1. Friendly flag pleases Robinson

The Vikings and Redskins combined for 15 penalties. And, yes, some of the nine against the Vikings were questionable. However, no flag was more costly than the offensive pass interference penalty on receiver DeSean Jackson with 2 minutes, 9 seconds left and the Redskins needing a field goal to tie. Instead of second-and-2 at the Redskins 47 following a Jackson catch, Washington had first-and-20 at its 29 after Jackson was called for pushing off corner Josh Robinson. "I think I got away with one there, actually," Robinson said. "I don't really think he pushed off on me enough for them to call it. But I'll take it. I got a bad break on the ball, but I'll accept that call. DeSean's a tough guy to cover." Jackson had at TD on four catches for 120 yards including a 56-yarder, which was his NFL-leading 27th 50-yarder since 2008.

2. Value of Ford's hands, and feet

Chase Ford isn't Kyle Rudolph. But his production the past two weeks sure made Rudolph's absence easier to not notice. With five catches for 66 yards and his first career TD, Ford has 11 catches for 127 yards in back-to-back wins. Ford's finest moment Sunday might have been his 21-yard grab to the Washington 15 helped set up the go-ahead scored in the fourth quarter. It also showed outstanding sideline presence as Ford sneaked both heels just in bounds. Asked if he knew where his heels were, Ford smiled and said, "In bounds, sir. I was really trying to catch it and get down and not get hit. The defender easily could have knocked me out of bounds before I got my feet down. I don't get to see my feet on TV, but I knew where they were."

4. Run game comes alive

Thirty-three minutes into the game, the Vikings had 15 yards rushing on eight carries. But on their next three carries, they hit runs of 15, 9 and 1 yard for a touchdown on three consecutive snaps. "They loaded up the box and gave us some fits up front in the first half," said Jerick McKinnon, who had the runs of 15 and 9 to set up Matt Asiata's TD and give the Vikings a 14-10 lead. "But as the game goes along, you adjust and find where you can run the ball." The Vikings had 86 yards on 20 second-half carries.

5. Not just a pass rusher

Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen recorded his career-high ninth sack, but this guy wasn't the NFL's Defensive Player of the Month for October for sacks only. He also had five solo tackles and two tackles for loss. Even better than his sack was a 2-yard tackle for loss against running back Roy Helu Jr. on third-and-1 at the 50 in the second quarter. Not many defensive linemen have the speed to rocket down the line to make that play once the running back appeared to have the taken the corner. "Just doing my job and using what God gave me as my gift: my speed," Griffen said.

3. Rhodes accepts protocol

Cornerback Xavier Rhodes got up slowly after landing hard at the end of a 45-yard completion to Jackson late in the first quarter. It was enough to trigger the NFL's concussion protocol, so Rhodes spent about 13 minutes of game time on the sideline as he took and passed his concussion tests. "I wasn't worried at all about coming back because I knew as soon as I got to the sideline that I was OK," Rhodes said. The Redskins scored their first TD with Rhodes on the sideline in part because punt returner Marcus Sherels was forced to play in the nickel. Rookie Jabari Price would have played, but was inactive because of a hamstring injury. Sherels' penalty for illegal contact on third-and-6 at the Vikings' 19 helped the Redskins score one play later. "It's frustrating when you know you're OK and you feel like you're letting your team and yourself down," Rhodes said. "But, yes, we understand the process and how important it is with concussions." Rhodes returned late in the first half and helped force a three-and-out with a pass defense on a deep ball on third-and-9.