Minnesota Vikings 23, Tennessee Titans 13: Vikings Complete AFC South Sweep

Another win for the Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings went into their Week 11 matchup against the Tennessee Titans as a significant favorite in a game that they should have been able to get an easy victory in, similar to what they had against Jacksonville in Week 10.

And, like they did against Jacksonville, the Vikings struggled a whole lot more than they probably should have but still managed to get the job done.

Sam Darnold accounted for three Minnesota touchdowns on the afternoon and the defense did just enough to keep the Titans’ offense off balance to get themselves a 23-13 victory over the Titans at Nissan Stadium.

The Titans got on the board first following yet another Minnesota turnover, as Aaron Jones fumbled a pitch from Sam Darnold on the Vikings’ first possession. Tennessee turned that opportunity into a 30-yard field goal from Nick Folk to take a 3-0 lead late in the first quarter.

The Vikings struck back on their next possession, courtesy of a 47-yard catch-and-run from Sam Darnold to Jordan Addison for a big touchdown. The play was set up by a pass interference penalty on Justin Jefferson to put the ball on Tennessee’s side of the field and it put the Vikings ahead 7-3.

The Vikings added another touchdown midway through the second quarter in controversial fashion. The Vikings appeared to be stopped on a 4th-and-goal play from the 1-yard line, but the Titans were called for a personal foul penalty that was a bit questionable to give the Vikings another opportunity. Darnold then took the ball in on a quarterback sneak to give the Vikings a 13-3 lead after John Parker Romo missed the extra point.

Minnesota then extended their lead just before halftime on a 40-yard field goal from Romo to make it 16-3.

The Titans got back into the game in a big way midway through the third quarter, as Will Levis found Nick Westbrook-Ikhine for a 98-yard touchdown to cut the Minnesota lead to 16-10.

The Vikings answered right back on their next possession, marching down the field and getting Darnold’s second touchdown pass of the day, this one a 3-yard flip to Cam Akers to make the score 23-10 with just over three minutes left in the third quarter.

The Titans got another field goal from Folk early in the fourth quarter to make it a 10-point game at 23-13. The Vikings probably should have had a big touchdown from Darnold to Nailor that could have iced it but Jalen Nailor dropped what would have been a 46-yard score from Darnold, keeping it a 10-point game. After the Vikings punted it away, they forced a turnover on downs with a sack of Levis on a fourth down play to take over again near midfield.

Tennessee turned the ball over on downs again just before the two-minute warning, and after the Vikings punted it away, Harrison Smith got the Vikings’ first turnover of the game, an interception of Levis that sealed the deal for the purple.

The Vikings complete their season sweep of all four of their AFC South opponents with their victory over Tennessee, and move their record to 8-2 as they prepare for a road trip to Soldier Field in Week 12.

The Vikings get their eighth win of the 2024 NFL season, taking down the Tennessee Titans by a score of 23-13 at Nissan Stadium. Thank you to everyone who got their coverage of this week’s game right here at The Daily Norseman!