NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Sam Darnold bounced back from a shaky start to lead the Minnesota Vikings to a 23-13 victory over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, throwing for 246 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for a score.
Despite being intercepted five times in his previous two outings, Darnold faced an early setback when his throw to Aaron Jones on the Vikings’ third possession was fumbled and recovered by Titans’ Jeffery Simmons. However, the quarterback quickly regrouped, guiding Minnesota (8-2) to its third consecutive win and maintaining an impressive record of 5-0 against AFC opponents this season.
Darnold connected with Jordan Addison for a significant 47-yard touchdown that shifted momentum in favor of the Vikings, who established a 16-3 halftime lead after scoring 16 unanswered points. Minnesota’s defense was also a key factor, with Andrew Van Ginkel making two sacks on successive plays, contributing to the team’s total of five sacks. Pat Jones II recorded two sacks as well, while Harrison Smith sealed the victory with an interception in the closing moments, triggering celebrations among the Vikings fans.
On the other hand, the Titans (2-8) faced their second consecutive loss and remained winless against teams from the NFC North. They made the game competitive, thanks in part to Will Levis, who threw a remarkable 98-yard touchdown pass—the longest in the NFL this season—connecting with Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, which narrowed the Vikings’ lead to 16-10 midway through the third quarter.
This pass marked a milestone for the Titans, being their longest since a 61-yard reception by DeAndre Hopkins in Levis’ first start on Oct. 29. It also matched a franchise record for the longest touchdown pass, previously set in 1962. Though Levis later threw a 51-yard touchdown to Calvin Ridley, it was nullified due to an illegal formation penalty, leading the Titans to settle for a 43-yard field goal by Nick Folk.
Trailing 23-13, the Titans made attempts to turn the game around by going for it twice on fourth down near midfield but were unsuccessful; Levis was sacked by Jones on one attempt and forced to throw the ball away on another. Tennessee struggled with indiscipline, committing numerous penalties throughout the game, which hindered their efforts. Coach Brian Callahan also received penalties for his animated protests against officiating decisions.
Darnold managed a 1-yard touchdown run, and even though Parker Romo’s extra point attempt hit the upright, he later redeemed himself with a 40-yard field goal. Planting his team further ahead, Darnold threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Cam Akers at the end of the third quarter.
Penalty challenges plagued the Titans throughout the game, as they ended the first half with nine penalties for 71 yards compared to just one flag against Minnesota at that point. Ultimately, Tennessee accumulated 13 penalties for a total of 91 yards, while the Vikings faced only three penalties for 35 yards.
On the injury front, the Vikings’ Addison experienced cramping in the fourth quarter, and wide receiver Jalen Oliver left the game with an ankle injury. For the Titans, linebacker Jack Gibbens was carted off in the third quarter due to an ankle injury, running back Tyjae Spears was evaluated for a concussion, and linebacker Otis Reese IV dealt with rib injuries but managed to return later in the game.
Looking ahead, the Vikings will complete their three-game road stretch with a matchup against the Chicago Bears, while the Titans aim to recover on the road against AFC South rival Houston.