The Vikings improved to 7-2, just barely, by defeating the Jaguars 12-7 in Jacksonville. The Vikings dominated the clock and most offensive statistics, but they were 0-for-5 in the red zone and Sam Darnold threw three interceptions. Three takeaways in the second half by the Vikings defense sealed this win.
This is the live report of the Vikings' win in Jacksonville. To read Ben Goessling's analysis of the game, go here.
3:05 p.m.: Vikings pull out a win
The Jaguars, now 2-8, are awful. But the 7-2 Vikings were almost worse Sunday during a 12-7 win at Jacksonville. Linebacker Blake Cashman appeared to end the game with a sack during the Jaguars' final possession. But Cashman grabbed Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones' facemask, extending the drive. Then Jones inexplicably overthrew a deep pass into an interception by Vikings safety Camryn Bynum, whose Raygun celebration to honor the Olympic breakdancer from Australia was one of the only watchable parts of this game.
The Vikings gained possession at their own 1-yard line. Trying to run out the clock, running back Aaron Jones took a third-down handoff. Jaguars edge rusher Travon Walker, a former No. 1 overall pick, single-handedly ended his team's chances when he came in late punching at the ball in Jones' hands. An unnecessary roughness call on Walker gave the Vikings a first down and a chance to kneel out the clock. — ANDREW KRAMMER
2:50 p.m. Vikings interception yields no points
The Vikings defense got takeaways on back-to-back drives, this time getting a team-high fourth interception from Byron Murphy Jr. But instead of sealing the game, Sam Darnold was sacked on third-and-1 to push the Vikings out of field-goal range. The Vikings had to punt with 2:49 left.
2:40 p.m.: Vikings defense steps up
A quick score! The Vikings lead 12-7 after a 29-yard field goal by kicker Parker Romo. The Vikings' first three scoring drives all needed at least 12 plays and five minutes of game time. But after a botched exchange involving Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones, the Vikings defense got a takeaway when defensive tackle Harrison Phillips recovered the fumble deep in Jaguars territory. Running back Cam Akers — replacing the injured Aaron Jones, who suffered a chest injury in the third quarter — took three carries for 14 yards before the drive stalled and led to a field goal. There's 4:22 left in regulation. — ANDREW KRAMMER
2:30 p.m.: Vikings take lead on another Romo FG
Another field goal from Parker Romo gives the Vikings their first lead, 9-7, since the first quarter. Romo's 34-yard field goal was barely good inside the right upright, illustrating just how closely the Vikings have cut this one against the lowly two-win Jaguars.
Romo's third field goal ended another laborious 16-play, 68-yard drive in which the longest gains were a 26-yard catch and run by tight end T.J. Hockenson and a 10-yard scramble by quarterback Sam Darnold. Following a fourth-and-1 conversion, coach Kevin O'Connell went to his bag of tricks. But a double reverse from receiver Brandon Powell to receiver Jalen Nailor lost 7 yards and led to settling for a field goal.
The Vikings were without running back Aaron Jones on the drive. He was carted toward the X-ray room, has a chest injury and is questionable to return. — ANDREW KRAMMER
2:13 p.m.: Vikings pull to within 7-6
At least kicker Parker Romo, making his NFL debut, hasn't been a problem for the Vikings so far. Romo made his second field goal of the day from 33 yards away, pulling the Vikings to within 7-6 of the Jaguars with 1:42 left in the third quarter. Romo earlier made a 45-yard field goal.
The Vikings' 14-play, 71-yard drive stalled out after a fourth pre-snap penalty on offense negated a 14-yard catch and run by receiver Jordan Addison. Left tackle Cam Robinson, who was previously called for a false start, was flagged for illegal formation for lining up too far back. Right tackle Brian O'Neill and receiver Jalen Nailor have also been called for false starts today. — ANDREW KRAMMER
1:45 p.m.: Darnold-Jefferson connection misses again
The Vikings offense is heavily reliant on quarterback Sam Darnold in the red zone, where his 13 passing touchdowns account for an NFL-high 81% of the Vikings' scores in the red zone.
That reliance has bitten the Vikings against the lowly Jaguars, who lead 7-3 early in the third quarter. The Vikings started the second half with the ball, but Darnold threw his second red-zone interception — doubling his season total of red-zone picks — with a late throw to receiver Justin Jefferson down the sideline. The Vikings have just three red-zone rushing touchdowns this season. It is worth nothing that coach Kevin O'Connell called three straight passing plays following a 13-yard run by Aaron Jones during that third-quarter drive. — ANDREW KRAMMER
1:24 p.m.: Halftime analysis
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Vikings have converted five of their seven third-down attempts in the first half. They've gained 182 yards and held the ball for 18:10. And yet they're trailing a 2-7 team 7-3 at halftime. If it sounds similar to the loss to the Indianapolis Colts last week, it should.
Sam Darnold again threw an end-zone interception, and the Vikings' drives have short-circuited in opposing territory, just like they did against Indianapolis. They'll get the second-half kickoff to try to take the lead back, but their penchant for turnovers should be concerning.
Through nine games last season, the Vikings turned the ball over 17 times. They're up to 15 already this season, with two quarters to go, and many of them have come in costly spots.
