Vikings at Titans: Highlights, score and recap
The Minnesota Vikings offense found the going tough in Nashville. Fortunately, Mike Zimmer’s defense paved the way for a 25-16 win.
16. 35. 25. 60. Final
Quarterback issues? Bah.
The Minnesota Vikings offense, led by veteran quarterback Shaun Hill, got very little from running back Adrian Peterson and failed to reach the end zone. Certainly Mike Zimmer’s club was humbled by the Tennessee Titans in the season opener.
The beauty of football is that you can find so many different ways to win a game. Thanks to a 77-yard pick six by linebacker Eric Kendricks, a 24-yard fumble return for a touchdown by defensive end Danielle Hunter and four field goals from erratic kicker Blair Walsh, the Purple Gang scored all of its points in the second half and rallied from a 10-0 deficit for a 25-16 triumph.
In a meeting between the last two players to lead the NFL in rushing, new Titans’ running back DeMarco Murray (13 attempts for 42 yards) and Peterson (19 carries for 31 yards) combined for only 73 yards on the ground. But Hill would throw for 236 yards and the Vikings played turnover-free football while Tennessee quarterback Marcus Mariota (despite a pair of touchdown tosses to Murray) saw both of his turnovers taken back for scores.
It was far from a masterpiece but it was a road win for Zimmer and company. Meanwhile, the Titans continued to have problems winning games. The team is a dismal 5-28 dating back to the start of the 2013 season.
Highlights
Titans RB DeMarco Murray scores the first touchdown of the game late in the first half.
@DeMarcoMurray FLIPS in for a @Titans TD. Wow. Wow. Wow.😱 #MINvsTEN
— NFL (@NFL) September 11, 2016
🚨🚨PICK-6 ALERT🚨🚨 Marcus Mariota gets picked.
@EricKendricks54 takes it to the HOUSE. #MINvsTEN
— NFL (@NFL) September 11, 2006
Three Stars
1. Shaun Hill
We’ll get to the defense shortly. Far from sensational, the veteran signal-caller didn’t throw a touchdown pass. But he hit on 18 of his 33 throws for 236 yards, a key considering the Minnesota ground attack was limited to only 65 yards. Hill did not turn over the football and was not sacked.
2. Eric Kendricks
Trailing 10-6 late in the third quarter, Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota made an ill-advised throw over the middle. That is unless you’re Kendricks, who snared the ball and raced 77 yards for the team’s first touchdown of the season. The former first-rounder also totaled six tackles and one pass defensed.
3. DeMarco Murray
We got glimpses of what the former Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles running back can do for his newest team. Murray was limited to 42 yards rushing on 13 carries but also caught five passes for 35 yards and both of Tennessee’s touchdowns in the frustrating loss.
Odds
The Minnesota Vikings were a 2.5-point favorite on Sunday and easily covered the number.
must read: NFL Epic Season Preview
Next Week
The Minnesota Vikings host the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night. The Tennessee Titans travel to the Motor City to face the Detroit Lions.