MINNEAPOLIS — Entering the critical third year of his career, Christian Ponder contributed to Minnesota’s three straight losses to start the season.

Then he broke a rib. After sitting out a game to heal, he found himself on the bench for two more weeks. His return to the lineup didn’t yield much, other than two more defeats for the Vikings. This game Thursday against the Washington Redskins wasn’t going well, either.

So there was Ponder, sprinting toward the goal line late in the third quarter and sacrificing his body to dive for the pylon between two Redskins defenders. The original touchdown call was reversed by replay review, and Ponder walked off with a dislocated shoulder on his non-throwing left arm.

This story had a pleasant ending for the Vikings, though. Adrian Peterson scored on the next play to give them the lead for good after Matt Cassel relieved Ponder. The defense, reversing course after a rough first half, got Robert Griffin III to throw three straight incompletions from the 4 in the closing seconds to hang on for a 34-27 victory over the Redskins.

“Winning is a great feeling,” Ponder said. “We expect that to continue to happen. The year is far from over.”

Ponder went 17 for 21 for 174 yards with two touchdowns and an interception for the Vikings (2-7), whose only other win came in London over Pittsburgh. Wearing a sling afterward, he said he expects to be ready to play Nov. 17 at Seattle. Ponder was far from perfect, but the moxie he showed in this game gave the Vikings reason to want him back by then.

“When they see that tape and see that he extended his body the way he did, it’s going to increase their appreciation for who he is as a person and what he means to our team as a quarterback,” coach Leslie Frazier said.

Griffin was 24 for 37 for 281 yards, three touchdowns and no turnovers, but the Redskins (3-6) blew a 27-14 lead.