Minnesota Vikings vs Tennessee Titans Match Player Stats (Nov 17, 2024)
Thirteen penalties. That’s what Tennessee fans will remember about November 17, 2024. Not Will Levis’ franchise-record-tying 98-yard touchdown pass. Not their defense holding Minnesota to 82 rushing yards. Just those 13 yellow flags that turned a competitive game into another frustrating loss at Nissan Stadium.
Table of Contents
Game Summary: Penalties Decide Vikings-Titans Matchup
Minnesota improved to 8-2 with a 23-13 road victory that had Vikings fans turning Nashville purple. The 67,686 in attendance watched Tennessee commit 91 penalty yards while Minnesota drew just three flags all afternoon.
Final Score: Minnesota 23, Tennessee 13
Date: November 17, 2024
Location: Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tennessee
Records: Vikings 8-2, Titans 2-8
Sam Darnold threw for 246 yards and accounted for three touchdowns despite an early fumble. Will Levis countered with 295 passing yards but spent most of his afternoon under pressure, absorbing five sacks from Minnesota’s relentless pass rush.
Vikings Offense: Darnold Overcomes Early Mistake
Three plays into the game, disaster struck Minnesota. Darnold’s pitch to Aaron Jones hit the turf, and Jeffery Simmons pounced on it at the Vikings’ 44-yard line. The Titans converted that gift into a Nick Folk field goal and a 3-0 lead.
Minnesota Passing Statistics
| Player | Comp-Att | Yards | TD-INT | Rating | Sacks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sam Darnold | 20-32 | 246 | 2-0 | 107.0 | 2-10 |
Darnold responded to the turnover by finding Jordan Addison on a crossing route that turned into a 47-yard touchdown. According to Next Gen Stats, Addison hit 21.09 mph on the play, his second-fastest speed this season. He created 25 yards after the catch when the expected gain was just 17 yards.
Vikings Receiving Breakdown
| Player | Rec | Yards | TD | Targets | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Jefferson | 6 | 81 | 0 | 8 | 31 |
| Jordan Addison | 3 | 61 | 1 | 8 | 47 |
| Josh Oliver | 3 | 34 | 0 | 3 | 21 |
| T.J. Hockenson | 2 | 13 | 0 | 3 | 9 |
| Cam Akers | 2 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 8 |
| Trent Sherfield | 1 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 16 |
| Brandon Powell | 1 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 13 |
| Johnny Mundt | 1 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 13 |
| Aaron Jones | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Jalen Nailor | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | – |
Pro Football Focus credited Vikings receivers with five drops, including two by Nailor. His second drop would have been a 46-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. Despite the drops, Darnold posted a career-high 90.8 PFF grade, showing excellent pocket presence with just an 18.2% pressure-to-sack rate.
Ground Game Struggles
| Player | Rushes | Yards | Avg | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aaron Jones | 15 | 39 | 2.6 | 0 | 5 |
| Cam Akers | 10 | 25 | 2.5 | 0 | 12 |
| Sam Darnold | 8 | 18 | 2.3 | 1 | 6 |
| Total | 33 | 82 | 2.5 | 1 | 12 |
Minnesota’s rushing attack hit a wall. The 82 yards on 33 carries marked their second-worst output this season. Jones managed just 39 yards on 15 carries and earned a career-low 29.7 PFF grade.
The offensive line delivered mixed results. Right tackle Brian O’Neill continued his stellar play with a 74.5 PFF grade, not allowing a pressure for the third straight game. New starter Dalton Risner struggled at right guard, posting a 50.0 overall grade in place of Ed Ingram.
Titans Offense: Big Plays Erased by Flags
Will Levis showed his arm talent with several explosive plays, but penalties and pressure derailed Tennessee’s offense. The quarterback completed just 17 of 31 attempts while facing pressure on 46.4% of his dropbacks.
Tennessee Passing Production
| Player | Comp-Att | Yards | TD-INT | Rating | Sacked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Will Levis | 17-31 | 295 | 1-1 | 84.7 | 5-34 |
The highlight came from Tennessee’s own 2-yard line. Levis stepped up and delivered a perfect deep ball to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, who outran Josh Metellus for a 98-yard touchdown. The play tied the franchise’s longest reception and stands as the longest pass play of the 2024 NFL season.
“Luckily put enough on it to get it behind the safety, and Nick made a good catch,” Levis said after the game.
Titans Receiving Numbers
| Player | Rec | Yards | TD | Targets | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nick Westbrook-Ikhine | 2 | 117 | 1 | 6 | 98 |
| Calvin Ridley | 4 | 58 | 0 | 6 | 21 |
| Tyler Boyd | 2 | 34 | 0 | 3 | 30 |
| Bryce Oliver | 1 | 33 | 0 | 1 | 33 |
| Chig Okonkwo | 2 | 19 | 0 | 4 | 12 |
| Tony Pollard | 2 | 14 | 0 | 4 | 10 |
| Tyjae Spears | 2 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 5 |
| Nick Vannett | 1 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| Josh Whyle | 1 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
Calvin Ridley’s afternoon epitomized Tennessee’s frustration. He caught four passes for 58 yards but had a 51-yard touchdown wiped out by an illegal formation penalty on right tackle Isaiah Prince. Prince drew three such penalties, two erasing significant gains.