Brian Flores started to dial up more pressure late in the first half, with Blake Cashman and Ivan Pace Jr. posting sacks on blitzes. We'll see whether Flores decides to go after Mac Jones again in the second half, as the Vikings try to rally in a stadium full of Minnesota fans. — BEN GOESSLING
1:00 p.m.: End-zone INT squelches Vikings' longest drive
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The longest drive of the Vikings' season started with 28 seconds left in the first quarter. And it ended with 5:24 left in the half after 16 plays with a Sam Darnold interception in the end zone (previous long was 6:46 against the 49ers).
The review upheld Montaric Brown's pick of Darnold's throw for Justin Jefferson.
The Jaguars still lead 7-3 as we near halftime. — BEN GOESSLING
12:37 p.m.: Another Darnold interception ends promising drive
12:30 p.m.: Jaguars take the lead
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — After the Vikings' opening field goal, the Jaguars had little trouble scoring and taking the lead. Mac Jones, who hit Brenton Strange for 23 yards and Gabe Davis for 19 yards on the drive, scored on a 1-yard sneak to make it 7-3 after Cam Little's extra point.
On Jones' pass to Davis, Cam Bynum raced over to cover a shallow route, while Josh Metellus rotated toward Davis' post route. The Vikings showed a seven-man rush but only brought three on the play. Still, Jones had room to find Davis on the play, and he finished the drive after a Travis Etienne touchdown run was overturned. — BEN GOESSLING
12:15 p.m.: Vikings' new kicking unit off to good start
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Vikings won the toss and deferred, then the Jaguars went three and out on the opening drive. The Vikings took 7:01 off the clock on their first scoring drive, which covered 53 yards in 12 plays. It ended with Parker Romo making his first NFL field goal from 45 yards, after the Vikings' first drive stalled with Sam Darnold under pressure. It's 3-0 Vikings midway through the first quarter.
Darnold escaped to his left to hit Justin Jefferson for a third-down conversion on a play where three Vikings linemen (Cam Robinson, Blake Brandel and Garrett Bradbury) ended up on the ground, but the Jaguars' pass rush affected him later in the drive, especially on his third-down shot for Jordan Addison. Darnold was 3-for-6 for 31 yards on the drive.
Romo, a third-year player who was with the Vikings in training camp, won a tryout against four other kickers to replace injured Will Reichard (quad) last week. The Vikings also have a new long snapper Jake McQuaide, after Andrew DePaola (hand) joined Reichard on injured reserve. — BEN GOESSLING
11:30 a.m.: Pregame reading
Officially, Grant Udinski is the Vikings' assistant offensive coordinator/assistant quarterbacks coach. Unofficially, he's mentor to J.J. McCarthy, protégé of Kevin O'Connell and the most likely to go off the grid in the mountains somewhere.
"The guy's the most interesting man in the world," McCarthy said. "He should be on a Dos Equis commercial."
Read Ben Goessling's story about Udinski here.
11:15 a.m.: Four things to watch
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Four things I'll be watching for today in Jacksonville as the Vikings attempt to improve to 7-2:
1. Can Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores fluster another young quarterback? Flores' defense has flustered even good young quarterbacks the Vikings have faced this season, including C.J. Stroud and Brock Purdy. The Vikings' only two losses were to smart, veteran quarterbacks who handle pressure well: Jared Goff and Matthew Stafford. Today the Vikings will face Jacksonville backup Mac Jones. The Vikings should be able to attack him with their versatile defensive approach.
2. Can Aaron Jones keep churning? One of the reasons the Green Bay Packers let Aaron Jones leave as a free agent was that he had trouble staying healthy last season. He has not missed a game for the Vikings and has become invaluable to their offense. Can he continue to be highly productive and healthy as the Vikings grind through the middle of their schedule, having already had their bye week?
3. Is Blake Cashman ready to roll? The middle of the Vikings defense looked surprisingly vulnerable when Cashman was out with a turf toe. He returns today and could be a major factor against a team that has had some success with power running. Cashman's ability to stuff the run and control the short passing game can lead to long down and distance situations in which the Vikings pass rush can cut loose.
4. Are the Jaguars toast? The Jaguars looked hopeless even when quarterback Trevor Lawrence was healthy. A loss today and they'll be without hope. Will they be desperate, or depressed?
— JIM SOUHAN
11:00 a.m.: Vikings-Jaguars predictions
Blake Cashman's return boosts Brian Flores' defense against a Jaguars team without quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Jacksonville's weak fan base and lousy record should enable Vikings Nation to steal home-field advantage.
10:45 a.m.: Vikings-Jaguars inactives
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Vikings defense will be back at full strength today against the Jaguars.
Blake Cashman is set to return from the turf toe injury that's kept him out the past three games, while the Vikings will also have Ivan Pace Jr., who's active after returning from a knee injury for a full practice Friday. Coach Kevin O'Connell had seemed optimistic Friday that both would play; with Cashman returning, the Vikings will have another valuable defensive piece against Jaguars backup quarterback Mac Jones, who will start in place of Trevor Lawrence. The Jaguars made Lawrence inactive with the shoulder injury that looked as if it would keep him out for the game. Their offensive line will be without former Vikings guard Ezra Cleveland.
Here's the full list of inactives:
Vikings: CB Dwight McGlothern, CB Fabian Moreau, OL Dan Feeney, OL Walter Rouse, DL Levi Drake Rodriguez, QB Brett Rypien (emergency third QB)
Jaguars: Lawrence, Cleveland, DE Myles Cole, DT Esezi Otomewo, DT Maason Smith
— BEN GOESSLING
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