In a tense matchup in Jacksonville, Florida, the Minnesota Vikings showcased a remarkably stingy defense, limiting the Jacksonville Jaguars to just 143 offensive yards—marking the lowest total during coach Doug Pederson’s three-year tenure. The Vikings secured a narrow 12-7 victory, successfully overcoming three interceptions thrown by quarterback Sam Darnold.
This was particularly significant for Darnold, who hadn’t thrown three picks in a game for nearly three years. All of his interceptions came while attempting to connect with All-Pro wide receiver Justin Jefferson, who ended the contest with five receptions for 48 yards. Despite the turnovers, Minnesota (now standing at 7-2) found a way to rebound from a sluggish start, ultimately taking the lead thanks to John Parker Romo, who scored all of the team’s points through four field goals in his NFL debut from distances of 29, 34, 33, and 45 yards.
The Jaguars, with a record of 2-8, maintained a fighting chance towards the end of the game. A pivotal moment came when Travon Walker secured a sack on a crucial third-and-1 play. Head coach Kevin O’Connell’s decision to have Darnold throw the ball with approximately three minutes left raised eyebrows, considering Jacksonville’s lack of offensive production throughout the game.
Mac Jones, stepping in for Trevor Lawrence (who was sidelined due to a non-throwing shoulder injury), made his first start in nearly a year but struggled with consistency. Nevertheless, he managed to guide the Jaguars on a late-game drive, aided by a face-mask penalty against linebacker Blake Cashman. Unfortunately for Jacksonville, Jones threw his second pick with 1:49 left on the clock, effectively sealing his team’s fate. Earlier in the fourth quarter, he had already recorded two turnovers—an interception and a fumble.
As the game drew near its conclusion, it appeared that Minnesota would have to punt, but Walker was penalized for unnecessary roughness after attempting to strip the ball from running back Aaron Jones. This gave the Vikings the opportunity to simply take a knee and run the clock down. In terms of passing statistics, Mac Jones completed 14 of 22 throws for 111 yards, earning a passer rating of 38.3, while Darnold’s performance was marginally better at 24 completions on 38 attempts, gathering 241 yards.
Darnold made a notable effort to involve his tight ends, targeting them a total of 15 times. T.J. Hockenson led the way with eight catches totaling 72 yards, and Josh Oliver contributed with four receptions for 52 yards. Notably, the Jaguars’ offensive performance resulted in their fifth-lowest total yards in franchise history.
In a subplot of the game, Vikings left tackle Cam Robinson faced scrutiny upon his return to Jacksonville, where he was flagged for three penalties. The most notable infraction occurred in the third quarter, when he was penalized for hitting cornerback Ronald Darby out of bounds during an interception return. His former teammates, including defensive ends Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker, confronted Robinson after the play. The Jaguars traded Robinson to Minnesota just the week prior, setting up an intriguing homecoming.
In terms of injuries, veteran running back Aaron Jones of the Vikings exited the game in the third quarter due to a chest issue but managed to return later. For the Jaguars, running back Tank Bigsby (ankle), cornerback Tyson Campbell (shoulder), and linebacker Devin Lloyd (shoulder) also left the field but reentered the game. Defensive end Arik Armstead was evaluated for a concussion in the fourth quarter.
Looking ahead, the Vikings will take on the Tennessee Titans next Sunday, capping a three-game series against AFC South opponents. Meanwhile, the Jaguars are scheduled to face the NFC North-leading Detroit Lions on the same day.