Vikings top Rams in OT to tie Packers in NFC North; Bridgewater injured
St. Louis Rams 18
Minnesota Vikings 21 (OT)
Blair Walsh kicked a 40-yard field goal in overtime as the Vikings defeated the St. Louis Rams 21-18 Sunday afternoon at TCF Bank Stadium.
But the win came at a big price, as starting quarterback Teddy Bridgewater suffered a concussion after taking a hit to the head early in the fourth quarter. He will need to pass a series of tests before he's cleared to play again.
The game went into OT after Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein tied the score at 18-18 with a 53-yard field goal with just 17 seconds left in regulation. Zuerlein connected on that kick just a minute after missing a 48-yarder and giving the Vikings a chance to run out the clock and win the game.
But the offense, guided by backup quarterback Shaun Hill, went three-and-out, giving the Rams got the ball back with less than a minute left.
Cheap shot on Bridgewater
Bridgewater slid on a five-yard scramble, but Rams cornerback Lamarcus Joyner hit him in the head with his elbow on the end of the play. Joyner was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct, according to the Star Tribune.
Bridgewater lay motionless on the ground for a few moments before being helped off the field and taken to the locker room.
Bridgewater was 13-for-21 with 125 yards and one interception. He also ran for a touchdown and a two-point conversion.
Do the Rams play dirty?
Head coach Mike Zimmer was clearly upset on the sidelines after Bridgewater was hit, and he barely acknowledged Rams coach Jeff Fisher after the game, according to KFAN.
Zimmer and some of the Vikings players came right out and said after the game that the Rams are "chippy" and play dirty.
"If we were on the street, we would've had a fight." - Zimmer on #Rams hit on Teddy #Vikings
— Hobie (@HeyItsMeHobie) November 8, 2015
Matt Kalil on Joyner's hit: "Knowing these guys, I've played them 2-3 times in the past. That's what they do."https://t.co/dWVGWEaLHs
— KFAN1003 (@KFAN1003) November 8, 2015
Zimmer: I have a lot of things to say, but I'm not going to say 'em! (Smiles)
— Seth Kaplan 📺 (@Seth_Kaplan) November 8, 2015
Defender Audie Cole suffered a broken ankle, according to Zimmer, and will miss the rest of the season.
According to @gregcoleman8, Audie’s ankle is “pointing in a direction that it’s not supposed to.” #VIkings
— Aj Mansour (@AjKFAN) November 8, 2015
Adrian Peterson rushed for 125 yards and a touchdown on 29 carries for the Vikings.
In the first half, Zuerlein connected on a huge 61-yard field goal for the Rams, which he made with the wind at his back.
The Vikings are now 6-2 on the season, and tied with Green Bay for first place in the NFC North after the Packers lost to the Panthers Sunday 37-29. Minnesota plays the Packers in two weeks at home. Next Sunday they travel to Oakland to face the Raiders.
Random fact
Rams owner Stan Kroenke apparently wanted a whole lot of privacy when he used the restroom at TCF Bank Stadium.
Stan Kroenke sighting in Vikings press box. Rest room was closed temporarily for his personal use. pic.twitter.com/SFn7s57yqX
— Doug Vaughn (@DougVaughn_KMOV) November 8, 2015
Several reporters said he had bodyguards outside the press box men's room when he was inside, so nobody else could come in.
Local sportswriter Bob Sansevere comments further in this post to his BS Blog.
