Vikings - Jaguars

The Minnesota Vikings defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars yesterday. The final score was 12-7. It’s a win but it wasn’t a model of how a game of football is played. If one was to look at the game statistics without knowing the final score, one would be certain that the Vikings had taken apart the Jaguars by a score more like 42-7. It was a strange game.

Those statistics:

Vikings offense:

82 plays

28 first downs

402 total yards

233 passing yards

169 rushing yards

42:19 time of possession

Jaguars offense:

43 plays

10 first downs

143 total yards

87 passing yards

56 rushing yards

17:41 time of possession

That’s a lopsided ledger. Holding the ball for over 42 simply shouldn’t result in only 12 points. This season, the Vikings have been efficient at scoring once they reach the red zone. Yesterday, they were horribly inefficient once they reached red zone. They settled for four field goals. At least those four field goals provided the points needed to win this game. Worse than settling for four field goals was Sam Darnold throwing three interceptions. Each eliminated opportunities to score. Each provided the Jaguars with a measure of hope. The Vikings were doing whatever they wanted until they approached the end zone. It was frustrating. Settling for field goals was frustrating. Turning the ball over was frustrating. Darnold did well in guiding the team down the field. He was terrible in forcing those three throws. 

Those interceptions. All three were terrible decisions. All three were terrible throws. However, Jaguars corner Tyson Campbell was holding Justin Jefferson when he deflected the pass and Foyesade Oluokun intercepted. It should’ve been a Jaguars penalty rather than a Vikings interception. Darnold’s second interception came on their next possession. After guiding the offense 76 yards on an impressive 17 plays, Darnold was intercepted by Montaric Brown in the end zone. This one definitely shouldn’t have been ruled an interception as the ball clearly hit the ground as Brown tried to control it. I was certain that the ball would be returned to the Vikings as the telecast returned from a commercial break. Nope. Somehow, the officials stuck with the call on the field. Incredible. Just like the Xavier McKinney “interception” earlier in the season, Darnold is stuck with an interception that was never actually intercepted. The officials have been a real problem for the Vikings in recent weeks. At least these questionable calls and terrible interceptions didn’t cost the Vikings the win. Darnold’s third interception ended another scoring opportunity as the Vikings drove the field to open the second half. This one was a legit interception. All three of these unfortunate throws were terrible decisions. Darnold was forcing something that really wasn’t there. He must make better decisions. Against a better opponent, those turnovers probably cost the Vikings the game. 

The Vikings defense was awesome. The Jaguars offense, led by Mac Jones, was simply overmatched. They were so overmatched that it’s shocking that they managed enough plays to manufacture a possession that ended in a touchdown. That possession was an outlier as the other nine possessions revealed an offense that couldn’t do much of anything against this defense. 

Jaguars possessions:

3 plays, 2 yards: Punt

9 plays, 70 yards: TB

3 plays, 9 yards: Punt

9 plays, 23 yards: Punt

3 plays, -3 yards: End of Half

4 plays, 15 yards: Punt

3 plays, 3 yards: Punt

2 plays, -4 yards: Fumble

2 plays, 2 yards: Interception

5 plays, 40 yards: Interception

15 of the 40 yards on the final possession came from a facemask call that wiped out a Blake Cashman sack. Incredible. The officials can make a facemask call. 

That 70-yard touchdown drive is such an anomaly that it doesn’t feel part of this game. That lone drive accounted for nearly half of the 143 yards the Jaguars had for the entire game. The Vikings defense simply dominated the Jaguars offense. Starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence was out but Mac Jones has a lot of starting experience. Jones lit up the Vikings defense on Thanksgiving in 2022 when he was with the New England Patriots. Holding an NFL offense to less than 100 passing yards and 100 rushing yards is an impressive accomplishment. 

Considering the Vikings won this game with four field goals, the kicking battery was crucial. So, it’s a little startling that two-thirds of that battery joined the team last week. Rookie kicker Will Reichard has been dynamite all season. After injuring his quad last week against the Indianapolis Colts, he was placed on injured reserve. John Parker Romo was signed during the offseason to compete for the Vikings kicker job. When Reichard was selected in the 2024 NFL Draft, Romo’s days on the roster were numbered. He was released early in training camp. With Reichard’s injury, Romo was brought back last week. Andrew DePaola is one of the best long snappers in the league. He suffered a hand injury against the Colts and was placed on injured reserve. Veteran Jake McQuaide was signed to replace DePaola. Just like that, the Vikings had a new kicking battery. Other than McQuaide making holder Ryan Wright work to spot one of his snaps, the battery was perfect. They were certainly perfect on putting the ball through the uprights for 12 points. 

This wasn’t a pretty win. The offense moved the ball up and down the field but the play and decision-making close to the goal was terrible. The offense must get back on track. The defense and special teams were terrific. It’s a win. It’s a win that bumps the Vikings record to 7-2. This was the first game of a three-game road trip. Next week, they visit the Tennessee Titans.