LANDOVER, Md. — Greg Joseph kicked a 28-yard field goal with 12 seconds left to give the Vikings a 20-17 win Sunday. The Vikings won their sixth game in a row to improve to 7-1.
The Vikings trailed 17-7 early in the fourth quarter, but were able to capitalize on a Taylor Heinicke mistake to turn the game around.
Harrison Smith intercepted an overthrown Heinicke pass with about eight minutes left and returned it to the 12-yard line. Two plays later, Kirk Cousins hit Dalvin Cook with 12-yard touchdown pass and the game was tied 17-17.
After another defensive stop, the Vikings drove 42 yards in the 15 plays for the winning field goal, which Joseph ended up kicking twice after a Washington penalty on his first successful kick extended the drive.
The Vikings started the game with a textbook drive featuring Justin Jefferson, which ended with his first touchdown reception since Week 1.
They held a 7-0 lead until a Washington field goal with 37 seconds left in the first half.
Then the Vikings' third-quarter woes appears again. The Commanders scored a touchdown on the opening drive of the second half when Heinicke threw deep into triple coverage and an official knocked over Vikings safety Camryn Bynum, taking him out of the play. Chris Samuels came down with the ball and the touchdown.
Washington went ahead 17-7 on a Heinicke touchdown to Dax Milne early in the fourth quarter, when the Vikings came back to life.
New Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson, acquired Tuesday at the trade deadline, led the team with nine receptions, for 70 yards. Jefferson had his fifth 100-yard game of the season, gaining 115 on seven catches.
In his first game in Washington as the opposing quarterback, Cousins was 22 of 40 for 265 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
