Stingy Vikings hold the clawless Jaguars to 143 yards in a 12-7 victory and improve to 7-2

JACKSONVILLE, FL – The only thing close about this game was the final score.

Minnesota’s relentless defense stifled Jacksonville, limiting them to just 143 total yards — the fewest the Jaguars have had under coach Doug Pederson in his three years at the helm. Despite Sam Darnold’s three interceptions, the Vikings triumphed 12-7 in front of a stadium largely filled with purple-clad fans.

The victory was far from pretty for the Vikings (7-2), but it felt as one-sided as any blowout could be. Minnesota controlled nearly every aspect of the game, running 82 plays compared to Jacksonville’s 43. The Vikings held the ball for 42 minutes, 19 seconds, while the Jaguars only had possession for 17:41. Minnesota picked up 28 first downs to Jacksonville’s 10 and ran 39 plays in Jaguars territory, finishing with 402 yards of total offense.

Darnold, however, seemed determined to gift Jacksonville (2-8) a chance. He had his first three-interception game in three years, with all three coming on passes aimed at All-Pro receiver Justin Jefferson, who caught five passes for 48 yards. Two of the interceptions came in the red zone, which left Minnesota with just three field goals out of five trips inside Jacksonville’s 20-yard line. The Vikings’ only touchdowns came from John Parker Romo, who nailed four field goals from 29, 34, 33, and 45 yards in his NFL debut. His third kick put Minnesota ahead.

The Jaguars did have a glimmer of hope late in the game, thanks to a sack by Travon Walker on a third-and-1 play — a curious call, considering how ineffective Jacksonville’s offense had been all day. Backup quarterback Mac Jones, filling in for the injured Trevor Lawrence (non-throwing shoulder), was largely ineffective, but still managed to move the ball near the end. A face-mask penalty on linebacker Blake Cashman gave the Jaguars some life, but the rally ended when Jones threw his second interception of the game with 1:49 remaining. Earlier, Jones had already thrown an interception and fumbled a snap.

Minnesota was on the verge of punting late in the game, but Walker was flagged for unnecessary roughness after attempting to strip the ball from running back Aaron Jones. That penalty allowed the Vikings to take a knee and run out the clock.

Jones finished the game completing 14 of 22 passes for 111 yards and a 38.3 passer rating. Darnold’s rating was slightly better after completing 24 of 38 passes for 241 yards, frequently targeting his tight ends. T.J. Hockenson led the way with eight catches for 72 yards, while Josh Oliver added four catches for 52 yards.

The Jaguars’ 143 total yards marked the fifth-lowest in franchise history, a dismal statistic that reflects poorly on Pederson, who has now lost 13 of his last 16 games.

Up next:
– **Vikings:** Head to Tennessee next Sunday to complete a three-game stretch against AFC South opponents.
– **Jaguars:** Travel to Detroit next Sunday to face the NFC North-leading Lions.