Jarius Wright bringing it home. #VikingsVictory pic.twitter.com/D4ITE7pMAP
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 7, 2014
No one was getting the football out of Jarius Wright’s hands following Sunday’s game winning-touchdown, which lifted the Vikings to a 30-24 overtime victory over the New York Jets.
In fact, Vikings coach Mike Zimmer joked with reporters that Wright might have showered with it after the game.
After catching Teddy Bridgewater’s screen pass in overtime, Wright stepped around a tackle, then raced down the sideline for the game-winning score at TCF Bank Stadium.
It was his first game-winner in any sport at any level, according to Wright.
“It’s still surreal to me that it kind of happened,” Wright told reporters on Monday. “Just watching it again on film, I’m very grateful especially for my teammates, because they did a great job executing the play as well.”
Wright finished with four catches for 123 yards, including the 87-yard game-winning score.
According to FOX Sports Net, it was also the second longest overtime touchdown catch ever and was the third longest passing play in Vikings franchise history.
It also put Wright over 100 yards receiving on the day, making him and Charles Johnson the first Vikings receiving tandem to each go over 100 yards receiving since Randy Moss and Nate Burleson did it in 2004.
Zimmer said he was happy for Wright.
Mike Zimmer said "those are the kind of success stories you like to have'' about Jarius Wright
— Chris Tomasson (@christomasson) December 8, 2014
Wright was quick to give his teammates credit for helping him spring loose on the play.
“The offensive line did a great job of getting out and Kyle Rudolph and Greg Jennings did a nice job of making some nice blocks to free me,” Wright added.
A lot had to come together for Wright to score the game-winner. Mike Wobschall of Vikings.com outlined how a great audible call by Bridgewater and the blocking of Jennings and Rudolph helped to put Wright in position to break free.
“I appreciate the win, I appreciate the effort our guys gave,” said Zimmer on Monday. “We played a lot better in the fourth quarter than we did in the second and third. We kept fighting. That’s why we won the football game.”
At 6-7, the Vikings are still alive for a playoff spot. They play at Detroit on Sunday.
