Vikings beat Raiders 3-0 in lowest-scoring NFL game in 16 years…

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Vikings defeated the Raiders 3-0 on Sunday thanks to a 36-year-old field goal by Greg Joseph with 1:57 remaining in the game, which had the lowest scoring total in an NFL game in 16 years between Minnesota and Las Vegas.
It was the first 3-0 game since Pittsburgh beat Miami on Nov. 26, 2007, the third in the past 40 years and the seventh in the Super Bowl era.

Joseph’s kick ensured the game wouldn’t end regulation scoreless for the first time since the New York Giants played the host Detroit Lions to a 0-0 tie on Nov. 7, 1943.

The Raiders (5-8), who have now lost three straight games, were only able to muster 201 yards and nine first downs while the Vikings (7-6) amassed just 230 total yards. After starting the season 0-3, Minnesota defeated an AFC West team for the first time this year.

It was Minnesota’s first shutout since defeating the Packers 16-0 on Dec. 23, 2017 and the first blanking of Las Vegas since its 24-0 loss to New Orleans on Oct. 30, 2022.

Nick Mullens relieved a struggling Joshua Dobbs at quarterback and led the Vikings on their lone scoring drive. His 22-yard completion to Jordan Addison to the Raiders 20 set up Joseph’s kick.

Ivan Pace intercepted Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell on the next drive. The Raiders managed to get the ball back with 7 seconds remaining, but couldn’t pull off a desperation final play.

The Vikings lost wide receiver Justin Jefferson, the 2022 AP Offensive Player of the Year, in the second quarter to a chest injury. He was taken to a hospital, Fox Sports reported on its telecast. This was Jefferson’s first game back after missing the previous seven because of a hamstring injury.

Las Vegas lost running back Josh Jacobs to a knee injury in the fourth quarter. Jacobs led the NFL in rushing last season with 1,653 yards. He had rushed for more than 100 yards in two of the prior three games.

Neither team scored in the first half, the second time that happened Sunday. The Texans-Jets game also was 0-0 at intermission. According to Fox, it was the first time since October of 1998 that two games were scoreless at halftime on the same day.

Minnesota came closest to scoring, but Joseph missed a 49-yard field goal with 5:32 remaining in the half. That was the Vikings’ only first-half drive into Las Vegas territory, matching the number by the Raiders.

Hunter Renfrow gained 38 yards on a catch-and-run to the Vikings 11 early in the second half, giving Las Vegas hope that they would finally break the tie. But three players later, Renfrow fumbled, and Minnesota’s Mekhi Blackmon recovered. The Vikings had a league-high eighteen forced fumbles going into the game.

This was the first time there had been no points at the beginning of the fourth quarter since the Cowboys and Eagles game in Week 17 of the previous season. The Vikings have only ever played in two previous games, the other being on November 14, 1971 against the Packers. This is the first time the Raiders have ever participated in a game like this.

MILESTONE SACK

Maxx Crosby became the fifth Raider to record 50 career sacks when he got to Dobbs in the second quarter. He is the first player in franchise history to get there in his first five seasons.

Crosby timed the snap perfectly to get a strong jump, forcing Vikings right tackle Brian O’Neill to hold him. Crosby fought through the hold to bring down Dobbs.

TRIBUTE TO VICTIMS

Crosby led the team onto the field carrying flags representing UNLV and law enforcement. The team had a moment of silence before kickoff to honors the three UNLV professors who were fatally shot Wednesday and two Nevada Highway Patrol officers who died after being struck by a car on Nov. 30.

INJURIES

Vikings: RB Alexander Mattison (ankle) was injured in the third quarter. … RT Brian O’Neill (ankle) was hurt in the second quarter.

DT is the raider. In the second quarter, injuries were sustained by LB Kana’i Mauga (knee) and Adam Butler (foot). On Saturday, Mauga was just activated off injured reserve. His knee injury put him on injured reserve. C In the third quarter, Andre James suffered an ankle injury.

UP NEXT

Vikings: This Saturday away in Cincinnati.

Raiders: This Thursday night, they will host the Los Angeles Chargers.