Sep 28, 2025; Dublin, Ireland; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) runs for a gain during the second quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers during an NFL International Series game at Croke Park. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
I thought O’Connell outsmarted Browns DC Jim Schwartz, who believed his corners could cover Jefferson and Addison man-to-man on too many snaps. O’Connell called quick throws, and Wentz was on target to Jefferson for 21 yards as he beat Pro Bowl corner Denzel Ward on a 50/50 ball (something he did several times in the game, and Wentz and J.J. McCarthy need to give Jefferson more of these 50/50 shots as he’ll win that battle most of the time for big plays.
Kevin O’Connell Takes Down Cleveland on Final Drive in London
Addison made a critical 3rd-and-4 reception against Myles Harden, and then with 30 seconds left, Wentz threw a perfect touchdown strike to Addison, who beat Ward and a safety late in helping out.
Wentz completed all nine of his passes for 71 yards on the last drive. The line didn’t allow immediate penetration as Wentz got the ball out quickly. T.J. Hockenson contributed two catches for 20 yards on the game-winning drive. Throughout the game, Hockenson and fellow tight end Josh Oliver were a big part of pass protection to help the makeshift O-line. Oliver played 45% of the offensive snaps, which is more than he has in recent weeks.
The Vikings are now 5-0 in London regular season games and hit the much-needed bye, hoping that the week off heals many of the injured players who are needed for the upcoming difficult stretch beginning on October 19 at home against the Super Bowl champion Eagles, who had their 10-game winning streak snapped in a 21-17 home loss to Denver.
The Vikings need the return of OLB Andrew Van Ginkel (neck, missed the last two games), ILB Blake Cashman (hamstring, eligible to return from I.R.), RT Brian O’Neill (knee), LG Donovan Jackson (wrist), and safety Harrison Smith to get back to full duty compared to his limited snaps. Aaron Jones’ hamstring should be healed for him to return from I.R. for the Chargers game on October 23.
As for McCarthy and his sprained ankle, he should be ready to go in two weeks, but O’Connell likely will have him be the backup to Wentz, who deserves to start against the Eagles (his original NFL team that drafted him second overall in 2016). After that, it remains to be seen.
Here are my other reactions to the Vikings’ 21-17 victory in London
1. Blake Brandel deserves great credit for his center play. He had no miscues on the center-QB exchange, did well enough in run blocking and pass protection, and apparently handled the line calls effectively. He did have a holding penalty that nullified a long pass play to Jalen Nailor.
Jan 13, 2025; Glendale, AZ, USA; Minnesota Vikings guard Blake Brandel (64) blocks for quarterback Sam Darnold (14) against the Los Angeles Rams during an NFC wild card game at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.
With Ryan Kelly’s concussion problem landing him on I.R. for at least the next four games, I think Brandel should remain the starting center ahead of Michael Jurgens, who missed the Browns game with a hamstring injury and was shaky against the Steelers.
Even as several O-line starters return from injury, it will help the Vikings over the course of the season to have young linemen Joe Huber at guard and Walter Rouse at tackle, along with Jurgens gaining valuable play time early this season.
And tackle Justin Skule should gain confidence from doing well when he was matched up against all-pro DE Myles Garrett (he allowed a sack by Alex Wright but not Garrett, and on the game-winning pass to Addison, Skule and Huber successfully double-teamed Garrett).
As for Darrisaw being on a pitch count, the Vikings hope it won’t be needed in two more weeks. And if he needs a break, how about resting him in the first or second quarter instead of the fourth quarter and final drive with the game on the line, as was the case on Sunday?
2. I think O’Connell should’ve fined Addison (and probably did) for missing the walk-through last week, but I didn’t like holding the Vikings’ second-best receiver out for the entire first quarter, which hurt the offense. I understand the coach wanting to make a strong point to a young player who has had his share of off-field issues, but I think one series would have sufficed instead of the two series in that quarter.
3. Other than the two costly fumbles (by Jordan Mason and Zavier Scott), the run game did enough with 97 yards on the ground against the league’s top run defense to help balance the offense that had 349 yards gained overall, the most this season against Cleveland’s D.
4. The Vikings’ run defense had another rough outing, with 140 yards given up, including 110 yards to an OK young back in Quinshon Judkins. There were too many missed tackles by players such as Theo Jackson, Ivan Pace, and Josh Metellus, and Dallas Turner has to be more consistent on outside contain.
The run defense was better late in the game, with two run stops of Judkins on their late fourth-quarter drive that went 3-and-out, giving the Vikings offense the ball back. Jonathan Greenard and Eric Wilson made the first stop, and Javon Hargrave and Dallas Turner were credited with the second stop.
The Vikings’ defense was excellent in shutting the Browns out in the fourth quarter. The Browns were held to 3 of 15 on third down, but they did convert all three of their fourth down plays.
Van Ginkel, Cashman, and a full-time Smith are much needed with Saquon Barkley and the Eagles sure to attack heavily on the ground (although Philly has been much less effective this season—ranking 25th in rushing compared to second last year and Barkley has only 267 rushing yards with a 3.2 yard average after last season with 2,005 yards and 5.8 per carry).
Still, the Eagles will try hard to run on the Vikings, especially after Jalen Hurts was sacked six times in Sunday’s loss to the Broncos.
5. This was the second straight game the Vikings lost the turnover battle 2-0 with no takeaways. That has to change for a team that was plus 12 last year in turnover ratio (third-best) and led the league with 33 takeaways. The Vikings currently are minus 2 in the ratio.
6. O’Connell and the offensive coaches showed great creativity against a tough defense with misdirection run plays, quick passes, including lots of screens, Akers’ wildcat pass for the TD, and scheming Jefferson and Addison open under the shell coverages.
