Tennessee Titans linebacker Arden Key (49) is congratulated after sacking New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) during their game at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. © Denny Simmons / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.
Few players in the Minnesota Vikings locker room need a bounceback game more than quarterback Sam Darnold. Last weekend against the Jacksonville Jaguars, he turned the ball over at a breakneck pace, and it was largely a result of questionable decision-making. Although the Titans are not a good team, their defense isn’t one to roll over.
Of course, Tennessee has limitations, so Minnesota is a road favorite by more than a touchdown. That doesn’t mean they don’t have redeeming qualities, though, and almost all of those are on the defensive side of the ball. That means Minnesota’s skill position players should be locked in and ready to bring their best.
No defense allows less movement from the opposition than Tennessee, at 273 yards per game. Their 156 passing yards allowed per game are also the lowest in the league and by a solid margin. They aren’t quite as stingy against the run, but being better than the league average there, too, it’s not as though Aaron Jones will have a cakewalk. Despite making it hard on opposing offenses, the Titans allow the fourth-most points per game at 26.7.
Kevin O’Connell must devise a game plan that puts Sam Darnold in positive positions. He is going to have a tough time throwing against Tennessee, but there should be windows if the run game can make some noise. Darnold must also know that the defense is good when he airs it out and picks better spots to avoid costly miscues.
Going on the road against a solid defense makes this matchup much closer than the line suggests it may be. The Vikings could establish dominance early, and the ability to keep the defense constantly on the field wouldn’t hurt them by any means. If Minnesota can put the ball in the end zone a time or two, then they’ll have Tennessee on the ropes right out of the gate.
The Vikings haven’t blown away an opponent since they did so early in the season against the Houston Texans. This is a good spot for them to get a big win, and it would be great to see them do it while exposing holes in a unit that has performed well this season.
After failing to score a touchdown last week, the hope would be that the offense has plenty of them to go around on Sunday.
Ted Schwerzler is a blogger from the Twin Cities that is focused on all things Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. He’s active on Twitter and writes daily for Minnesota Sports Fan. As a former college athlete and avid sports fan, covering our pro teams with a passion has always seemed like such a natural outlet.