Saints miss last-second FG to give Vikings 28-25 win in London
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LONDON - Greg Joseph kicked a 47-yard field goal with 24 seconds left and the Minnesota Vikings hung on for a 28-25 win over New Orleans on Sunday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium when the Saints' Wil Lutz's 61-yard tying attempt hit the left upright and then the crossbar as time expired.
Vikings star receiver Justin Jefferson beat Marshon Lattimore on a 39-yard reception to set up Joseph's go-ahead kick - after the kicker had missed an extra point earlier in the quarter.
That missed kick left the Vikings with a 25-22 lead.
The Saints then had an eight-play drive and Lutz made a 60-yard field goal with 1:51 left to tie the game for the Saints (1-3), who have lost three straight games. But Lutz's next attempt was just a little bit off.
Jefferson had 10 receptions for 147 yards and ran for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter for the Vikings (3-1).
The Vikings squandered multiple scoring chances, settling for field goals - Joseph was 5 for 5 - but still held off a New Orleans team that played without key starters including quarterback Jameis Winston and running back Alvin Kamara.
Kirk Cousins completed 25 of 38 passes for 273 yards with a touchdown and an interception. The Vikings under first-year coach Kevin O'Connell are off to their best start since going 4-0 in 2016.
The Saints arrived early in the week to acclimate to the time difference, but in the end it didn't matter and their losing streak is now at three games under coach Dennis Allen.
Down 16-7, Saints backup quarterback Andy Dalton led two scoring drives to help New Orleans take 22-19 lead.
Saints tight end/quarterback Taysom Hill took a direct snap and ran it in from 2 yards for the go-ahead score in the fourth quarter and Dalton found a wide-open Jarvis Landry for the 2-point conversion to give the Saints a 22-19 lead.
Dalton completed 20 of 28 passes for 236 yards and a touchdown.
After the Saints rallied and cut Minnesota's lead to 16-14 on Latavius Murray's 1-yard run late in the third quarter, the Vikings drove again but an intentional grounding and false start pushed them back and Joseph made it 19-14 with a 46-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter.
The Vikings led 13-7 and had first-and-goal on the 3 after Justin Jefferson's 41-yard reception in the third quarter, but were pushed back by a delay of game penalty. Cousins then threw short to Adam Thielen instead of going to a wide-open Jefferson in the back of the end zone.
One play earlier, Cousins threw behind Jefferson in the end zone and the receiver couldn't hold on.
The Vikings were in control early. Alexander Mattison weaved through traffic for a 15-yard touchdown reception on Minnesota's opening drive during which the Vikings were 3 for 3 on third down.
The Saints had no first downs in the first quarter, but got help when safety Tyrann Mathieu intercepted a long pass intended for Irv Smith Jr.
Dalton then drove the Saints 60 yards and found Chris Olave for a 4-yard touchdown pass - the rookie's first NFL touchdown - to make it 7-7 early in the second quarter.
The Vikings squandered two good opportunities deep in Saints territory late in the second quarter. Tight end Johnny Mundt dropped a short pass on a third-and-1 from the 10 and Minnesota opted for a field goal instead of going for it.
On the next possession, Dalton fumbled on a strip-sack by Za'Darius Smith and Dalvin Tomlinson. Harrison Phillips recovered to set up the Vikings from the Saints 20 with just under a minute in the half and three timeouts.
After a completion for no gain, they didn't use a timeout, had an incompletion and then a false start penalty. Joseph then kicked a 36-yard field goal and the Vikings went into the half with a 13-7 lead.
The Saints were also without wide receiver Michael Thomas.
GOOD LUCK IN LONDON
The Vikings improved to 3-0 in London games - with wins in three different stadiums. The Vikings beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 34-27 in 2013 at Wembley Stadium and topped the Cleveland Browns 33-16 four years later at Twickenham Stadium.
Drew Brees led the Saints to two victories - in 2008 and 2017 - both at Wembley Stadium.
This was the fifth NFL game at Tottenham, the Premier League club's stadium that cost more than $1 billion to build and opened in 2019.
INJURIES
Vikings rookie Lewis Cine was carted off the field with a leg injury late in the first quarter. He was blocking on a punt return when he sustained the injury. Cine clutched his left leg as he went down. The Vikings immediately ruled him out. ... DL Carl Granderson was ruled out at halftime.
UP NEXT
Vikings: Host NFC North-rival Chicago Bears next Sunday; their bye is in Week 7.
Saints: Host the Seattle Seahawks in the first of back-to-back games at the Superdome.
Saints miss last-second field goal, Vikings win 28-25
A last-second 61-yard field goal by Saints kicker Wil Lutz bounced off one upright, then the crossbar and out, preserving the Vikings' 28-25 win in London.
