Minnesota Vikings edge thriller against New Orleans Saints in London NFL opener

The Minnesota Vikings edged a 28-25 thriller with the New Orleans Saints to open the NFL’s three-game series in London.

The Vikings got on the scoreboard first with a 15-yard Alexander Mattison touchdown on their opening drive while the Saints – the designated hosts at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – struggled to gain territory in the opening quarter.

But New Orleans battled their way back before pulling ahead for the first time in the fourth quarter thanks to Taysom Hill’s close-range touchdown.

Minnesota rallied though and, with the score having been tied at 25-25 and the clock running down, Greg Joseph kicked the decisive field goal to snatch victory for the Vikings in front of a crowd of 60,639.

As predicted, 34-year-old Andy Dalton stepped in as Saints’ quarterback after regular starter Jameis Winston was ruled out due to an accumulation of injuries that had plagued him over New Orleans’ 1-2 start to the season.

It set up a serendipitous rematch with opposite number Kirk Cousins, who was QB for the now-named Washington Commanders when they drew 27-27 with the Dalton-led Cincinnati Bengals at Wembley in 2016.

New Orleans won the coin toss – overseen by Tottenham captain Harry Kane on his home turf – and elected to defer,  with Cousins soon having to get out of early danger after a second-down incomplete pass.

The Vikings thought they had taken the lead when, having been third and goal at the five-yard line, Cousins launched a pass into the right corner where KJ Osborn took the catch.

However, the touchdown was called off for offensive pass interference and the visitors were handed a 10-yard penalty.

But the 18-play, 74-yard drive still ended with the first touchdown of the day, a scoring run from Mattison which saw