Tottenham Hotspur would’ve won this game with the four goals that they scored in their match with Newcastle earlier in the day.
The Minnesota Vikings and Minnesota Wild won yesterday by identical 3-0 scores. That’s wild!
It’s a win and the Vikings desperately needed a win.
The defenses of both teams played very well and the score was a direct reflection of that The offenses of both teams left a whole lot to be desired. Much of that was due to the fine defensive play. A lot of it was due to the respective offenses. The run of Josh Dobbs as the Vikings quarterback appears to have come to an end. Kevin O’Connell made the switch to Nick Mullens with 9:10 to play in the game. That’s when everything changed and brought the game-winning points. All three of them.
The quarterback comparison:
Josh Dobbs: 10/23 for 63 yards
Nick Mullens: 9/13 for 83 yards
After the trade deadline deal that brought him to Minnesota, Dobbs was fun and effective in his first two games with the Vikings. Taken by themselves, those two wins might’ve saved the season immediately after the terrible loss of Kirk Cousins to injury. The three games since hasn’t been fun and effective. His last two games were terrible. At least he didn’t turn the ball over against the Raiders. In a 3-0 game, that was huge. It didn’t help Dobbs or the Vikings that superstar receiver Justin Jefferson was injured while making his second catch of the game. With 9:54 remaining in the second quarter, Dobbs threw high to Jefferson to convert a third down. Jefferson went high for the catch and was hit hard in the back by Raiders safety Marcus Epps. Jefferson had missed the past seven games with a hamstring injury. He lasted 26 minutes in his return. O’Connell had to scrap his game plan with the loss of his best and most explosive football player. Jefferson was only the first of several Vikings offensive players to depart the game with injuries. Right guard Ed Ingram was inactive with a hip injury that occurred in the final practice of the week. Right tackle Brian O’Neill left with a sprained ankle. Running back Alexander Mattison left with a sprained ankle. Left guard Dalton Risner left with a lower leg injury. At least, Risner was able to return to the game after a few snaps. Enough with these damn injuries.
The Vikings offense felt different with Mullens on the field. He was decisive with his throws. He was on target with most of them. The few inaccurate throws may have been mostly due to rust. His first throw was a 26-yarder to tight end T.J. Hockenson. It was the longest play of the day for the Vikings. Mullens’ second possession ended with the winning points on the board. 3-0.
The Vikings defense continued its terrific run. They’ve given up a single touchdown over the last three games. They gave up no touchdowns in the last game. They gave up no points in this game. The Vikings defense is very much a team defense. It’s all of the players working together. In the team defense that shut out the Raiders, rookie linebacker Ivan Pace Jr shined brightest.
Pace’s day:
13 tackles
1 sack
1 tackle for loss
1 interception
His interception sealed the win. The undrafted rookie is on the fast road to stardom. He’s a fun football player.
For the game, the Vikings team defense:
4 sacks
5 tackles for loss
1 interception
2 fumble recoveries
8 Raiders possessions ended in punts
4 of those were three-and-outs
3 Raiders possessions ended in turnovers
All 11 possessions ended without points
The Raiders were stymied all game. Their lone scoring threat ended with a fumble at the Vikings 16-yard line. It was a brief threat.
In a game with so little offensive production, punting was very important. Vikings punter Ryan Wright had his best game of the season.
8 punts
47.9 average
4 punts put the Raiders inside the 20 yard line.
In a game with a single field goal, field position was critical. Wright helped his defense and offense by often keeping field position in the Vikings favor.
It’s a win. The Vikings are now 7-6 and continue to control their playoff hopes. The Vikings travel to Cincinnati for a Saturday game against the Bengals. Hopefully, players get healthy. Especially Justin Jefferson.
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