Vikes hold on after wasting much of a 29-point lead
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings won another close game as they try to stay in the NFC playoff hunt.
Dalvin Cook rushed for 205 yards and two touchdowns in his faster-than-expected return from a shoulder injury, leading the Vikings to a 36-28 triumph over the Steelers. The Vikings had a 300-66 advantage in total yards in the first half and led 29-0 before allowing Pittsburgh to get back into the game.
Kirk Cousins was picked off twice in the second half, but he also threw a 62-yard scoring pass to K.J. Osborn that put Minnesota ahead, 36-20 with 11 minutes remaining.
Ben Roethlisberger rallied the Steelers with three touchdown passes over the final 17-plus minutes. He almost had a fourth on the final play, but the Vikings knocked the ball out of the hands of Pat Freiermuth.
The outcome leaves the Vikings 6-7 and drops the Steelers to 6-6-1.
Demaryius Thomas found dead in home
ATLANTA (AP) — Former Denver Broncos receiver Demaryius Thomas has been found dead in his suburban Atlanta home, according to local police.
The public information officer for the police department in Roswell, Georgia, says preliminary information is that Thomas’ death stems from a medical issue, and investigators currently have no reason to believe otherwise.
Thomas earned five straight Pro Bowls and a Super Bowl ring. He last played in the NFL in 2019, playing 11 games with 10 starts for the New York Jets.
Packers’ Cobb will be out ‘for a while’ with core injury
UNDATED (AP) — Green Bay Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb has a core injury that will prevent him from playing Sunday against the Bears and could keep him out for much longer.
The 31-year-old has caught 28 passes for 375 yards and five touchdowns this season. That is Cobb’s highest single-season total for touchdown receptions since having six for Green Bay in 2015.
In other NFL news:
— The Browns have placed starting linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. and punter Jamie Gillan on the reserve-COVID-19 list Thursday, making it unlikely they’ll be able to play Sunday against the Ravens. Earlier this week the Browns placed tight end David Njoku, who leads the team in yards receiving, on the COVID-19 list.
— Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy returned to practice on Thursday after a 10-day absence because of a positive COVID-19 test. McCarthy lit up social media by saying the Cowboys would beat Washington on Sunday, saying he’s confident in that.