Vikings take late 28-25 lead over Saints
With less than 30 seconds remaining in regulation, the Vikings take a 28-25 lead over the Saints with another Greg Joseph field goal.
It was Joseph's fifth made field goal of the day.
A long catch by Justin Jefferson put the Vikings in field goal range.
Saints tie it 25-25 with 60-yard field goal
Saints kicker Wil Lutz hit a 60-yard field goal to tie the game at 25-25.
The Vikings have all three timeouts, and less than two minutes to win it.
Justin Jefferson scores after huge Saints interference penalty
A huge pass interference call on a throw to Adam Thielen set the Vikings up on the goal line, and Justin Jefferson scored on a rushing touchdown.
Greg Joseph, who has made four field goals on Sunday, missed the extra point. The Vikings lead 25-22.
Saints take first lead of day on Taysom Hill TD
The Saints brought in utility quarterback Taysom Hill for a goal line effort, and he easily cut through the Vikings defense for a touchdown.
After a successful two-point conversion, the Saints have their first lead of the day, 22-19.
Vikings lead 19-14 after Greg Joseph's 4th FG
Greg Joseph has done the majority of the Vikings' scoring on Sunday, making four field goals. His latest put Minnesota up 19-14. The fourth quarter is underway.
Vikings convert fake punt
After the offense failed to convert a third down, the Vikings sent the punt team out. But punter Ryan Wright kept the ball on a fake and passed to Jalen Nailor for a first down.
Latavius Murray TD makes it 16-14
Former Viking Latavius Murray punched in a touchdown for the Saints, making it 16-14 in the third quarter.
A fourth down conversion and a great sideline catch by Marquez Callaway got the Saints in scoring position.
Vikings lead 16-7 after another field goal
The Vikings' offense once again sputtered in the red zone, with Justin Jefferson dropping a tough catch in the end zone and Adam Thielen getting stopped on third down.
They settled for a field goal, putting them up 16-7 in the third quarter.
Saints fumble punt return, Vikings recover
The Vikings got their second turnover of the game early in the third quarter on a fumbled punt return by the Saints. They took over in their own territory.
Vikings take 13-7 lead into halftime
The Vikings converted a late fumble recovery into three more points before halftime. They'll begin the second half with a 13-7 lead over the Saints.
The Saints will get the ball first after the half.
Vikings force fumble just before halftime
With a minute left before the half, the Vikings sacked Andy Dalton on 1st down, forcing a fumble. The Vikings recovered and will take over deep in their own territory.
Vikings lead 10-7 after late 2nd quarter field goal
With just over a minute to go before halftime, the Vikings take a 10-7 lead over the Saints.
Justin Jefferson had a couple of big catches on the preceding drive, but a drop from tight end Johnny Mundt on 3rd down forced the Vikings to kick a field goal.
Saints tie it up, 7-7
The Vikings and Saints are tied 7-7 after Andy Dalton threw a touchdown to rookie wide receiver Chris Olave.
It was Olave's first career score.
Saints pick off Kirk Cousins
The first quarter came to an unfortunate end for the Vikings. After rookie Lewis Cine's injury, Kirk Cousins threw an interception to Saints defensive back Tyrann Mathieu.
The Vikings still lead 7-0.
Rookie safety Lewis Cine carted off with leg injury
The Vikings' rookie first-round pick, safety Lewis Cine, was injured on a punt return and carted off near the end of the first quarter.
The team has ruled him out for the rest of the game with a leg injury. Per the broadcast, Cine has been taken to a local hospital for evaluation.
Alexander Mattison puts Vikings up 7-0
An opening drive touchdown from Alexander Mattison on 3rd and goal puts the Vikings up 7-0 on the Saints in London.
One play earlier, Kirk Cousins threw a TD to K.J. Osborn, but an offensive pass interference penalty negated the score.
Alvin Kamara inactive, Za'Darius Smith active
Saints running back Alvin Kamara is inactive for New Orleans' game against the Minnesota Vikings at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on Sunday because of a rib injury.
Kamara had earlier been listed as questionable but participated in practice this week.
Vikings outside linebacker Za'Darius Smith is active. First-year coach Kevin O'Connell said Friday that Smith would be a game-time decision because of a knee injury.
Saints quarterback Jameis Winston, wide receiver Michael Thomas, safety Marcus Maye, and offensive guard Andrus Peat had already been ruled out. Other inactives are tight end Nick Vannett, and running back Tony Jones Jr.
Minnesota's inactives are CB Andrew Booth, Jr., LB Luiji Vilain, G/C Chris Reed, T Vederian Lowe and DL Esezi Otomewo.