Vikings 23-13 Titans (Nov 17, 2024) Game Recap

On By Littum

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — – Sam Darnold overcame an early fumble to throw for 246 yards and two touchdowns and run for a score and The Minnesota Vikings beat the Tennessee Titans 23-13 on Sunday.

Darnold had been picked off five times over the previous two games, matching his total over the first seven games of the season. Then, his throw to Aaron Jones on the Vikings’ third offensive play was fumbled and recovered by Jeffery Simmons for the Titans.

The quarterback answered at right back to help the Vikings (8-2) win their third straight and improve to 5-0 against AFC teams this season. He found Jordan Addison for a 47-yard catch-and-run touchdown as the Vikings never trailed, scoring 16 straight for a 16-3 halftime lead.

Andrew Van Ginkel had his two sacks in back-to-back games as Minnesota finished with five. Pat Jones II also had two. Harrison Smith clinched the win with an interception with 1:50 remaining, giving Vikings fans who turned this into a near home game another reason to celebrate chanting “SKOL.”

The Titans (2-8) dropped their second straight and went winless against the NFC North. They certainly made it interesting.

Will Levis threw the longest TD pass in the NFL this season with a 98-yard score. He found Nick Westbrook-Ikhine on the right sideline for the catch-and-run, pulling the Titans within 16-10 midway through the third.

It was the Titans’ longest passing play since DeAndre Hopkins’ 61-yarder on Oct. 29, 2023 against Atlanta in Levis’ first NFL start. It tied for the longest TD pass in franchise history, matching Willard Dewveall’s TD catch from Jacky Lee with the then-Houston Oilers on November 25, 1962 against the Chargers.

Levis also had a 51-yard TD pass to Calvin Ridley inside the final minute of the third that was wiped out by an illegal formation penalty on right tackle Isaiah Prince. They settled for Nick Folk’s second field goal, this one a 43-yarder.

Down 23-13, they went after that twice on fourth down near midfield. Levis was sacked by Jones on fourth-and-4 and was forced to throw it away on fourth-and-7 with 2:23 left.

The Titans couldn’t stop hurting themselves with too many penalties. Brian Callahan even drew a couple of flags that were thrown high in the air when the first-year Titans coach vehemently protested a penalty on safety Mike Brown for a hit on Addison in the end zone.

Darnold scored easily on a 1-yard keeper. Parker Romo’s extra point went wide of the right upright, but he made up for it with a 40-yard field goal late in the first half.

After Levis’ big play, Darnold padded Minnesota’s lead to 23-10 with a 3-yard toss to Cam Akers late in the third.

Punish sadness

Titans just keep hurting themselves. They had nine penalties for 71 yards at halftime. Minnesota didn’t draw its first flag until the Titans already had eight. Tennessee finished with 13 penalties for 91 yards compared to three for 35 yards by the Vikings.

Injuries

Vikings: Addison dealt with cramp in fourth quarter. WR Jalen Oliver hurt an ankle.

Titans: LB Jack Gibbens was carted off the field with his right ankle on a toss early in the third quarter. … RB Tyjae Spears left in the second half being evaluated in the concussion protocol. … LB Otis Reese IV went down on the opening kickoff with injured ribs but returned in the second.

Next

The Vikings finish a three-game road swing in Chicago, while the Titans return to visit AFC South rival Houston.

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AP NFL: