The Vikings moved into a tie for first place in the NFC North by (barely) beating the St. Louis Rams at the same time as the Packers lost to the Carolina Panthers. Both the Vikings and Packers now have 6-2 records, but Minnesota has more wins within the division so they’re technically ahead (for playoff standing, divisional wins are more significant than conference wins, which are in turn more important than out-of-conference wins).

The game itself was a slugfest, with both teams depending heavily on their defences to mask the weaknesses on the other side of the ball. Neither team was at full strength, with the Vikings lacking new rookie sensation Eric Kendricks at middle linebacker and the Rams without defensive ends Chris Long and Robert Quinn. Injuries piled up during the game even before the personal foul that took Teddy Bridgewater out of the game. Cornerback Terence Newman (suspected concussion) and backup middle linebacker Audie Cole both left the field, with Cole being carted to the locker room with a broken ankle and is probably done for the season. After the game, reporters noticed that linebacker Anthony Barr had his left arm in a cast, although he didn’t appear to miss any snaps during the game. Both Bridgewater and Newman have to go through the concussion protocol, so it won’t be known for at least a few days whether either player will be able to play next week. Rookie Trae Waynes stepped in for Newman and veteran backup quarterback Shaun Hill played the remainder of the game for Bridgewater.

It didn’t take long for suspicions to form about infamous (former New Orleans Saints) defensive co-ordinator Gregg Williams repeating his “bountygate” past:

ESPN reporter Ben Goessling:

A Vikings official had said this week that the game might have a playoff atmosphere. Sunday’s physical battle between the two wild-card hopefuls certainly had that kind of intensity, if not that level of efficiency. The two teams combined for 18 penalties that totaled 154 yards. But while the Vikings held the Rams to 102 yards after halftime, Peterson put Blair Walsh in position for the game winner. The Vikings survived without Teddy Bridgewater in overtime after he left with a concussion, and Peterson helped carry them to a win.

Gurley finished with 89 yards on 24 carries, and Peterson wound up with 125 on 29 attempts.

What it means: The Vikings are 6-2 and tied for first in the NFC North after the Green Bay Packers’ 37-29 loss to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. The Vikings showed highlights from the Packers-Panthers game several times on Sunday, and fans stayed in the stands to watch the Packers’ comeback bid die with Thomas Davis’ interception of Aaron Rodgers. The Vikings head to Oakland next week, but their game against the Packers at TCF Bank Stadium in two weeks will be the biggest between the rivals in three years.

One reason to get excited: With Bridgewater out and a chance to win the game with an opening-drive touchdown in overtime, coach Mike Zimmer chose to take the wind and give the Rams the ball. The move was a bold gamble that a defense that stood up to Gurley in the second half could do it once more, and it paid off. The Vikings stopped Gurley for a 6-yard loss on first down, forced a punt and set up Walsh’s winning field goal. It was the biggest moment of the day for a defense that showed its bravado through much of the second half and overtime, and the Vikings seem to have a group that can stand up late in tough games this season.

One reason to panic: As uneven as Bridgewater has been, the Vikings’ best hope to make a playoff run is with him on the field. They’ll need him back in short order to handle the toughest stretch of their schedule. They’ll have to get him through the concussion protocol this week in time to face his rival from the class of 2014, Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr.

Christopher Gates talks about the Rams’ cheap shot that knocked out Teddy Bridgewater:

In the fourth quarter of their 21-18 overtime victory over the St. Louis Rams on Sunday afternoon, the Minnesota Vikings got a truly scary moment when Teddy Bridgewater rolled out of the pocket and started to scramble downfield.

That was Rams’ cornerback LaMarcus Joyner delivering the hit, which was clearly late (after Bridgewater had given himself up) and clearly targeted at Bridgewater’s head. Joyner was penalized 15 yards, but the replay on television clearly showed that Bridgewater was out following the hit.

Not “shaken up” … out.

That’s the sort of thing you have to teach your defensive players to do, ladies and gentlemen … and, with that in mind, it won’t surprise you to learn that the Rams’ defensive coordinator is none other than Gregg Williams, who we last saw paying New Orleans Saints’ players extra money to cripple Vikings’ players in the 2009 NFC Championship Game.

It appears that nothing has really changed since then. Gregg Williams is still a gutless pig. He was a gutless pig in New Orleans, and he continues to be a gutless pig in St. Louis.

In the St. Paul Pioneer Press, Tom Powers explains his personal beef with the Rams:

“I think some of the players on that team are pretty cheap, to tell you the truth,” guard Brandon Fusco said. “I hope we see them again.”

Listen, I don’t ever want to see Rams owner Stan Kroenke again. He barged into the press box with three goons on Sunday and commandeered the men’s room. Nobody could get near it while he was in there going about his business. And I had just had my third cup of coffee. The nerve of some people.

The Joyner infraction — he was penalized for unnecessary roughness — put a damper on a very determined effort by the Vikings in blustery conditions. Backup quarterback Shaun Hill came in and did just enough to keep the team on the rails en route to an overtime victory. Afterward, Joyner insisted he meant no harm.

“I did not know he was going to slide,” Joyner said. “I thought he was going to give another move, and it was a bang-bang play. My intent was never to hurt Teddy. We are from the same place. His mom is proud of him just like my mom is proud of me. I have love for him and his career.”

I’d hate to see what he’d do if he didn’t love Bridgewater — take a machete to him?

“Yeah, he’s full of crap,” Fusco said. “We take that personally.”

Short term, this is a very bad thing. Long term, depending on Bridgewater’s prognosis, this might wind up as a galvanizing moment. The Vikings were leading 18-15 when Bridgewater was hurt. The Rams’ Greg Zuerlein then kicked the tying field goal in the final seconds of regulation. It didn’t look good.

But the Vikings’ defense locked down in OT by forcing a three and out on the Rams’ first series. Marcus Sherels delivered a clutch punt return. And Hill got the team close enough for Blair Walsh to kick a 40-yard field goal. Zimmer then pretty much blew past Rams coach Jeff Fisher during what was supposed to be the traditional, friendly postgame handshake.

“I didn’t have much to say to him,” Zimmer said.

“I hope Teddy Bridgewater is OK,” Fisher said. “I know that there was some feelings that Lamarcus Joyner did something on purpose. The fact that Lamarcus Joyner dove the same time that Teddy Bridgewater slid is one of those things that happens. Lamarcus Joyner is not that type of player. He is a class kid. I am just concerned for Teddy Bridgewater, and I hope that he will be alright.”

Fisher did not address the press box bathroom situation.