The Minnesota Vikings persisted against the Jacksonville Jaguars for a victory to get their record up to 7-2 on the season.
Minnesota Vikings’ Causes for Concern
The Vikings came out on top in this matchup against the Jaguars but looked pitiful on offense. They went the whole game without an offensive touchdown and relied on John Parker Romo for their 12 points today. The offense gained over 400 yards throughout the game but could never find paydirt in the endzone. Sam Darnold seemed to regress to some of his old habits as he threw 3 INTs on passes intended for Justin Jefferson. It seemed that Darnold had decided Jefferson would get the ball on those plays no matter how the defense played him.
The offense had its ups and downs throughout the game, but they were 0-for-5 in the red zone against the Jaguars. If the Vikings’ defense had not shut the Jaguars down after the first quarter, this could have been an even uglier game for them.
First Half
The Vikings’ offense only had one field goal in the first half, and that was only after Darnold threw 2 INTs when they were in the red zone or just outside of the red zone. His first interception came on Minnesota’s second drive of the game when they had been moving the ball down the field.
That interception killed that drive before the defense forced a three-and-out on the Jaguars’ ensuing drive. The Vikings had their longest drive of the season on their next drive. It started with 28 seconds left in the 1st quarter, and it was not over until there was only 5:34 left in the second quarter. Minnesota was able to stack positive play on top of positive play before another INT killed that drive. This time, it was Montaric Brown who picked off a short pass in the endzone. Both teams punted, and Jacksonville ended the half with the ball in their possession.
Second Half
The Vikings’ second-half offense started just as poorly as most of the first half; they effectively moved the ball down the field until Darnold threw another costly red zone INT. The Jaguars could not capitalize on their following drive and punted the ball back to the Vikings. Minnesota got field goals on their next two offensive drives before a mishandled snap by Mac Jones gifted them another possession.
The Vikings got their last field goal of the game on their next drive. The Jaguars had two costly interceptions on their next two drives, while Minnesota punted and ran out the clock on their final two drives. An unnecessary roughness penalty on the Jaguars’ Travon Walker sealed the game for the Vikings. This gave them an automatic first down and they could run out the clock in the victory formation on the final two plays of the game.
Vikings’ Outlook
The Minnesota Vikings are now only a half-game behind the Detroit Lions for 1st place in the NFC North. While they came out on top in today’s game, they cannot expect to keep winning with costly INTs, especially ones in the red zone. T.J. Hockenson was a successful security blanket, helping Darnold convert third-down attempts. The ball was spread out fairly well for the Vikings, but nobody had a great day in terms of receptions.
Blake Cashman played very well in his first game back from a turf toe injury that had kept him out of the last few games. This defense had a new purpose and level of communication with him back on the field wearing the green dot on his helmet. He finished the game with five total tackles, one sack, and two QB hits. So, while the offense seemed to take a couple of steps in the wrong direction, the defense moved forward and shut out the Jaguars after their TD in the 1st quarter.
The Vikings look to add to their two-game winning streak next week as they face the 2-6 Tennessee Titans in Nashville.
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