Vikings Clinch Fifth Consecutive Victory, Surging Past Cardinals 23-22 with Darnold’s Last-Minute Touchdown

MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Vikings staged a dramatic comeback to defeat the Arizona Cardinals 23-22 on Sunday, overcoming a 13-point deficit. Sam Darnold threw a late touchdown pass to Aaron Jones, giving the Vikings their first lead with just 1:13 remaining in the game.

Despite being under constant pressure, Darnold completed 21 of 31 passes for 235 yards, facing five sacks from the Cardinals’ blitz-heavy defense. Arizona managed to keep Minnesota out of the end zone until late in the third quarter, when Darnold found Johnny Mundt with a 20-yard touchdown pass.

Kyler Murray’s performance, which had shown promise earlier, soured in the fourth quarter as he threw two critical interceptions. These mistakes derailed the Cardinals, who fell to second place in the NFC West behind the Seattle Seahawks.

In the game’s closing moments, Jonathan Greenard forced a pivotal fumble from Murray, granting Minnesota possession and momentum. The Vikings capitalized on Murray’s earlier interceptions, including one that set up another field goal by Parker Romo.

Wide receiver Justin Jefferson made crucial contributions, racking up seven catches for 99 yards. His performance included a key fourth-down catch that extended Minnesota’s winning drive.

Arizona took a slim 9-6 lead into halftime, despite a yardage advantage of 228 in the first half. A conservative approach in the red zone limited their scoring opportunities.

Murray, pressured heavily, was penalized for intentional grounding on a first-and-goal attempt. This misstep allowed the Vikings to maintain their defensive stance, forcing Arizona to settle for yet another field goal.

Trey McBride emerged as a favorite target for Murray, with his 12 receptions totaling 95 yards, showcasing his consistency throughout the game.

A setback for the Vikings came as veteran cornerback Stephon Gilmore left the game with a hamstring injury. His absence was felt as Murray targeted replacement Fabian Moreau successfully, leading to multiple penalties.

The game’s concluding moments highlighted both teams’ struggles with ball security, especially Minnesota’s Jones, who fumbled twice in the first half alone, though the Cardinals could not capitalize on the opportunities.

Next week, the Cardinals will host the Seattle Seahawks while the Vikings prepare to face the Atlanta Falcons, as both teams push for playoff positioning.