The Minnesota Vikings found themselves in a commanding position against the Houston Texans on Sunday, as they dominated the fourth quarter in front of a roaring home crowd. Justin Jefferson stood on the bench, waving his arms to amp up the energy at U.S. Bank Stadium, where the Texans struggled to find any rhythm. The Vikings' defense, bolstered by relentless pressure, intercepted Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud twice and sacked him four times in a 34-7 victory.
Sam Darnold was the star for Minnesota, tying his career high with four touchdown passes, while Jonathan Greenard led the defensive effort with three sacks on his former teammate, Stroud. "We just controlled everything. Defense was the biggest reason," Jefferson said after the game. Minnesota’s defense, built on the aggressive scheme of coordinator Brian Flores, rattled Stroud and the Texans from the outset. Cam Bynum’s fourth-quarter interception added to the Texans’ frustration, as they dropped to 2-1 on the season.
Darnold wasted no time, connecting with Jefferson and Aaron Jones for quick scores in the first quarter. Jalen Nailor also found the end zone for the third consecutive game, and Johnny Mundt added a touchdown of his own. Jones, the driving force on the ground, tallied 102 rushing yards on 19 carries, adding 46 yards in the air on five catches. This was Minnesota’s largest margin of victory in five years, putting an exclamation mark on a hot start to their season. “We’ve got the right mentality,” said Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell. “Now, it’s about proving it every week.”
Darnold completed 17 of 28 passes for 181 yards without turning the ball over. His performance tied his career-best three-game winning streak as a starter. Although a late hit by former Viking Danielle Hunter briefly sent Darnold to the sideline, he returned after one play to an energized crowd. The Vikings improved to 6-0 all-time against the Texans, who finally scored late in the third quarter when Stroud connected with Cam Akers.
Akers, filling in for the injured Joe Mixon, made his first start for Houston after joining from Minnesota last season. Stroud finished 20 of 31 for 215 yards, but it was a tough day for the Texans' offense. Stroud’s first pass was batted down by Vikings defensive lineman Harrison Phillips, leading to a gift-wrapped interception by Kamu Grugier-Hill, who returned it to the 21-yard line. From there, Darnold scrambled to find Jefferson for the early score.
The Texans struggled to adjust to the crowd noise and Flores' complex defensive looks. Six of Houston’s seven first-half penalties occurred before the snap, including three by Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil. Nico Collins, who led the NFL in receiving yards entering the week, was held to four receptions for 86 yards, most of which came late in the game. The Texans were also without their top two running backs, Mixon (ankle) and Dameon Pierce (hamstring), while the Vikings missed several key players, including WR Jordan Addison and LB Ivan Pace Jr. Up next, the Texans will host Jacksonville, while the Vikings will visit Green Bay.Vikings Dominate Texans 34-7: Sam Darnold Shines with Four TDs, Defense Stifles C.J. Stroud
📸 Houston Texans
.png)
Comentarios