Los Angeles Rams vs Minnesota Vikings Match Player Stats On Nov 08, 2015

The Sports Xchange
Nov 8, 2015

MINNEAPOLIS -- Blair Walsh connected on a 40-yard field goal with 9:20 left in overtime to lift the Minnesota Vikings to a 21-18 win over the St. Louis Rams at TCF Bank Stadium on Sunday.

The win, combined with Green Bay's 37-29 loss to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, lifted the Vikings into a first-place tie atop the NFC North with the Packers, each with 6-2 records. Minnesota, 4-0 at home, hosts the Packers in two weeks.

Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein connected on a 53-yard field goal to tie the score with 12 seconds left in regulation. It came less than two minutes after a tying try from 48 yards sailed wide right. But the St. Louis defense forced Minnesota into a 3-and-out, using all three of their timeouts to get the ball back.

Zuerlein made four field goals in the game, including a 61-yard kick early in the second quarter.

It was the second consecutive week Walsh delivered a walk-off field goal to win; he connected on a 36-yarder as time expired last week in a 23-20 victory over the Chicago Bears.

Minnesota's Adrian Peterson rushed 29 times for 125 yards to lead the Vikings' offensive attack as quarterback Teddy Bridgewater left the game early in the fourth quarter with a concussion.

Peterson also scored his fourth touchdown of the season, as Minnesota ran for 145 yards against the NFL's ninth-ranked rush defense.

Minnesota's defense limited Rams rookie running back Todd Gurley to 89 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries, snapping a streak of four consecutive games of at least 100 yards rushing for Gurley.

The Vikings jumped out to an early 10-0 lead, getting a 34-yard field goal from Walsh and a six-yard run by Peterson less than 10 minutes into the game.

St. Louis responded on the following drive, moving 80 yards in eight plays, helped by a 55-yard passing play from quarterback Nick Foles to wide receiver Kenny Britt. Two plays later, Gurley plowed into the end zone from a yard out. Gurley's two-point rush attempt failed and the Rams trailed 10-6 after one quarter.

Zuerlein's 61-yarder with 10:55 left in the second was the longest field goal in franchise history and was the longest kick ever against the Vikings. He also connected on a 35-yarder and a 45-yard field goal as time expired in the first half, giving the Rams a 15-10 lead into the break.

Bridgewater ran one in from six yards out then kept it himself on a successful two-point conversion try with 8:39 left in the third quarter but was hurt early in the final quarter when he was hit in the head by Rams defensive back Lamarcus Joyner while sliding for a first down.

NOTES: Rams OT Rob Havenstein was inactive with an ankle injury. Garrett Reynolds moved over from left guard and started in his place. Andrew Donnal started for Reynolds at left guard.... Vikings LB Eric Kendricks was out with a rib injury. Audie Cole started at middle linebacker. ... Vikings DT Sharrif Floyd missed the game because of a knee injury. Tom Johnson replaced Floyd in the starting lineup. ... St. Louis will return home in Week 10 for a game against the Chicago Bears. ... Minnesota hits the road next week for a game against the Oakland Raiders.