With the season on the edge of collapse, Kirk Cousins delivered in improbable fashion. The Minnesota Vikings scored 18 fourth-quarter points, and Cousins led a 75-yard game-winning touchdown drive with no timeouts and under two minutes remaining. His connection to Chad Beebe with 46 seconds left made amends for Beebe, who had muffed a punt just moments earlier, and made even bigger amends for Cousins who has struggled in game-winning situations throughout his Vikings tenure.
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— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) November 29, 2020
Things looked bleak for three and a half quarters.
As Vikings fans have become all too accustomed to seeing, when the running game falters, so does the offense. Dalvin Cook was ineffective in the first half and injured in the second half as the Vikings offense failed to find any semblance of rhythm after their successful opening drive. They had multiple turnovers for a third consecutive game.
On consecutive offensive plays, fumbles by Cousins and Cook led to defensive touchdowns by rookie Jeremy Chinn. Cook suffered an ankle injury on his fumble that led to some nervous moments as Cook limped into the medical tent before later emerging with a helmet on and receiving a probable-to-return injury designation.
Down 21-10, Cousins went to work. A field goal drive made it 21-13. Then after a Carolina Panthers field goal, Cousins led a touchdown march to pull within 24-21 after a two-point conversion. And following another Carolina field goal, Cousins inherited the ball with 1:51 on the clock. He went 6-o- 7 for 75 yards and a touchdown dart to Beebe, almost leaving too much time for the Panthers, who got in field goal range for Joey Slye at the end. But Slye missed left from 54 yards.
It was Cousins first game-winning drive in the final four minutes of regulation in his time with the Vikings. And it kept Minnesota alive in the playoff hunt. With Arizona’s loss, the Vikings sit only one game back of a playoff spot.