Despite the close scoreline, this contest was anything but. Minnesota’s ironclad defense restricted Jacksonville to a meager 143 yards — marking the lowest record under coach Doug Pederson’s three-year tenure. Despite Sam Darnold’s trio of interceptions, the Vikings managed to secure a 12-7 victory against the Jaguars on Sunday inside a stadium awash in purple. “Good teams find ways to triumph, no matter what the game throws at them,” declared Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell. “There’s certainly room for improvement, but the win today is a testament to our resilience.”

An Unorthodox Triumph for the Vikings

It was a grueling victory for the Vikings (7-2), paradoxically resembling a blowout despite the narrow score. Minnesota outperformed Jacksonville by running 82 plays to their 43. The Vikings dominated ball possession for 42 minutes and 19 seconds, compared to Jacksonville’s 17:41. They also accumulated 28 first downs against Jacksonville’s 10. The Vikings executed 39 plays in Jaguars territory, rounding off with a total of 402 yards. However, Darnold appeared to be on a mission to gift the game to Jacksonville (2-8) with his first three-interception game in three years. He even threw a fourth that was dismissed due to a penalty. All of his interceptions were targeted at All-Pro receiver Justin Jefferson who finished with five receptions for 48 yards, and two of those interceptions occurred in the red zone.

Darnold’s Performance

“I need to work on better ball security,” admitted Darnold. “That’s glaringly apparent.” The Vikings managed to score only three field goals in their five trips inside the 20-yard line. They gained the upper hand thanks to the third of John Parker Romo’s four successful kick attempts. Romo nailed field goals from 29, 34, 33, and 45 yards in his NFL debut.

The Jaguars still had a sliver of hope late in the game due to Travon Walker’s sack on a third-and-1 play, a surprising move against a team that was struggling offensively. Mac Jones, who was standing in for the injured Trevor Lawrence (non-throwing shoulder) in his first start in almost a year, was largely ineffective. However, he managed to drive Jacksonville forward and was aided by a face-mask penalty against linebacker Blake Cashman. Unfortunately, Jones threw his second interception with 1:49 left on the clock, effectively ending the game.

Jones’ Struggles

Jones also lost possession twice earlier in the fourth quarter — once due to an interception and once due to a fumbled snap. “I simply didn’t perform well enough,” admitted Jones. Despite appearing to be on the back foot in the final minute, the Vikings were saved by a flag for unnecessary roughness against Walker on third down for attempting to punch the ball out of running back Aaron Jones’ hands. The Vikings maintained possession from that point onward.

Jones completed 14 of his 22 pass attempts, totalling 111 yards and a passer rating of 38.3. Darnold fared slightly better, completing 24 of his 38 passes for 241 yards. He targeted his tight ends 15 times, with T.J. Hockenson securing eight catches for 72 yards and Josh Oliver catching four passes for 52 yards.

Jacksonville’s yardage total was the fifth-lowest in the franchise’s history, which is another black mark for Pederson, whose record now stands at 3-13 in his last 16 games.

Robinson’s Return and Upcoming Games

Vikings left tackle Cam Robinson attracted three penalties in his return to Jacksonville. His most blatant penalty occurred in the third quarter when he was flagged for hitting cornerback Ronald Darby out of bounds during an interception return. Several of his former teammates, including defensive ends Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker, confronted Robinson after the play. The Vikings acquired Robinson from the Jaguars last week, leading to an early return to his old stomping grounds.

As for injuries, Vikings’ running back Aaron Jones briefly exited the game in the third quarter with a rib injury but later returned. For the Jaguars, running back Tank Bigsby (ankle), cornerback Tyson Campbell (shoulder), and linebacker Devin Lloyd (shoulder) also briefly left the field but later returned. Jaguars’ defensive end Arik Armstead left in the fourth quarter for a concussion evaluation.

Looking ahead, the Vikings are set to face-off against Tennessee next Sunday, wrapping up their three-game stretch against AFC South opponents. The Jaguars will challenge NFC North-leading Detroit in their next Sunday matchup.

Marcus Brown is a dynamic sports journalist with a keen eye for emerging talent and trends in the sports world. Specializing in football and track and field, Marcus brings a fresh perspective to 21Sports.com with his energetic writing style and deep understanding of the athlete’s journey. A former college athlete himself, Marcus combines firsthand experience with sharp analysis to deliver content that is both informative and inspiring.