Week 13 brought the Arizona Cardinals to U.S. Bank Stadium after the Minnesota Vikings spent their previous three weeks on the road. At 9-2, the purple and gold needed a win to keep pace with the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers in the NFC North since both those teams won on Thanksgiving.
The Vikings needed nearly every minute of the clock to put away Arizona. In the end, it was a 23-22 victory that moved Minnesota to 10 wins and likely raised the blood pressure of many fans around the globe.
Despite a lackluster first half, the Minnesota Vikings turned up the heat offensively and gained the lead for the first time late in the fourth quarter. The defense was able to seal the game and give the team a double-digit win total on the season.
3 winners (and 2 losers) from the Vikings in Week 13 win over the Cardinals
Here are five Minnesota Vikings players whose efforts against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 13 had a huge impact on the game, both positively and negatively.
Vikings winner No. 1: Justin Jefferson, WR
Unlike last week, containing Justin Jefferson wasn't possible. Leading the way with nine targets from quarterback Sam Darnold, Minnesota's star wide receiver caught seven passes for 99 yards including one 30-yard reception.
Jefferson also hauled in an absolute rocket of a pass from his quarterback to keep the team's hope alive late in the game. During the game, he surpassed 1,000 receiving yards on the season, adding to his legacy.
Vikings loser No. 1: Aaron Jones, RB
Interestingly, Aaron Jones tends to struggle during a game and then do something great to redeem himself. That's exactly what happened again on Sunday, but he needs to clean up the mistakes in future games.
Jones fumbled twice (losing one) and only gained 22 yards on the ground. His three catches only went for six yards, but one of those grabs was the go-ahead score that gave Minnesota the lead that led to the team's victory on Sunday.
Vikings winner No. 2: Jalen Redmond, DL
There is something to be said about a fringe player like Jalen Redmond who spends time between the 53-man roster and the practice squad who can step up at a time of need and play well enough to be noticed in the trenches.
On two occasions, Redmond dropped an Arizona ball-carrier in the backfield to get a loss. On the day, he had four tackles and helped limit the effectiveness of recently extended running back James Connor up the middle.
Vikings loser No. 2: Fabian Moreau, CB
Filing in for an injured player is never easy, but when Fabian Moreau entered Sunday's game as a substitute, he became a quick target for Cardinals' quarterback Kyler Murray to attack through the air in Week 13.
Ending the game with zero tackles and one pass defense, Moreau was also called for a questionable pass interference penalty and didn't get much help, even when matched up against Marvin Harrison Jr.
Vikings winner No. 3: Byron Murphy, CB
A favorite storyline for a lot of NFL games is the concept of a revenge game. Defensive back Byron Murphy had an opportunity to make a big impression on the team that drafted him No. 33 overall in the 2019 NFL Draft.
Murphy had a big interception in the fourth quarter that could have swung momentum Minnesota's way. He had five total tackles on the day as well as three total pass defnses. His play is a big reason the Vikings were able to be in a position to win the game.