The Vikings improved to 12-3 with a 27-24 win over the Giants on Saturday. Justin Jefferson and T.J. Hockenson were awesome again and Greg Joseph was the hero with a 61-yard walk-off field goal, but here are five other things that stood out…
1. Brian Asamoah’s punch
If Asamoah is a future starting linebacker for the Vikings he gave a great preview of what life could be like with him running around on the field. In the first half, Asamoah threw a tremendous right hand that landed square on the football to force a fumble. He then stayed on his feet and picked up the loose ball to change the field in favor of the Vikings.
Brian Asamoah providing a glimpse into the future with an incredibly athletic play pic.twitter.com/KqAnpPgeT6
— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) December 24, 2022
2. Isaiah Hodgins vs. Patrick Peterson
Hodgins wasn’t even with the Giants until November and the most he had done before Saturday was five catches for 44 yards and a touchdown a month ago against the Commanders.
He had five catches for 63 yards and a touchdown in the first half, usually with Peterson in coverage. He also drew a penalty against Peterson. But Peterson was the man in the second half as Hodgins had just two more catches for 26 yards and Peterson stole the show with a big interception to stop a Giants drive.
Patrick Peterson picks off Daniel Jones for INT no. 4 this season pic.twitter.com/Is3HoHhQJd
— Sean Borman (@SeanBormanNFL) December 24, 2022
3. Patrick Peterson’s celebration
The interception was sweet, but the celebration might’ve been better as Peterson took a page out of the World Cup by mimicking a penalty kick the way Messi and Argentina did in their World Cup championship over France.
“Nothing ‘Messi’ about that interception,” the FOX play-by-play guy said.
The INT was great.
But the celebration? Incredible.@P2
📺: @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/RhdpkAqR5e
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 24, 2022
4. Kirk Cousins gets lucky twice
The game came down to the wire but it might’ve gone a completely different way had Cousins not been bailed out on two off-target throws. Near the end of the first half, Cousins was intercepted by Fabian Moreau, though it was called back thanks to Moreau interfering with Justin Jefferson.
Had that play stood, the Giants could’ve kicked a field goal to end the half.
Fabian Moreau interception negated by a holding penalty on Moreau#Giants 7 #Vikings 10 2nd pic.twitter.com/lNOLby093q
— Sᴘᴏʀᴛs 24/7 (@Sports_24x7_) December 24, 2022
Then in the third quarter, Cousins threw a bad pass to Adam Thielen that was ruled an interception on the field only to be overturned when the replay showed the ball hit the ground before Cordale Flott had full control.
Had that play stood, it would’ve erased a Vikings drive that ended with a touchdown from Cousins to T.J. Hockenson.
5. Kirk Cousins is the comeback king
Cousins, who finished the day with 299 yards and three touchdowns, is now the king for most fourth quarter comebacks in a single season. The Vikings trailed the Giants 13-10 to start the fourth quarter, so the victory goes down as his eighth fourth quarter comeback this season, tying the record set by Matthew Stafford in 2016.