Tennessee’s Ground Attack Goes Nowhere
| Player | Rushes | Yards | Avg | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tony Pollard | 9 | 15 | 1.7 | 0 | 4 |
| Will Levis | 7 | 18 | 2.6 | 0 | 10 |
| Tyjae Spears | 3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 4 |
| Total | 19 | 33 | 1.7 | 0 | 10 |
The Titans managed just 33 rushing yards, their lowest output of the season. Minnesota’s defense posted an elite -0.56 EPA per rush attempt. Spears left with a concussion after gaining zero yards on three carries.
Defensive Performances Shape the Outcome
Vikings Defense Controls the Trenches
Brian Flores’ unit terrorized Will Levis all afternoon. The pass rush generated five sacks and nine quarterback hits while holding Tennessee to season-lows in rushing yards and total plays.
| Player | Tackles | Sacks | TFL | QB Hits | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Van Ginkel | 8 (7 solo) | 2.0 | 3 | 2 | 74.6 |
| Pat Jones II | 5 (4 solo) | 2.0 | 3 | 5 | 75.9 |
| Jonathan Greenard | 5 (4 solo) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 73.7 |
| Byron Murphy Jr. | 5 (3 solo) | 0 | 1 | 0 | – |
| Blake Cashman | 4 (2 solo) | 1.0 | 1 | 1 | 84.2 |
| Ivan Pace Jr. | 4 (0 solo) | 0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| Harrison Smith | 3 (3 solo) | 0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| Josh Metellus | 3 (2 solo) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29.7 |
| Stephon Gilmore | 3 (3 solo) | 0 | 0 | 0 | – |
Van Ginkel recorded back-to-back sacks in the fourth quarter, effectively ending any comeback hopes. Pat Jones II led the team with five quarterback hits and added the crucial fourth-down sack that sealed Tennessee’s fate.
Blake Cashman earned the game’s highest defensive grade (84.2) from Pro Football Focus. The linebacker made key stops in both run defense and coverage.
The secondary’s lone breakdown came on the 98-yard touchdown when Josh Metellus lost track of Westbrook-Ikhine deep. Harrison Smith made up for it with his 36th career interception in the final two minutes.
Minnesota’s run defense turned in a historic performance. The 1.7 yards per carry allowed marked their best showing since Week 3 of the 2011 season. With this game, the Vikings became the first team in 2024 with three players recording at least 7.0 sacks: Van Ginkel, Jones, and Greenard.
Titans Defense Battles Despite Penalty Problems
Tennessee’s defense played well enough to keep the game close, holding Minnesota to 318 total yards and forcing an early turnover. But crucial penalties extended Vikings drives at the worst possible moments.
| Player | Tackles | Sacks | TFL | PD | FF/FR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kenneth Murray Jr. | 10 (5 solo) | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0/0 |
| Jerome Baker | 8 (4 solo) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 |
| Harold Landry III | 6 (2 solo) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 |
| Arden Key | 5 (5 solo) | 1.0 | 2 | 0 | 0/0 |
| Darrell Baker Jr. | 5 (4 solo) | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0/0 |
| T’Vondre Sweat | 5 (4 solo) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0/0 |
| Jeffery Simmons | 4 (4 solo) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0/1 |
| Roger McCreary | 4 (4 solo) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0/0 |
| Mike Brown | 3 (2 solo) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 |
Kenneth Murray Jr. led all players with 10 tackles and added a sack. Jeffery Simmons made the game’s first big play by recovering Aaron Jones’ fumble. But the unit’s good work was overshadowed by untimely flags.
Quarter-by-Quarter: The Game Unfolds
First Quarter
The Titans capitalized on Aaron Jones’ early fumble with a 30-yard Nick Folk field goal. Minnesota answered immediately when Jordan Addison turned a short catch into a 47-yard touchdown. Vikings led 7-3 after one quarter.
Second Quarter
Minnesota drove 84 yards on 16 plays, consuming 8:07 of clock. The drive stalled at the 1-yard line on fourth down when Mike Brown broke up Darnold’s pass to Addison. Officials flagged Brown for unnecessary roughness, a call that incensed coach Brian Callahan.
“I saw a hit that was level with the shoulder pads to the body,” Callahan said postgame. “That’s what I saw.”
Brown appreciated his coach’s support: “Honestly, I love it, dog. That just shows how much he’s going to fight for us.”
Callahan’s protest earned him an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Three plays later, Darnold scored on a quarterback sneak. Parker Romo added a 40-yard field goal before halftime. Vikings led 16-3.
Third Quarter
Will Levis provided the game’s most spectacular moment with his 98-yard touchdown bomb to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine. The score cut Minnesota’s lead to 16-10 and brought the home crowd to life.
