2. Minnesota Vikings at Atlanta Falcons (2017, Week 13)
- End of 3rd Quarter Score: 9-7, Falcons
- Final Score: 14-9, Vikings
Tiny comeback on the scoreboard, significant in impact: that’s the story for this 2017 match-up.
The Vikings strutted into the game with a 9-2 record and the defending NFC champion Falcons were 7-4. Oddsmakers placed Atlanta at a 2-point favorite. They were correct that the contest would be close.
Minnesota needed every single victory during the 2017 campaign to achieve home-field advantage and hence orchestrate The Minneapolis Miracle a month later. They found triumph at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on this December day.
Quarterback Case Keenum was on-point with 227 passing yards, two scores, no interceptions, and 120.4 passer rating. Running backs Jerick McKinnon and Latavius Murray chipped in 100 rushing yards between them, and the 2017 Vikings defense was impervious, per usual. The Falcons failed to score a touchdown in the showdown.
Trailing by two just seconds into the final quarter, Case Keenum found Kyle Rudolph for a six-yard touchdown, and that would do it. Neither team scored again.
Minnesota left the building with a 10-2 record while Atlanta was forced to reevaluate.