VIKINGS (6-6) VS. JAGUARS (2-10)
SUNDAY, 1 P.M. ET, EVERBANK FIELD, JACKSONVILLE uTV: FOX, DIRECTV 711
Announcers: Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, Laura Okmin
About the Vikings: Minnesota’s bad luck and bad offense took center stage on Thursday Night Football in the Vikings’ 17-15 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. For the fifth time in their last six games, the Vikings failed to score 21 points and for the fifth time in their last six games, the Vikings lost. After a 5-0 start, Minnesota has slumped to 6-6, mired in an inability to run the football. The defense held up well against one of the league’s hottest offenses, but for a second consecutive week the Vikings held their opponent to 17 points or fewer and lost by three points or fewer. Coach
missed the game after emergency eye surgery to repair a detached retina but is expected to be back on the sideline Sunday.
About the Jaguars: Jacksonville’s 20-10 loss to Denver might look like another twoscore loss for a 2-10 team heading nowhere but down, but it’s actually much more complicated than that. The Jaguars did so much right in this game but still couldn’t find a way to even sniff a victory. They held Denver to 102 passing yards and 104 rushing yards and limited the Broncos to 1-for-13 on third-down tries. The defense played lights out and the offense wasn’t so bad either, outgaining Denver on the ground and through the air. Three turnovers ultimately doomed Jacksonville to another loss as QB threw two interceptions and lost a fumble. With the Jaguars are all but eliminated from the playoff race, coach future looks bleak.
Cowboys WR Dez Bryant called Rhodes a “hell of a football player” after their matchup last week, and now Rhodes will turn his attention to Jacksonville’s go-to guy. Robinson has been frequently gobbled up in double coverage, but if he can get separation from Rhodes or find a one-on-one situation in the end zone, he could still make big plays.
Sam Bradford’s favorite target has at least five catches in three consecutive games
WHO WILL WIN AND WHY
and has had multiple receptions in every game this season, but he has struggled to break away for much yardage after the catch. If Thielen can add to his three TDs (on 52 receptions), the Vikings could break out of their offensive funk. Four running backs have led Minnesota in single-game rushing yards ( six times, three times, twice and once) for a singlegame high average of 41.16 rushing yards.
KEYS TO THE GAME
1. No rush: Both teams rank among the league’s bottom 10 in rushing yards — Minnesota is last, so don’t expect a riveting ground game in this one. But Jacksonville’s rush defense has been spotty at best in recent weeks, so don’t be surprised if Minnesota pushes the envelope early to see what might be available.
2. Turning a new page: Minnesota turned the ball over an unsustainable number of times in its first five games — once. In the seven games since, they’ve racked up eight turnovers, including one in their last four games. The good news for the Vikings is, in eight games this season, the Jaguars have failed to force a single turnover.
3. Extending drives: Third-down conversion percentage has plagued both offenses, hovering not far above the league low of 33%. Where these teams differ is in their defenses’ abilities to get off the field — Minnesota is top 10 and Jacksonville is bottom 10. That could be the difference.
Jordan Godwin