Greg Joseph’s fifth field goal of the day, from 47 yards out, gave the Vikings that lead with 24 seconds to play. Wil Lutz tried to send it to overtime with a try from 61 yards out. After converting from a career-long 60 yards minutes before that, Lutz’s try clanged off the left upright, then the crossbar and fell short.
Jefferson’s biggest play of the game was a 39-yard catch from Kirk Cousins, setting up Joseph’s eventual game-winning field goal. Cousins finished the day 25-of-38 for 273 yards, one touchdown and one interception. The Vikings also had three drives in the red zone end in Joseph field goals, instead of touchdowns. The second of Joseph's five field goals came after Dalvin Tomlinson got a sack fumble on Andy Dalton, recovered by Harrison Phillips. But the Vikings had to settle for a field goal before halftime.
"As soon as he hit it, I thought it was going in. I told him after the game he hit them both as pure as they come. Felt like that thing had a real good chance to go through. When it left his foot, I thought it was going in. Luckily it did not," Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell said.
The Vikings leave London with an ugly win, but a much more enjoyable flight home. Last week, they had to come back from down 24-14 in the fourth quarter for a 28-24 win over the Lions. Sunday, they had a 16-7 lead in the third quarter, got down 22-19 in the fourth and came back for the win.
The win somewhat covers up an inconsistent day for the Vikings' offense, and a tough second half for the defense. After getting just nine catches in the last two games combined, Justin Jefferson had 10 catches for 147 yards, and a short rushing touchdown that gave the Vikings a 25-22 lead with 4:15 to play.