled out and Romo had to kick a field goal. 19-16.

The offense is alive but still feels wonky, like it could go very right or very wrong at any time.

With 11 minutes left, the crowd finally seemed to come alive. On third-and-long from mid-field, the decibels hit their highest mark with the crowd sensing a game-changing moment. But Murray was up to the challenge, calmly finding his tight end for a first down conversion.

A handoff caught the Vikings off guard on third-and-5 for a first down inside field goal position. Can bend-don’t-break survive again?