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News | Minnesota Vikings – vikings.com

Vikings Fall 26-20 in Washington

View game action photos as the Vikings take on the Redskins at FedExField on Sunday.

The Vikings suffered their fourth straight loss on Sunday, falling 26-20 to the Redskins in Washington.

Minnesota tried to rally in the final 2:31, moving the ball to the Washington 21-yard line with under a minute to go.

The Vikings, however, lost momentum there, suffering two incompletions and allowing two sacks. Left tackle Jake Long was carted off the field after an incompletion on third-and-17.

Minnesota (5-4) brought in Jeremiah Sirles at left tackle and left T.J. Clemmings at right tackle. Sam Bradford was sacked for a loss of 14 by Preston Smith, who intercepted Bradford to end Minnesota's previous possession.

Washington (5-3-1) was able to kick field goals of 30 and 37 from Dustin Hopkins to tie the game in the fourth quarter and from 50 and 28 yards in fourth quarter for the only scoring in the second half.

The Vikings scored 20 unanswered points in the final five-plus minutes of the first half and erase a 14-point deficit thanks to an incredible three-play stretch.

Bradford connected with Kyle Rudolph for a 20-yard touchdown. Minnesota forced and recovered a fumble on Washington's next snap, and Bradford completed a 28-yard pass to Diggs to set up a first-and-goal with less than a minute left.

Andrew Sendejo and Linval Joseph hit Chris Thompson after a gain of 7, and Everson Griffen recovered the football at the Washington 33 with 50 seconds remaining in the first half. Bradford immediately hit Diggs down the right sideline for a gain of 28.

Minnesota faced third-and-goal from the 3-yard line with five seconds remaining and cleverly motioned Thielen to his left before sending him back to his right after the snap. The extra point kick by Blair Walsh, however, was no good.

Washington hogged the ball for the third quarter with a 12-play drive to start the second half that ended with a 30-yard field goal and an 11-play, 49-yard drive that ended with a 37-yard field goal to tie the game at 20 with 38 seconds left in the period.

Minnesota ran just four plays in the third quarter for a total of 18 yards. The Vikings were unable to convert third-and-1 with a run by Matt Asiata and were forced to punt.

Minnesota also failed to convert a third-and-1 with a run by Asiata early in the fourth quarter.

The 20-point rally by the Vikings in the first half answered the Redskins scoring of touchdowns on their first two possessions.

Washington drove 68 yards on 10 plays, including a 25-yard pass from Kirk Cousins to Jordan Reed on its second snap. Cousins capped the drive with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Jamison Crowder with Cousins putting the ball low and away from the defense and Crowder getting just across the goal line.

The Vikings narrowly missed an interception on the previous snap when linebackers Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks collided while breaking up a pass intended for Reed. Kendricks tried to return but was sidelined by a hip injury.

Washington built a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter capping a drive that began at its own 9-yard line with a 38-yard touchdown pass from Cousins to Vernon Davis. The critical play occurred a snap before the score when Cousins converted third-and-6 with an 8-yard pass to Maurice Harris.

Minnesota, however, was able to force just the ninth three-and-out by Washington on its third possession of the game. It was the only possession by the Redskins that ended after three plays.

Bradford finished 31-of-40 passing for 307 yards with two touchdowns and his second interception of the season and a rating of 104.9.

Diggs finished with 13 catches for a second week in a row and led all receivers with 164 yards in the Maryland native's return to the D.C. area.

The Vikings were limited to 47 net rushing yards and allowed 128 on the ground.

The Redskins were led by Robert Kelley's 97 yards on 22 carries. Cousins finished 22-of-33 passing for 262 yards with two touchdown passes and a rating of 110.9.

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