The Minnesota Vikings needed all 60 minutes to do it, but they managed to squeak out a 21-17 victory over the Cleveland Browns in Week 5 in London. Many of the issues that have plagued the team continued into this game, but the Vikings overcame them to get to 3-2.

Cleveland was the latest team to gash the Vikings on the ground, running 32 times for 140 yards in an effort to take the pressure off rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who was making his first career start.

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Minnesota had three backups on its offensive line, with backup guard Blake Brandel starting at center. Christian Darrisaw didn’t play the fourth quarter because he reached his “snap limit”, part of his rehabilitation from his ACL/MCL tear suffered last year.

Yet the Vikings averaged 5.7 yards per play, relying early on quick passes to protect their linemen from the vaunted Browns defensive line. Cleveland ultimately sacked Carson Wentz three times, but this game could have been a disaster with a traditional Kevin O’Connell game plan.

But Wentz was spectacular on the Vikings’ final drive. Down 17-14 with 3:05 left, Wentz led a 10-play, 80-yard drive. He was 9-of-9 passing for 71 yards, capping the drive with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Addison.

The Vikings sit at 3-2 heading into their much-needed bye week. They face the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 7. Hopefully, the bye allows them to get healthy, so they can give the Super Bowl champions their best shot.

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Here are some instant takeaways from the Vikings’ win.

The offense is slowly coming together

The Vikings’ offense wasn’t perfect on Sunday, but we’re starting to see the plays we’ve become accustomed to since O’Connell was hired in 2022.

Defenses have to respect Addison downfield, which is helping open up Justin Jefferson downfield. On Sunday, Jefferson led the Vikings with seven receptions for 123 yards. He caught three passes of 20-plus yards, and he had several other opportunities as Wentz looked for him all day.

Addison caught five passes for 41 yards and the game-winning score in three quarters of play. His ability to attack defenses short is something that Jalen Nailor and Adam Thielen can’t consistently do. He missed the first quarter of the game due to a disciplinary action after missing a walkthrough this week.

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The run game didn’t bring back memories of Adrian Peterson, but they ran 23 times for 97 yards and a touchdown against a very stout defense. If the Vikings can get a mostly-healthy offensive line, they could do serious damage on the ground.

The run defense is an issue

However, the Vikings’ run defense remains an issue. They allowed 140 yards on 32 attempts against a Browns team that entered the game with the third-fewest rushing yards in the league. Rookie Quinshon Judkins led the way with 23 carries for 110 yards, not including a 56-yard touchdown that was negated by penalty in the first quarter.

This allowed Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski the ability to run a balanced game plan for Gabriel. The Browns ran 32 times and had 35 passes, keeping the Vikings off-balance. Gabriel took two sacks, but was mostly efficient, completing 19-of-33 passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns.

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The Vikings could get Blake Cashman back after the bye week. Andrew Van Ginkel has missed the past two games due to a neck injury, although there appears to be some ambiguity regarding his status. Hopefully, the return of Cashman can help stabilize a run defense that is currently struggling.

The Vikings get fortunate with injury luck

Wentz was great on the Vikings’ final drive, but he left the game near the end of the first half after suffering a shoulder injury. Backup Max Brosmer kneeled down on his lone play in place of Wentz, and it appeared the rookie undrafted free agent could finish the game. However, Wentz returned with a sleeve on his left shoulder to begin the third quarter.

Darrisaw went to the locker room early, too, not being on the field for Brosmer’s kneel down. Although he came back in the third quarter, he was replaced late in the game after reaching his snap limit. Then Jordan Mason went down for a moment in the third quarter with a quad contusion but returned.

These three players leaving all left the feeling of “here we go again,” but all returned. The Vikings have been marred by injury all year, and, on top of getting the victory, leaving London with good health felt paramount with the upcoming bye week. Now, they’re hoping that the extra week of rest and injury luck from Sunday will help them when they return in Week 7.

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This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Instant Takeaways from the Vikings’ 21-17 win over the Browns