3 winners (and 2 losers) from the Vikings in Week 10 win over the Jaguars
By Adam Carlson
It was an ugly win for the Minnesota Vikings in Week 10. The offense struggled to put points on the board in their first of three road games, but still managed to squeak out a 12-7 victory to move the team to 7-2 on the season.
This was a particularly frustrating game for Vikings fans who were hoping to see Minnesota get a decisive victory against a struggling team. Failure to execute in the red zone caused a lack of scoring in this game as the purple and gold didn't score a single touchdown.
However, there were some players for the Minnesota Vikings who put forth great and not-so-great performances at EverBank Stadium. Let's take a look at five players who fit into those categories.
3 winners (and 2 losers) from the Vikings in Week 10 win over the Jaguars
Here are five players for the Vikings who had notable performances against the Jaguars in Week 10 and why they made such an impact on the game.
Vikings winner No. 1: John Parker Romo, kicker
In his first regular-season game in the NFL, John Parker Romo filled in for injured kicker Will Reichard. As part of a special teams unit that had a new kicker and long snapper, Romo shined in his Vikings debut.
Romo connected on four field goals, accounting for all of the team's points. His makes came from 45, 33, 34, and 29 yards away while only allowing one kickoff return on the day. For his first game in purple and gold, he couldn't have done much better.
Vikings loser No. 1: Sam Darnold, quarterback
Coming into this game, the Jaguars were one of the worst pass defenses in the league and rarely created takeaways. On Sunday, Jacksonville intercepted Sam Darnold three times, severely hurting the Vikings' chances for a win.
At least two of the interceptions were terrible decisions that led to dangerous passes. The fact that Darnold could have such a rough game and Minnesota could still win the game is highly remarkable and unexpected.
Vikings winner No. 2: T.J. Hockenson, tight end
T.J. Hockenson returned to the Minnesota Vikings from injured reserve last week but didn't have a huge day. Against the Jaguars, the tight end led the team in receptions and yards by catching eight of the nine passes thrown his way for 72 yards.
On a day when the Vikings' offense couldn't get into the end zone, Hockenson looked like one of the top tight ends in the league by making big catches, especially on third down, to keep drives alive and push Minnesota into field goal range.
Vikings loser No. 2: Justin Jefferson, wide receiver
Make no mistake - Justin Jefferson is the best wide receiver in the NFL. However, the Vikings couldn't get him to become a major factor in this game. It wasn't for a lack of trying since he was targeted nine times but only able to catch five of those.
Jefferson finished with the third-most receiving yards on the team with 48 yards, which is his lowest offensive output of the season. Hopefully, he and Darnold can get back on track next week against the Titans.
Vikings winner No. 3: Blake Cashman, linebacker
Welcome back to the Minnesota Vikings, Blake Cashman! If not for the defense holding Jacksonville to 10 first downs, 143 yards of offense, and under 18 minutes of possession in the 60 minutes of the game.
There could be many options to choose from on the defense, but Cashman tied for the most tackles in the league while adding two tackles for a loss, two quarterback hits, and one sack of Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones.