The Vikings went and got it.

Rather than punting the ball away on a fourth-and-2, Minnesota opted for a run by Dalvin Cook to the right side.

The running back stretched the ball out for a gain of 4 as the fourth quarter hit the 2-minute warning.

The play, which followed an 18-yard pass to Adam Thielen on a third-and-20, sent Minnesota to the victory formation and back home from the West Coast with a 27-20 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers.

Minnesota improved to 4-5 on the season in its eighth game decided by one score. The Chargers fell to 5-4.

Thielen finished with five catches for 65 yards on seven targets on a day when Minnesota took some changes in getting the ball to Justin Jefferson and reaped records of nine catches for 143 yards on 11 targets. Jefferson had totaled five catches on nine targets in Minnesota's previous two games.

Cook finished with 94 yards and a short touchdown on 24 carries.

Tyler Conklin caught two touchdowns (5 yards and 1 yard) from Kirk Cousins, who finished 25-of-37 passing for 294 yards and a passer rating of 109.5.

Cousins' final connection with Jefferson gained 27 yards and picked up a third-and-6. Cousins targeted the second-year receiver against single coverage down the Vikings sideline, and Jefferson elevated to high-point the football and land in bounds.

The call was challenged by the Chargers but stood.

Minnesota netted 381 yards and limited Los Angeles to 253. The Vikings held the ball for 36:15, providing a big lift for a short-handed defense that was on the field for more than 46 minutes last week in Baltimore.

Eric Kendricks recorded a sack and a nifty interception that set up Minnesota's first touchdown of the game.

Minnesota limited Los Angeles to 82 yards rushing and generally contained Justin Herbert, who finished 20-of-34 passing for 195 yards with a touchdown, the interception and a passer rating of 72.5.

Scoring Summary

Q2, 14:12 remaining

Vikings 3, Chargers 0

Greg Joseph kicks a 46-yard field goal [10 plays, 59 yards, 6:00 time of possession]

Eraser: The Vikings overcame a holding penalty against Olisaemeka Udoh to open the drive with a gain of 24 yards on a short pass to Alexander Mattison.

Q2, 11:28 remaining

Vikings 3, Chargers 3

Dustin Hopkins kicks a 46-yard field goal [5 plays, 79 yards, 2:02 time of possession]

Finding a stop: Despite a 19-yard pass interference penalty on Bashaud Breeland that moved the ball to the Minnesota 33-yard line, the Vikings defense only allowed 6 yards over the next three plays.

Q2, 6:38 remaining

Vikings 6, Chargers 3

Joseph kicks a 30-yard field goal [11 plays, 50 yards, 4:50 time of possession]

Missed opportunity: Justin Jefferson converted a third-and-15 with an 18-yard completion from Cousins, but it appeared the receiver and quarterback were crossed up on a second-and-goal play from the 1 that fell incomplete. A touchdown pass from Cousins to fullback C.J. Ham on the following snap was negated because of a holding penalty against Christian Darrisaw. An incompletion followed on third-and-11 to force the field goal.

Q2, 3:26 remaining

Vikings 13, Chargers 3

Tyler Conklin catches a 5-yard pass from Cousins (Joseph kicks PAT) [6 plays, 31 yards, 3:00 time of possession]

Sudden-change success: The Vikings made the most of a diving interception by Eric Kendricks (his second pick of the season and ninth of his career). The key play to the drive was a 21-yard reception by Jefferson on second-and-20 immediately after an intentional grounding penalty.

Q2, 1:30 remaining

Vikings 13, Chargers 10

Larry Rountree III rushes for 1 yard (Hopkins kicks PAT) [8 plays, 75 yards, 1:56 time of possession]

Fleet feet: Justin Herbert recorded the longest gain of the drive on a 17-yard run to move the ball from the Los Angeles 35 to the Minnesota 48 at the 2-minute warning.

Q3, 10:40 remaining

Chargers 17, Vikings 13

Austin Ekeler catches a 2-yard pass from Herbert (Hopkins kicks PAT) [10 plays, 75 yards, 4:20 time of possession]

Rapid start with zipped ending: The Chargers came out of the locker room and hit pass plays for 22 yards to Keenan Allen and 17 to Donald Parham, Jr. Herbert capped it by zipping a quick pass over the middle to Ekeler.

Q3, 2:33 remaining

Vikings 20, Chargers 17

Conklin catches a 1-yard pass from Cousins (Joseph kicks PAT) [9 plays, 66 yards, 3:52 time of possession]

Looking it in: The Vikings ran a crossing route with Conklin and reserve offensive lineman Blake Brandel, who had reported as an extra tight end. The route, designed to beat man coverage, did so when Chargers defenders collided, leaving Conklin wide open. Cousins' arm was hit as he released the ball, and it fluttered but had just enough to reach Conklin.

Q4, 9:29 remaining

Vikings 27, Chargers 17

Dalvin Cook rushes for 1 yard (Joseph kicks PAT) [12 plays, 68 yards, 7:04 time of possession]

Trifecta: Prior to the possession, Minnesota was just 1-for-8 on third downs, but the Vikings converted all three on the way to the end zone. The conversions included a 12-yard pass to Jefferson to end the third quarter, a 16-yard gain on a pass to Thielen and a 4-yard rush by Cook.

Q4, 4:36 remaining

Vikings 27, Chargers 20

Hopkins kicks a 24-yard field goal [12 plays, 69 yards, 4:53 time of possession]

Key tackle: Breeland tackled Joshua Palmer after a gain of 2 on third-and-4, and Los Angeles opted for the field goal.