Vikings 14-9 Falcons: Minnesota win eighth straight game in Atlanta
Monday 4 December 2017 05:11, UK
Case Keenum threw a pair of touchdown passes as the Minnesota Vikings extended their winning streak to eight straight games, keeping the Atlanta Falcons out of the endzone in a 14-9 victory on Sunday.
Keenum, who was 25 of 30 for 227 yards, hooked up with Jerick McKinnon on a two-yard scoring play in the second quarter and went to tight end Kyle Rudolph for a six-yard TD on the first play of the fourth quarter, capping an 89-yard drive that consumed more than eight minutes.
Minnesota (10-2) turned in a stellar defensive effort against an Atlanta (7-5) team that led the league in scoring a year ago and seemed to be finding its stride during a three-game winning streak, averaging nearly 32 points.
The Falcons were held without a touchdown for the first time since December 2015, when they were blanked 38-0 by the Carolina Panthers. Also, quarterback Matt Ryan's streak of 30 straight games with a touchdown pass also ended.
Ryan was just 16 of 29 for 173 yards, and the Vikings totally shut down Julio Jones. The star receiver was held to a pair of catches for 24 yards a week after tallying a staggering 253 yards and two TDs against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
After Matt Bryant's third field goal gave the Falcons a 9-7 lead early in the third quarter, the Vikings took control with a grinding drive that included three third-down conversions and ended with Rudolph's go-ahead TD reception.
Atlanta tried to cut Minnesota's advantage to just two points with another Bryant field goal with five minutes left, but his 45-yarder missed wide left.
Minnesota held the ball the rest of the game, finally kneeling down deep in Falcons territory as the clock ran out.
Elsewhere, in the other early games in the NFL....
Chiefs 31-38 Jets
The Jets (5-7) ended a stretch of five losses in six games as quarterback Josh McCown plunged in from a yard out for the deciding score.
Kansas City (6-6) has now lost six of seven, including four straight.
Buccaneers 20-26 Packers (OT)
Aaron Jones rushed for a 20-yard touchdown with six minutes remaining in overtime as Green Bay improved to 6-6 and broke a three-game losing streak at home.
Tampa Bay fell to 4-8 despite starting quarterback Jameis Winston returning after missing the past three games with a shoulder injury.
49ers 15-14 Bears
Robbie Gould made all five of his field-goal attempts against his old team, including a go-ahead kick with four seconds to go, as San Francisco (2-10) rallied to defeat Chicago (3-9).
49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo completed 26 of 37 passes for 293 yards in his first start with the team.
Lions 20-44 Ravens
Joe Flacco threw two touchdown passes and Alex Collins ran for a pair of scores to lead Baltimore (7-5) beyond Detroit (6-6).
Patriots 23-3 Bills
Tom Brady went 21-of-30 passing for 258 yards en route to his 27th career victory over Buffalo as New England won its eighth straight game.
Brady broke Brett Favre's NFL record for most wins against a single opponent.
Broncos 9-35 Dolphins
Miami's swarming defense held Denver out of the endzone and scored twice as the Dolphins (5-7) snapped a five-game losing streak, while the Broncos (3-9) dropped its eighth straight contest.
Texans 13-24 Titans
Rallying from an early 10-0 deficit, Tennessee (8-4) defeated Houston (4-8). Quarterback Marcus Mariota accounted for both Titans touchdowns, snapping a tie with three seconds left in the third quarter.
Colts 10-30 Jaguars
Quarterback Blake Bortles threw for 309 yards with two touchdowns as Jacksonville (8-4) defeated Indianapolis (3-9) to keep pace with the Titans atop the AFC South.
