Vikings @ Raiders
Final Score: Vikings 3, Raiders 0
Senior Writer: Benjamin Haller (@benjaminhaller1 on Twitter)
I mean, what can I say? It was 3-0. The game was set to break the NFL record of a game never finishing 0-0 at the end of regulation until Greg Joseph kicked a 36-yard field goal with just 1:57 left in the game. The insertion of Nick Mullens late in the fourth quarter at quarterback for the Vikings proved to be the catalyst to end what was a truly terrible football game, especially from an offensive standpoint.
One Down
- Everyone on the offensive side of the ball for both teams who was involved in this fiasco – especially Justin Jefferson, who left the field early in the first half and never returned after taking a vicious hit hauling in a high throw from Joshua Dobbs.
Minnesota Vikings
Quarterback
Joshua Dobbs: 10/23, 63 Yards, 5 Sacks | 5 Carries, 21 Yards
After receiving the dreaded “vote of confidence” from his Head Coach Kevin O’Connell after the loss to the Bears, Dobbs did nothing to reaffirm that confidence as he struggled mightily, failing to embrace the traits that made him so successful early in his tenure with his new team. Whether it is the coaching, the play calling, or Dobbs’ limitations, he is not a pocket quarterback and should not be wrapped into that game plan. He can use his legs and make plays with pragmatism and innovation. That was sorely lacking as he struggled with accuracy and reading beyond his first option. He was arguably at fault for the high throw to Jefferson that knocked him out of the ball game. Dobbs was benched after the Vikings punted for the seventh time in the game midway through the fourth quarter.
Nick Mullens: 9/13, 83 Yards
Coming in with just nine minutes left in the ball game, Mullens engineered a 13-play, 56-yard drive (the longest in terms of plays and yardage in the entire game from either side) that resulted in the winning field goal. He the minimum that was needed to win the game and no more. His two other drives ended in punts for a total of 34 yards. Mullens targeted seven different receivers on the field goal drive as the Vikings tried to generate offense from anywhere – a 20-yard throw to the sideline for Jordan Addison was the play that broke open this contest, the rookie making a nice grab before working the ball deep into Raiders territory.
Jordan Addison! HUGE 1st down for the @Vikings!
📺: #MINvsLV on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/pWMED8SAQa pic.twitter.com/odK98miqoq— NFL (@NFL) December 10, 2023
Running Back
Alexander Mattison: 10 Carries, 66 Yards | 1 Target
A big injury worry for the fantasy playoffs here as Alexander Mattison exited the game with a nasty-looking ankle injury on the first drive of the second half. It was tough for the back, who has improved throughout the season after stepping into the shoes of Dalvin Cook as the starter. Mattison was averaging 6.6 yards per carry when he left the game and had the longest run from any back in the game, a 16-yard burst up the middle in which he hurdled for extra yards. He was lining up for a big fantasy game although Ty Chandler had rotated in heavily in the first half.
Ty Chandler: 12 Carries, 35 Yards | 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 7 Yards
Likely to benefit from Mattison’s injury, second-year all-purpose back Ty Chandler was one of our fantasy sleepers this season and it looks like his chance has finally arrived after flashing promise in limited chances. Chandler hit pay dirt for the first time in Week 10 before amassing 111 yards from scrimmage in Week 12. He is quick, excellent in hitting lanes, and plenty tough enough. He could be a nice flex option throughout the fantasy playoffs.
C.J. Ham: 1 Carry, 7 Yards
Kene Nwangwu: 2 Carries, 3 Yards
Wide Receiver/Tight End
TJ Hockenson: 8 Targets, 5 Receptions, 53 Yards
With the departure of Jefferson, the big tight end TJ Hockenson led the team in targets and receptions as he has done regularly during the star wideout’s absence. Hockenson caught three balls on the field goal drive in the fourth quarter, including a third-down conversion and a 109-yard grab to move the ball inside the Raiders 10-yard line. Coming into the game as the leading fantasy TE, Hockenson will look to continue his ascent as a fantasy asset. He is primed to challenge Kelce week-in, week-out going forward.