Minnesota responded with a touchdown drive kept alive by Jarvis Brownlee Jr.’s illegal contact penalty on third-and-11. Darnold found Cam Akers for a 3-yard score to push the lead back to 23-10.
Then came another backbreaking penalty. Levis connected with Calvin Ridley for a 51-yard touchdown, but Isaiah Prince’s illegal formation penalty wiped it away. The Titans never recovered from that momentum swing.
Fourth Quarter
Tennessee managed a 43-yard field goal from Nick Folk but couldn’t sustain drives against Minnesota’s pass rush. The Titans went 0-for-2 on fourth down attempts in the quarter. Harrison Smith’s interception with 1:50 left sealed the outcome as Vikings fans serenaded their team with “SKOL” chants.
Special Teams Performance
Field Goal Units
| Team | Kicker | FG | XP | Points | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | Parker Romo | 1-1 | 2-3 | 5 | 40 |
| Tennessee | Nick Folk | 2-2 | 1-1 | 7 | 43 |
Romo’s only miss came on an extra point that hit the right upright. Folk remained perfect on the season inside 50 yards.
Field Position Battle
| Team | Punter | Punts | Average | Inside 20 | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | Ryan Wright | 5 | 44.4 | 3 | 66 |
| Tennessee | Ryan Stonehouse | 5 | 48.2 | 1 | 62 |
Wright won the field position battle by dropping three punts inside Tennessee’s 20-yard line. Brandon Powell averaged 8.5 yards on two punt returns for Minnesota, while Jha’Quan Jackson averaged 13.0 yards on two returns for Tennessee.
Key Statistical Comparisons
Team Statistics
| Category | Minnesota | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 318 | 294 |
| Passing Yards | 236 | 261 |
| Rushing Yards | 82 | 33 |
| First Downs | 17 | 16 |
| Third Down Efficiency | 5-14 (35.7%) | 6-15 (40.0%) |
| Fourth Down Efficiency | 0-0 | 0-2 (0.0%) |
| Time of Possession | 32:31 | 27:29 |
| Total Plays | 67 | 55 |
| Average Gain | 4.7 | 5.3 |
| Red Zone Efficiency | 2-2 (100%) | 0-1 (0%) |
| Penalties-Yards | 3-35 | 13-91 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
The Penalty Breakdown
Tennessee had already been flagged eight times before Minnesota drew their first penalty. The Titans finished the first half with nine penalties for 71 yards. Most damaging were the drive-extending penalties and the two that erased explosive plays.
Right tackle Isaiah Prince bore much of the responsibility with three illegal formation penalties. Two of those wiped out gains of 51 and 23 yards. When asked about the officiating, Levis acknowledged the frustration but added, “That’s not going to help us at all.”
Injury Report
Minnesota:
- Jordan Addison (WR) – Cramping in fourth quarter, returned
- Josh Oliver (TE) – Ankle injury, did not return
Tennessee:
- Jack Gibbens (LB) – Right ankle in air cast, carted off (likely season-ending per Callahan)
- Tyjae Spears (RB) – Concussion protocol, did not return
Historical Notes and Milestones
- Westbrook-Ikhine’s 98-yard reception tied the Titans/Oilers franchise record set by Charley Hennigan in 1961
- The play marked the longest pass completion in the NFL during the 2024 season
- Minnesota’s 1.7 yards per carry allowed was their best defensive performance since Week 3 of 2011
- Sam Darnold’s 90.8 PFF grade established a new career high
- The Vikings improved to 9-5 all-time against the Titans franchise
- Minnesota became the first team in 2024 with three edge rushers reaching 7.0 sacks
Looking Ahead
The Vikings (8-2) continue their road trip with a divisional matchup at Chicago next Sunday. They’ve won three straight and five of their last six games. Kevin O’Connell praised the traveling Minnesota fans who made their presence felt in Nashville.
“Seeing all the purple when we’re on the road like that, it’s an awesome feeling knowing we got the best fan base in the National Football League,” O’Connell said.
Tennessee (2-8) stays on the road to face AFC South rival Houston. The Titans have lost six of their last seven games and remain winless against the NFC North. Brian Callahan’s squad must find a way to eliminate the mental mistakes that continue to undermine competitive performances.
Related Game Coverage
Compare this performance to Minnesota’s earlier road win against the Giants or Tennessee’s previous home loss to the Jets.
Final Analysis
In a game featuring 295 passing yards from Will Levis and the longest touchdown pass of the season, Tennessee lost by double digits. The difference? Discipline. Minnesota capitalized on every Titans mistake while avoiding the self-inflicted wounds that have plagued Tennessee all season.
The complete Minnesota Vikings vs Tennessee Titans match player stats reveal a game decided more by mental errors than physical talent. Both teams showed they could make plays. Only one showed they could avoid killing their own drives with penalties.
Sources: ESPN, Vikings Website, Pro Football Focus.
