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Kevin Seifert, ESPN Staff WriterDec 29, 2024, 05:17 PM ET
- Kevin Seifert is a staff writer who covers the Minnesota Vikings and the NFL at ESPN. Kevin has covered the NFL for over 20 years, joining ESPN in 2008. He was previously a beat reporter for the Minneapolis Star Tribune and Washington Times. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia. You can follow him via Twitter @SeifertESPN.
MINNEAPOLIS — After opening a key NFC North matchup in fits and starts, the Minnesota Vikings finally hit paydirt with a 31-yard touchdown pass from Sam Darnold to receiver Jalen Nailor.
— NFL (@NFL) December 29, 2024
Nailor got behind the Green Bay Packers defense in part because the Vikings’ top two receivers, Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, ran intermediate routes. It was Nailor’s sixth touchdown reception of the season on a total of 36 receptions.
The play gave the Vikings a 7-3 lead, an advantage they built without targeting Jefferson once. Of Darnold’s first 12 passes, three went toward Nailor, two to Addison and one apiece to T.J. Hockenson, Johnny Mundt, Aaron Jones and C.J. Ham.
It was Darnold’s fifth TD pass of at least 30 air yards this season, and the first allowed by the Packers.
