Nov 17, 2024; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; during the first half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn ImagesMinnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (3) makes a catch but is later reversed for only one for coming down against the Tennessee Titans. © Steve Roberts-Imagn Images.
The Minnesota Vikings toppled the 2-7 Tennesee Titans on Sunday, using a Sam Darnold bounceback game to hit an 8-2 record in 2024.
Operations weren’t perfect in the win — they rarely are — but Minnesota now has a 95% chance of participating in the postseason, according to oddsmakers.
The Vikings next play the Chicago Bears on the road, but before that, these are the five main takeaways from Titans-Vikings.
By his Year No. 1 standards — 911 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns — Jordan Addison has authored a quiet sophomore season.
On Sunday, however, he grabbed 3 receptions for 61 and a game-breaking paydirt that established Minnesota as the frontrunner. He was much more involved in the offense than in weeks past, tabulating 8 targets, which exactly mirrored his teammate, Justin Jefferson.
Week 11 Addison is what the Vikings need in the final seven games and during the playoffs.
Aaron Jones bungled a toss from Sam Darnold on Minnesota’s first offensive possession, and it could’ve devolved into one of “those” games — where nothing went right.
But it didn’t.
In fact, that gaffe served as the only turnover by either team the rest of the way, and Minnesota played clean football following the blunder. The “here we go again” feeling was averted.
The Vikings haven’t stepped on a team’s throat since Week 4 at Lambeau Field when they took a 28-0 lead in the first half. Jalen Nailor muffed a punt that afternoon, and well, Minnesota hasn’t consistently thrashed an opponent since. It either wins somewhat ugly or loses.
Kevin O’Connell and Co. certainly have time to rekindle the domination, but it has been missing for seven weeks.
Those defensive woes against the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams didn’t last.
Albeit versus suspect quarterbacks in Joe Flacco, Mac Jones, and Will Levis, Brian Flores’ unit has righted the ship. The proof is in the pudding:
Vikings Defense,
NFL Ranking,
per EPA/Play:
Week 1-5: 1st
Week 6-8: 28th
Week 9-11: 2nd
Darnold produced an utterly forgettable game in Week 10 at the Jaguars, delivering 3 redzone interceptions to the other team. Folks grimaced.
Yet, on Sunday in Tennessee, the reclamation passer returned to early-season form, accounting for 3 touchdowns and just one turnover — a fumble that perhaps should’ve been credited to running back Aaron Jones.
Darnold was awful in Jacksonville; he was damn good in Tennessee. The Vikings will need “good Darnold” during the next 2+ months.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.