Vikings score 2 TDs off turnovers in beating Titans 25-16

Danielle Hunter, DE – Yes, Brian Robison is still the starter, and he played well yesterday, but Hunter showed yesterday exactly why the Vikings are so high on him as a player.

They also opened at home for the first time since 2012 and jumped out to a 10-0 halftime lead looking for a rare home win after going 1-7 in Nashville each of the past two seasons.

Vikings CB Xavier Rhodes was scratched after aggravating an injury in warmups. With an already stellar defense in tow, the Vikings go all the way and win the Super Bowl.

They’ve won their last three season openers, but the Tennessee Titans lost Sunday’s opening game 25-16 to the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings struggled to make big plays on offense, but they moved the ball efficiently enough to prevent turnovers and let the defense work their magic.

Adrian Peterson was a non-factor all day, as he gained just 31 yards on 19 carries and didn’t have a run longer than nine yards. Hill, though, did enough for Tennessee to not end up getting away with that.

Hill, who went 18 of 33 for 236 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions, seemed comfortable with the uncertainty. The Vikings pressured Mariota repeatedly, and he threw into coverage while being pressured on the interception. “He was good with the football”, head coach Mike Zimmer said about one of the areas of offensive struggle with Hill taking over for Bridgewater. “And you know, I’ve been around a little while. That’s just how you like it”. He didn’t do anything to delay Sam Bradford’s timetable.

Zimmer remained mum on his quarterback situation. “I feel like we will overcome this”. Diggs picked up the third 100-yard game of his career yesterday, reeling in seven catches for 103 yards.

Wentz threw a 19-yard TD pass to Jordan Matthews on the opening drive and tossed a flawless 35-yard TD pass down the right side to Nelson Agholor for a 22-10 lead in the third quarter. Rhodes had been fighting a hamstring injury for the last few weeks, but that has healed.

It was Griffen’s bull rush that caused Mariota to panic and fling a loaf of bread intended for wide receiver Harry Douglas into no-man’s land, where Kendricks pounced.

Well, that’s still up in the air, Zimmer says. “As soon as he put pressure on the quarterback, he had to make a decision quickly, to be sacked or throw the ball to the only guy near him (Harry Douglas) and I happened to be on his hip”. Marcus Mariota completed 25-of-41 passes for 271 yards, two touchdowns, the pick-six and a fumble.

After allowing Tennessee to rack up 194 yards in the first half, including 145 yards passing, Minnesota only gave up 122 yards to the Titans offense in the game’s final two quarters.