Los Angeles Rams 7-24 Minnesota Vikings: Home defense dominates
Monday 20 November 2017 04:38, UK
The Minnesota Vikings smothered the NFL's highest-scoring offense in a 24-7 win over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.
Latavius Murray rushed for 95 yards and two touchdowns for the Vikings, while receiver Adam Thielen turned a short catch into a 65-yard score as he hauled in 123 yards receiving.
Thielen is the only the second player in Vikings history to reach 900 yards receiving by the 10-game mark of the season, following Randy Moss, who did it in 2000 and 2003.
Case Keenum completed 27 of 38 passes for 280 yards and no turnovers against the team that benched him last season for No 1 overall draft pick Jared Goff. He also guided the Vikings (8-2) to their sixth straight victory in a match-up of division leaders.
Minnesota's defense started the second half by forcing four punts in a row by the Rams (7-3), whose four-game winning streak in which they scored 144 points was ended in convincing fashion.
The Los Angeles defense was trampled in the second half for 288 yards, and Keenum went without a sack for the sixth game this season
Vikings safety Anthony Harris turned the momentum in the game by stripping the ball from Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp at the one-yard line with four minutes remaining in the in the first half. The game was tied at 7-7 at the time.
Goff went 22 for 37 for 225 yards and no turnovers, taking one sack. After the opening possession in which he scored a touchdown, Todd Gurley ran the ball 11 more times for a net of 17 yards.
Elsewhere, in the other early games in the NFL....
Redskins 31-34 Saints (OT)
Wil Lutz kicked a 28-yard field in overtime to earn New Orleans (8-2) its eighth consecutive victory, this one coming after a furious fourth-quarter rally from a 15-point deficit with six minutes to go.
Drew Brees led back-to-back touchdown drives of 75 and 83 yards, with Alvin Kamara following up the second TD with a game-tying two-point conversion. The Redskins (4-6) were then beaten in overtime.
Chiefs 9-12 Giants (OT)
Aldrick Rosas delivered the game-winning 23-yard field goal to give the Giants (2-8) a shock overtime victory over the Chiefs (6-4), who have now lost four of their last five.
Lions 27-24 Bears
Matthew Stafford completed 21 of 31 passes for 299 yards and two touchdowns as Detroit (6-4) outlasted Chicago (3-7) in the NFC North match-up.
A go-ahead, 52-yard field goal by kicker Matt Prater proved to be the difference, while the Bears' late comeback bid fell short as kicker Connor Barth missed a 46-yard attempt with three seconds to go.
Ravens 23-0 Packers
Baltimore's defense held Green Bay scoreless for the first time since 2006.
The Ravens (5-5) started the game by forcing three consecutive turnovers. Packers (5-5) quarterback Brett Hundley, starting his fourth game in place of Aaron Rodgers, was intercepted three times and fumbled once in the contest.
Jaguars 19-7 Browns
Jacksonville (7-3) running back Leonard Fournette slugged his way to 111 rushing yards and the Jaguars defense played tough as usual to beat winless Cleveland (0-10) and take over sole possession of first place in the AFC South.
Cardinals 21-31 Texans
The Cardinals (4-6) dropped consecutive games for the first time this season despite third-string quarterback Blaine Gabbert's three touchdown passes.
Jadeveon Clowney was a menace throughout for the Texans (4-6) as they overcame two first-half turnovers to defeat the visitors.
Buccaneers 30-20 Dolphins
Patrick Murray drilled a go-ahead 35-yard field goal with seven seconds left as Tampa Bay (4-6) defeated Miami (4-6).
The Dolphins attempted two laterals and a hand-off on the kick-off return to follow before fumbling, allowing Tampa Bay's Adarius Glanton to recover in the endzone for a TD to extend the winning margin.
