That was their highest output on the ground in 21 games. The Vikings used a mix of their preferred zone running plays and some traditional gap blocking to gash the Steelers for 242 rushing yards on an average of 6.7 yards per attempt. вЂњWeвЂ™ve shown potential, but youвЂ™ve got to do it not only for four quarters, but for really four more games,вЂќ Cousins said. That only happened twice before with the Vikings: at Green Bay in 2019 and at Indianapolis in 2020. Cousins found Justin Jefferson wide open often, including for a touchdown in the first quarter off a play-action fake, but the normally precise quarterback misfired multiple times.Д¬ousins went 14 for 31 with two interceptions, in only the fourth time in 117 career NFL starts he failed to complete at least half of his passes. Even Arizona, Green Bay and New England have had one clunker.Д®ven with the blockers up front bludgeoning the Steelers and Dalvin Cook racing his way to 205 rushing yards, there were hints of trouble for the offense with Adam Thielen sidelined. TheyвЂ™re the only team in the league without a loss by more than eight points. With the expanded playoffs, theyвЂ™ll remain relevant through the end of the schedule. At this point in an NFL season, inconsistent teams are just that, too late to truly put it all together and be considered a contender.

The Vikings (6-7) remained very much alive in the crowd of competitors for the last two NFC wild-card spots, one of seven clubs entering the weekend with either six or seven losses. вЂњThat team that played in the second half probably could get beat by anybody.вЂќ вЂњThat team that played in the first half for us was pretty darn good and I think could probably beat anybody,вЂќ said Zimmer, who has watched the Vikings lose on the last play four times this season.

Ben RoethlisbergerвЂ™s on-target pass hit the hands of rookie tight end Pat Freiermuth and fell to the end zone turf after the well-timed arrival of safeties Harrison Smith and Xavier Woods to give the Vikings a must-have victory. The Steelers were within 36-28 with 12 yards and a 2-point conversion needed to tie. The angst hovered in the stadium all the way through the final snap. вЂњThe whole time in the second half, yeah,вЂќ Zimmer said. Were the Vikings actually thinking, вЂњHere we go again,вЂњ with a four-score lead at home? Even as they nudged their advantage to 29-0 late in the third quarter, they frittered away highly favorable field position and had to settle for field goals when touchdowns truly would have put the Pittsburgh Steelers away. The Vikings were ahead by 23 points at halftime Thursday night. MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - After yet another harrowing finish, head coach Mike Zimmer didnвЂ™t attempt to downplay his exasperation with the way the Minnesota Vikings have perpetually let large leads vanish and found themselves in precarious end-of-game situations.

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