Giants-Vikings final score: Vikings win 27-24 on 61-yard Greg Joseph field goal

The New York Giants will have to wait at least one more week to qualify for the NFC playoffs after a gut-wrenching 27-24 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday.

Minnesota (12-3) won the game on a career-long 61-yard field goal by placekicker Greg Joseph on the game’s final play. On the previous play, the Vikings faced a third-and-11, but star wide receiver Justin Jefferson earned 17 yards on a screen pass to put Joseph within range.

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The Giants (8-6-1) had tied the game with 2:01 to play when Saquon Barkley went 27 yards for a touchdown on fourth-and-2, and then Daniel Jones hit Daniel Bellinger for the two-point conversion.

The Giants could have clinched a playoff berth with a victory as the Seattle Seahawks (7-8) lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 27-24 and the Detroit Lions (7-8) lost to the Carolina Panthers 37-23. They will, however, have to wait at least one more week to earn their first playoff berth since 2016.

The Giants committed two turnovers, an interception and a fumble, that took away scoring opportunities. Minnesota’s Josh Metellus also blocked a Jame Gillan punt with 4:10 to play. That set up the Vikings at the Giants’ 29-yard line and led to a 17-yard Kirk Cousins to Justin Jefferson touchdown that gave Minnesota a 24-16 lead with 3:00 to play.

The Giants also committed seven penalties for 63 yards, while Minnesota had just two for 14 yards.

“Guys were resilient but you can’t have those mistakes,” said Giants coach Brian Daboll. “The fumble took away three points. The interception took away at least three points.”

Minnesota is now 11-0 in one-score games. The Giants are 8-3-1 in those games.

Stats

• Daniel Jones completed 30 of 42 passes for 334 yards, with a touchdown and an interception. He also ran four times for 34 yards.
• Saquon Barkley carried 14 times for 84 yards, including that 27-yard touchdown run. Barkley also had eight receptions for 49 yards.
• Isaiah Hodgins had eight receptions for 89 yards.
• Richie James had eight receptions for 90 yards, but had two critical fourth-quarter drops.

Injury updates

• Edge defender Azeez Ojulari was ruled out after suffering an ankle injury in the first half. Ojulari had a sack and tackle for loss before leaving the game. He has had at least a half-sack in four straight games. Ojulari, who dealt with quad injuries earlier in the season, has played in only six games.

Giants inactives

CB Adoree’ Jackson (knee)
OL Shane Lemieux (toe)
WR David Sills
CB Rodarius Williams
OL Jack Anderson

What’s next?

The Giants play their final home game of the 2022-23 NFL season next Sunday, Jan. 1 2023, against the Indianapolis Colts. Game time is 1 p.m.