4 p.m. NFL recap on September 26, 2021: Vikings defeat Seahawks 30-17
Kirk Cousins threw three touchdowns and orchestrated three long offensive spurts that led to just as many field goals and the Minnesota Vikings defeated the Seattle Seahawks 30-17.
This is the first time in 12 years that the Vikings have taken the measure of the Seahawks with Pete Carroll at the helm of the team and Russell Wilson as quarterback.
In relief for injured running back Dalvin Cook, Alexander Mattison totaled 171 yards, including 76 by land in 18 carries in the second half.
The Vikings took control of the game with 23 unanswered points from the second quarter.
Cousins delivered the kind of benefits the Vikings missed in his four seasons with the team.
Cousins played a third straight game without committing any turnovers and ended his workday with 30 successful passes on 38 attempts for gains of 323 yards.
He completed touchdown passes to Tyler Conklin, Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson in the first half.
In the Seahawks’ loss (1-2), Wilson completed 23 passes on 32 attempts for gains of 298 yards. He threw a touchdown pass to DK Metcalf in the Seahawks’ first streak.
Chris Carson rushed for 80 rushing yards on 12 carries and scored the Seahawks’ other major in the second quarter.
Raiders beat Dolphins in overtime
Daniel Carlson’s 22-yard precision kick when time was running out in overtime gave the Las Vegas Raiders a 31-28 victory over the Miami Dolphins.
Dolphins 28 – Raiders 31 (Overtime)
This is the second time in their first three games – on every occasion at home – that the Raiders have overcome a decline of two touchdowns to snatch a win in overtime. They had pulled off the same feat in the first week of activities, in the traditional Monday night game against the Baltimore Ravens.
Quarterback Derek Carr spotted Bryan Edwards for a 34-yard gain ahead of Peyton Barber’s 27- and eight-yard sprints, allowing the Raiders to reach the Dolphins’ 11-yard line.
Carr completed 26 of his 43 passes for gains totaling 386 yards and two touchdowns.
For the third game in a row, Carr made good use of his receiving squad, completing passes to nine different players. Topping the list are Hunter Renfrow and Darren Waller, with five catches each. Renfrow landed a touchdown.
With star running back Josh Jacobs absent with an ankle injury, Barber led the Raiders’ ground offense with 111 yards on 23 carries, and one touchdown.
And while the Raiders’ offense surpassed that of the Dolphins in total wins (497 vs. 330), defense and special teams were the driving force behind the comeback after the Dolphins scored the first 14 points.
The comeback started with a safety touchdown when cornerback Casey Hayward Jr. tackled Jaylen Waddle in the Dolphins end zone on a veiled pass attempt.
The Raiders eventually took a 25-14 lead but the Dolphins were able to force overtime.
The two clubs traded overtime placements ahead of Carlson’s winning kick.
Broncos defense stifles Jets attack
Von Miller led a defense that totaled five sacks from QB Zach Wilson, intercepted two of his passes and limited him to 160-yard gains through the air and the Denver Broncos shut out the New York Jets 26 -0.
Helped in part by a relatively docile schedule in September, the Broncos are 3-0 for the first time in five seasons.
However, this victory could be costly: the Broncos have seen three more of their players sustain injuries, and they have seven so far.
The Jets (0-3) became the third NFL team to lose 12 straight games in September, after the New Orleans Saints (1994-97) and Rams (2007-2010). The Rams hold the record with 13 straight losses.
Alexander Johnson made two of five quarterback sacks against Wilson, the second-chosen player in last April’s draft.
Last week, the Broncos held back the efforts of Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, claimed just ahead of Wilson. Lawrence had completed just 14 of his 33 passes, for gains of 118 yards.
Wilson made 19 of 34 passes he attempted but suffered interceptions from Justin Simmons and Caden Sterns in the fourth quarter. The Jets also lost the ball on two occasions when they were unable to convert fourth down attempts.
For the Broncos, quarterback Teddy Bridgewater had 76 percent of his passes _ 19 for 25 _ for gains of 235 yards. He did not complete any touchdown pass but was not the victim of any interception.
Melvin Gordon III and rookie Javonte Williams scored touchdowns on one-yard runs.
