The kick was rather unassuming, but the return was something special. It took a moment for to corral the bouncer from Sebastian Janikowski at the Minnesota 7-yard line, but once he did, he exploded with quick cuts and a sprint down the sideline.
Patterson started going to the outside but jutted inside to set up a block by Adam Thielen. Patterson then zoomed toward the sideline and benefitted from a cluster of blocking by Matt Asiata, Zach Line, Edmond Robinson and Rhett Ellison.
Ellison, this week’s special teams captain for the Vikings, finished off Janikowski with a pancake block at the Oakland 30 to make sure Patterson wouldn’t be touched during the 93-yard TD return.