Latest Vikings News
Recent Vikings blog posts
Latest Sports News
Home | Sports | Access Vikings
Gameday: Vikings at Tennessee
Print this story
E-mail this story
Save to del.icio.us
Share on Facebook
Share on DiggWEEK 4, GAME 4
> Line: Titans by 3
> Series: Vikings lead 7-3
> Last:Vikings beat Titans 20-3 on 10/24/04 in Metrodome.
Related Content
More from Access Vikings
THE BIG THREE SIMILARITIES
2. One big difference The Titans offense has been superior to the Vikings in one critical area this season. Tennessee has gotten touchdowns on seven of eight trips into the red zone and ranks first in the NFL. The Vikings also have made eight trips inside their opponents' 20-yard line but have only one touchdown. That puts them last in the league. Minnesota was 0-for-3 last Sunday against Carolina in the red zone, although one possession came late in the game with the Vikings no longer trying to score. 1. Lookalikes This game is going to be a bit like looking in the mirror for these teams. Both are solid on defense -- we'll give Tennessee the edge because the Titans are better vs. the pass -- and offensively both try to win with the running game. The Vikings' Adrian Peterson is second in the NFL with 340 yards rushing; Titans rookie Chris Johnson leads the AFC with 276 yards. Here's how much these teams are alike on offense: The Vikings are ranked 17th overall (fifth in rushing, 24th in passing) and Tennessee is 18th (seventh in rushing, 22nd in passing).
3. Titans speed up for Peterson How serious are the Titans about being stout on run defense today? Coach Jeff Fisher replaced middle linebacker Ryan Fowler with Stephen Tulloch in order to improve the Titans' speed and quickness at the position. It's not certain if the move is permanent, but Fisher is banking that it will work today against Peterson and Co.
GAMEBREAKER: One guy who could change everything
Cortland Finnegan, Titans, CB The third-year player out of Division I-AA Samford in Birmingham, Ala., leads the NFL with four interceptions and returned one 99 yards for a touchdown last Sunday in the Titans' 31-12 victory over Houston. Finnegan was selected by Tennessee in the seventh round of the 2006 draft and moved into a starting role last season. He had only one interception entering this year but surpassed that total in Tennessee's opener when he had two picks against Jacksonville.
KEY STAT
1-7 Combined records of Jacksonville, Cincinnati and Houston -- the three teams the Titans have beaten this season.IN FOCUS
The Titans' pass rush While the Vikings have a pair of Pro Bowl defensive tackles in Kevin and Pat Williams, the Titans also are very talented in the middle of their line. Albert Haynesworth and Tony Brown have combined for five sacks, including a team-leading three by the 6-6, 320-pound Haynesworth. The two also have been credited with 11 quarterback pressures.JUDD'S PICK
Tennessee 17, Vikings 14 The Vikings match up pretty well against the Titans, but playing at Tennessee against the third-ranked defense in the NFL is going to make getting into the end zone extremely difficult for an offense that has only three TDs in as many games.
Recent Access Vikings stories
Patriots determined to leave emotional loss to Colts behind and focus on preparing for Jets - September 27, 2008
Patriots determined to leave emotional loss to Colts behind and focus on preparing for Jets - Bill Belichick has heard enough about his fourth-down decision that failed. So has Tom Brady. More
Win tickets and gear: This week’s prize is 2 tickets to the Dec. 13 Vikings vs. Cincinnati game. Enter now!
Play Upick’em: Join our weekly contest. It’s fun and free, and you can win prizes. Play now!
Meet Grand Prize winner Kay and her friends! Plus view all entries from our Fanatical Football Fan contest! Go now!
see all StarTribune.com contests >>
| Date/Opponent | Time | W | L | Score |
| Sep 13 - at Cleveland | 12:00 PM | 1 | 0 | 34-20 |
| Sep 20 - at Detroit | 12:00 PM | 2 | 0 | 27-13 |
| Sep 27 - vs. San Francisco | 12:00 PM | 3 | 0 | 27-24 |
| Oct 5 - vs. Green Bay | 7:30 PM | 4 | 0 | 30-23 |
| Oct 11 - at St. Louis | 12:00 PM | 5 | 0 | 38-10 |
| Oct 18 - vs. Baltimore | 12:00 PM | 6 | 0 | 33-31 |
| Oct 25 - at Pittsburgh | 12:00 PM | 6 | 1 | 17-27 |
| Nov 1 - at Green Bay | 3:15 PM | 7 | 1 | 38-26 |
| Open | ||||
| Nov 15 - vs. Detroit | 12:00 PM | 8 | 1 | 27-10 |
| Nov 22 - vs. Seattle | 12:00 PM | 9 | 1 | 35-9 |
| Nov 29 - vs. Chicago | 3:15 PM | |||
| Dec 6 - at Arizona | 3:15 PM | |||
| Dec 13 - vs. Cincinnati | 12:00 PM | |||
| Dec 20 - at Carolina | 7:20 PM | |||
| Dec 28 - at Chicago | 7:30 PM | |||
| Jan 3 - vs. NY Giants | 12:00 PM |
Comment on this story | Read all 5 comments | Hide reader comments