LONDON — All the hopes and dreams the Vikings had for this season felt like they were hanging in the balance when the offense walked back onto the field with 3 minutes, 5 seconds left on the game clock.
As sloppy as they had played for much of the game on Sunday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, the Vikings were getting the ball back with a chance to beat the Cleveland Browns.
What followed was a gutsy drive led by veteran quarterback Carson Wentz that could serve as a turning point for Vikings.
After moving the ball methodically down the field, Wentz worked it into the red zone, then found receiver Jordan Addison for a touchdown that proved to be the difference as the Vikings escaped with a 21-17 win over the Browns.
Never mind that injuries have threatened to derail this season so many times over the past month or so.
Never mind the Vikings were on the tail end of an unprecedented international swing that took them through Dublin and London over the past week and a half.
Never mind that the game itself felt like it might have been slipping away down the stretch.
When the Vikings needed it most, they got it, and they walked off the field with a win. Now they can head into a much needed bye with everything they want to do still in front of them.
To say the Vikings had to show mental fortitude to win the game would be putting it lightly.
After forcing a punt to start the game, the Vikings appeared to have something going on their opening drive. A couple of runs here, a couple of quick passes there. But it went sideways when running back Jordan Mason fumbled while fighting for extra yards, stopping any momentum Minnesota had built.
On the next play, the Browns handed the ball to rookie running back Quinshon Judkins, who went 32 yards up the right sideline. That set the stage for rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel in the low red zone and he found rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. for a touchdown that make it 7-0.
The response from the Vikings was exactly what they needed.
After watching Wentz complete a few passes, running back Cam Akers took a snap out of the wildcat formation, then threw to tight end Josh Oliver for a a touchdown to make it 7-7.
There was a brief scare from the Vikings shortly before halftime as Wentz appeared to injure his shoulder on a scramble. He was checked out in the blue medical tent, then went to the locker room. As the Vikings were dealing with that on the sideline, the Browns kicked a field goal to make it 10-7 at halftime.
Fortunately for the Vikings, Wentz returned to the game after halftime and led an impressive drive that ended with Mason plunging into the end zone to make it 14-10.
On the next possession, the Vikings’ defense had no answer for the Browns, who worked the ball down the field before Gabriel found tight end David Njoku for a touchdown that made it 17-14.
With the Vikings in need of a boost, punter Ryan Wright flipped the field with a 77-yard punt. After forcing a punt with the Browns pinned in the shadow of their own goal post, the Vikings got the ball in great field position only to have running back Zavier Scott immediately fumble.
In the end, Wentz made sure those mistakes didn’t cost the Vikings, marching the offense down the field for a touchdown in the final seconds that finalized the score at 21-17.
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