Why The Vikings Win Over Jags Was Better Than You Think
Credit: Jeremy Reper-Imagn Images
In what’s becoming a trend as of late, the Minnesota Vikings didn’t make it easy on themselves, but they were able to rally in the fourth quarter to get six points and edge out the Jacksonville Jaguars 12-7. The overwhelming story is going to be Sam Darnold‘s second-straight three-turnover game, and rightfully so. But despite everyone’s concern for the quarterback and offense, and their fear that this team isn’t built to contend, there is reason to believe that the victory over the Jaguars was better than people are making it out to be. Here are our top positive takeaways from Sunday.
T.J. Hockenson: Drive Extender Extraordinaire
In the lead-up to his return from his knee injury, every Vikings fan was wondering how the inclusion of T.J. Hockenson would change the fabric of the team. While we got to see glimpses of what he’d bring to the table last week against the Indianapolis Colts, this weekend gave a much clearer view of his role in this loaded offense.
Darnold and Kevin O’Connell looked to get him the ball early and often, using both Hockenson and Oliver underneath and capitalizing on the two-high-safety looks that the Jaguars operated with for most of the game. Both tight ends made the most of their targets, but Hockenson’s value add was being Darnold’s safety valve on third down. His first five catches all converted third downs into a fresh set.
T.J. Hockenson aparecendo para 27 jardas! #NFLBrasil
📺: #MINvsJAX ao vivo e exclusivo no NFL Game Pass pic.twitter.com/l8nDuyKzMF
— NFL Brasil (@NFLBrasil) November 10, 2024
While the main story on offense in the first half was turnovers in the red zone, the seamless reintegration of Hockenson can’t be ignored. Up until now, Aaron Jones has served as Darnold’s safety blanket — after all, he has the second-most receptions of any Viking this season. He’s been great in the role, but he doesn’t offer the sheer verticality that Hockenson does, and the tight end feasted on the Jaguars’ defense all game. Jacksonville might have taken away Justin Jefferson, but that came with costs in giving Hockenson and Oliver one-on-one matchups with slower, smaller linebackers.
Despite this, an equally important story is the lack of involvement for Jordan Addison who received just one target and finished the first half with zero targets. With the attention that Jefferson would draw, many expected Addison to step up, but Darnold didn’t do nearly as good a job in finding him last week. If the offense wants to reach its full potential, they need to find a way to get Addison the kind of action they managed to find for Hockenson and Oliver.
It’s Byron Murphy Resurgence Season
Earlier in this season, it looked like Byron Murphy Jr. was the weakest link of Minnesota’s secondary. In Weeks 1 through 5, he allowed 50-plus yards in every single game while posting poor coverage grades. Since the bye, however, he has stepped up and is now neck-and-neck with Cam Bynum as the hottest member of the Vikings pass defense. Snagging yet another interception in the fourth quarter, Murphy now has a pick in three straight games, giving him a team-leading four on the season, and throwing in a fumble recovery for good measure.
Did @byronmurphy just secure NFL DROY? iykyk … 😉
📺: @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/bW3IredROQ
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) November 10, 2024
Murphy was outstanding in coverage today, with Mac Jones targeting him twice, which resulted in one catch for 11 yards and a PFF coverage grade of 90.1. Murphy, who is on the last year of his deal, has been lights out since the bye week, and he’s emerged as a go-to defender in Minnesota. While it’s true that the Vikings offense has not played a competent and potent passing offense since the Los Angeles Rams, Murphy’s play remains a welcome sign.
The Vikings Dominated… No, Really
The takes are about to flow after a win where the Vikings barely held off a 2-8 Jaguars team. After the last month of play, fans are antsy to see a blowout to calm their nerves. Understandably, the fanbase is going to zero in on Minnesota’s atrocious play in the red zone. But, when we take just one step back and look at this game from a wider lens and look at it beyond the scoreline, we can see that the Vikings pulled off another dominating win.
The Vikings sustained long drives all game and controlled the clock in ways we haven’t seen in over a half-decade. Minnesota’s time of possession was 42:19 on the game, the most in the NFL since the Cincinnati Bengals on September 11, 2022. And if we want to look at non-overtime games only, we have to go back to the Philadelphia Eagles on December 30, 2018.
The Vikings almost tripled up the Jags in yardage, gaining 402 yards to Jacksonville’s 143. They recorded 28 first downs while allowing only 10. Heck, there was even a moment in the fourth quarter when Minnesota had more plays in Jacksonville territory than the Jaguars had all game up until that point.
The game was absolutely much closer than it had any right to be, and the Vikings needed a Bynum interception to seal the game at the end against a backup quarterback on one of the worst teams in the NFL. That’s frustrating. But they were so dominant that even while shooting themselves in the foot on the road, they were still able to come away with the game. If Darnold was merely mediocre and not awful with his ball security, this game wouldn’t have been close. That has to count for something.
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