You can argue whether or not Bradford was worth the compensation the Vikings gave up to acquire him, but we won’t do that here.
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The defending NFC North champs needed the help from their defense in scoring 25 straight points after being shut out in the first half with the NFL’s 2015 rushing leader smothered. Marcus Mariota didn’t play. While Mariota threw for 271 yards and a pair of touchdowns to running back DeMarco Murray, he also committed two game-changing turnovers. The much-talked-about unit on the other side of the field – coach Mike Zimmer’s calling card – allowed an unproven Carlos Hyde to rush for 168 yards and two scores.
“So we’ll take it day by day”, the coach said. “It was all a matter of letting them play, do what they do”.
Sep 11, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Minnesota Vikings linebacker Eric Kendricks (54) runs for a touchdown after an interception during the second half against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium. Kendricks appeared to initially slide into zone coverage before breaking on the ball as the throw came out. But he pulled it together and did not miss a field goal attempt in the second half (just an extra point), certainly playing a large part in the Vikings’ victory. “We were being efficient, but the turnovers really hurt us”.
Blair Walsh missed a 37 yard field goal and then seemed to be aiming for the left corner of the endzone on his kick prior to halftime. Danielle (duh-NEEL) Hunter added a 24-yard fumble return for a score in the fourth for the Vikings.
Minnesota’s offense was mostly moribund.
Shaun Hill: The veteran quarterback had a solid performance, completing 18 of 33 passes for 236 yards.
“I think it’s good for my team to know if we continue to go forward”.
The key for whoever was going to start at quarterback week one was to first and foremost take care of the ball.
The Vikings will probably have to rely even more heavily than they have in the past on their run game in the early going with a new quarterback at the helm, and Adrian Peterson should be plenty rested after skipping preseason play, as he usually does.
Andre Johnson #81 of the Tennessee Titans drops a pass in the end zone during the first half of a game against the Minnesota Vikings at Nissan Stadium on September 11, 2016 in Nashville. But the Vikings kicker started this season in a similar fashion to how last season ended in hooking a field goal wide left.
“This is something to learn from”, Mariota said.
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The Titans welcome the challenge of the Vikings today, as their defense ranked 12 in the National Football League in yards allowed, so they have confidence that they can stack the box to stop Peterson and force the quarterback to beat them. Minnesota’s inactives included starting CB Xavier Rhodes (knee), as well as WR Jarius Wright, LBs Kentrell Brothers and Edmond Robinson, C Nick Easton, T Jeremiah Sirles and TE MyCole Pruitt.
