The Minnesota Vikings have another chance to iron out some offensive issues Sunday in their second of two straight road games against the dregs of the AFC South.
Sam Darnold has turned the score over five times in the last two games, including three interceptions in last week’s 12-7 win at Jacksonville. Minnesota’s defense and kicker helped cover up Darnold’s mistakes.
Fortunately, they are visiting the Tennessee Titans whose offense ranks near the bottom of the NFL in points scored per game. The Titans perfectly match the 17.4 points allowed by the Minnesota D guided by Brian Flores.
First-year Titans coach Brian Callahan credits Darnold and that defense with putting the Vikings (7-2) on Detroit’s heels in both the NFC and the North.
“It’s kind of about working together for them, the way we would like to work together as a team in all three phases, making the plays and putting each other in position to succeed and Sam took advantage of that,” said Callahan said.
The Titans (2-7) are coming off a 27-17 road loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, where they got second-year quarterback Will Levis back on the field.
John Raoux / AP
Tennessee has its own stingy defense, leading the NFL in fewest yards and passing yards allowed per game. The Titans have only allowed 200 passing yards or more once this season, but they have just three interceptions — all thanks to safety Amani Hooker.
They are also among the bottom of the league in points allowed, allowing 26.7 per game. Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell declined to go into detail about all of these statistics.
“I just know from what I see on tape, it’s a good defense,” O’Connell said of the Titans.
The Vikings lead the NFL in forced turnovers (20) and interceptions (15), a product of the organized chaos Flores throws at his opponents with extra passes coming from all spots on the field at all times and passing all so quickly in coverage when you might think they are blitzing.
Minnesota is taking its quest to get the ball a step further, with weekly presentations on forced turnovers led by special teams coordinator Matt Daniels. The Vikings practice techniques in some pass coverages to track the quarterback’s eyes, making it easier to hit the ball.
“Our guys take the coaching and apply it,” Flores said. “We just continue to work at it. It’s not something we take for granted at all.”
With the way the Vikings get the ball, the Titans just had their first game this season without a single turnover. But they allowed seven sacks and right tackle continues to be a problem for Tennessee with three different starters at the position.
Levis said he can’t think about the pressure that will be put on him and knows he has to respond and speed up his internal clock by throwing faster to help his linemen. This could be a chance for the Titans’ tough passing game to get going, with the Vikings allowing 231.9 yards through the air.
“It’s going to be up to me to feel it and know when the opportunities present themselves to take that second or third hitch or when the ball needs to be spit out a little quicker,” Levis said.
Titans cornerback Jarvis Brownlee Jr. had the chance to speak on the phone with three-time Pro Bowl receiver Justin Jefferson a few years ago. Now the rookie, who has started six straight games with injuries to veterans L’Jarius Sneed and Chidobe Awuzie, faces Jefferson.
“He basically told me he would work me out when I got to the NFL,” Brownlee said of Jefferson. “So, I think it’s going to be a tough, physical matchup. And I’m ready to accept the challenge, and I’m ready to go.”
Parker Romo went 4 of 4 on field goals for the Vikings last week, totaling every point in his first NFL game in less than ideal conditions with strong wind and a wet field. Romo was on the roster during the offseason and early in training camp before being called up for a tryout last week after Will Reichard went on injured reserve with a strained quad.
The 27-year-old had already attended several camps, but his only significant experience before that was in the XFL. After the victory in Jacksonville, Romo received one of O’Connell’s game balls.
“I’m going to try to be the best version of myself for as long as I can be here,” Romo said.
