The Vikings improved to 4-2-1 on the season with a 37-17 road victory over the New York Jets on Sunday.
Minnesota struck on its opening drive of the game when Kirk Cousins found Adam Thielen in the corner of the end zone for a 34-yard touchdown. Thielen finished the game with nine receptions for 110 yards, becoming the first player ever to have at least 100 receiving yards in seven straight games to start a season.
Another game, another @athielen19 touchdown.#Skol pic.twitter.com/gcMf1LxmbE
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) October 21, 2018
The Vikings led 10-7 at the half as both teams struggled to do much on offense as they fought against winds gusting to 40 mph. But Minnesota was much stronger in the second half, scoring on two touchdown runs (11 yards, 38 yards) by Latavius Murray, two field goals by Dan Bailey and a 34-yard pass from Cousins to Aldrick Robinson.
Cousins finished 25-of-40 for 241 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.
Sam Darnold was nowhere near as good as Cousins. The rookie was intercepted three times and completed just 17 of 42 attempts for 206 yards.
Minnesota played without running back Dalvin Cook (hamstring), defensive tackle Linval Joseph (ankle/shoulder) and defensive end Everson Griffen (personal), and they lost cornerback Xavier Rhodes (foot/ankle) and linebacker Anthony Barr (hamstring) to injuries.
It’s unclear how severe Rhodes and Barr are injured, but an injury to either would hurt an already b
The Bears (3-3) lost to the Patriots 38-31, so the Vikings are now in sole possession of first place in the NFC North. Detroit (3-3) beat the Dophins 33-21 and the Packers (3-2-1) are on a bye this week.