Justin Jefferson: 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 27 Yards
You hate to see it. Hate! After a couple of nice grabs in the first quarter, Jefferson went up and corralled a high ball from Dobbs for a spectacular catch. Unfortunately, that exposed the recently returned Jefferson mid-air and Raiders defensive back Marcus Epps clattered into him with vicious intent. Jefferson was hit hard and hit the ground hard. It wasn’t good. He did not return and was taken to a local hospital for evaluation with a painful chest injury. He was released and went home with the team. He will be crucial if the Vikings are to make the playoffs so all eyes on his status prior to a huge game with the Bengals in Week 15.
Jordan Addison: 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 27 Yards
Strangely, rookie Addison wasn’t called upon to take the weight of targets after Jefferson went down. Secondary receivers KJ Osborn and Jalen Nailor combined for 12 targets compared to Addison’s three. One of those was impactive, however as it set up the field goal that won the game. It is hard to understand the downturn for Addison since Kirk Cousins was ruled out for the season. He’s had the targets but no chemistry with Dobbs. A potential Mullens start next week could provide the spark he needs.
KJ Osborn: 7 Targets, 4 Receptions, 15 Yards
Jalen Nailor: 5 Targets, 2 Receptions, 13 Yards
Johnny Mundt: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 4 Yards
Brandon Powell: 1 Target
Josh Oliver: 1 Target
Las Vegas Raiders
Quarterback
Aidan O’Connell: 21/32, 171 Yards, INT, 4 Sacks | 1 Carry, 2 Yards
The Raiders offense punted eight times, fumbled the ball away twice and Aidan O’Connell threw an interception on the first play after the Vikings scored their field goal. It couldn’t have been much worse and more importantly, uninspiring. O’Connell was ramshackled to game-management duties, throwing the ball underneath or to short routes for low-percentage gains. He was clearly overwhelmed by some of the funky schemes Brian Flores threw at him in the first half. And in the second he tried to narrow in on Davante Adams. So, when it came to having to make plays in the final two minutes, the Vikings knew where the ball was going, allowing Ivan Pace Jr. to jump in front of Adams for the interception.
.@ivan_pacejr you are an animal my friend
📺: @NFLonFOX
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 11, 2023
Running Back
Josh Jacobs: 13 Carries, 34 Yards | 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 16 Yards
Stymied for the majority of this contest by a dominant Vikings defensive line, the bigger concern was the knee injury that forced Josh Jacobs out of the game not to return in the fourth quarter. The veteran back was having an unproductive day and he got up gingerly after two straight runs went nowhere. Jacobs looked to be in considerable pain on either side of a trip to the blue medical tent. Yikes!
Ameer Abdullah: 1 Carry, 12 Yards | 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 7 Yards
Zamir White: 2 Carries, 8 Yards
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Davante Adams: 10 Targets, 7 Receptions, 53 Yards
A flurry of short-and-often targets in the second half padded Adams’ statistics but he was largely unable to make anything happen – in the first half, it was the lack of targets and opportunity, in the second it was because the Vikings knew he was getting the ball short of the sticks and adapted to swallow him up. As per usual he was the go-to target but what was coming his way wasn’t going to be productive. Adams now only has one touchdown since Week 3. That is criminal.
Hunter Renfrow: 5 Targets, 3 Receptions, 46 Yards, Fumble (Lost)
Hunter Renfrow worked out of the slot as usual and saw some joy thanks to the game plan to restrict O’Connell to short throws. The Raiders finally got something going on their first drive of the second half and Renfrow burst out for a 38-yard gain that put the Raiders at the Vikings’ 11-yard line. However, two plays later turnover machine Josh Metellus forced the ball out of Renfrow’s hands on a screen pass, and that took away a big chance at points.
We'll take it.
📺: @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/ZRbTagjxpw
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 10, 2023
Jakobi Meyers: 6 Targets, 5 Receptions, 25 Yards
Jakobi Meyers had been the big play threat for the Raiders in the first half of the season with Jimmy Garoppolo under center but in recent weeks he has been used more as a traditional outside receiver with catches toward the sideline. Meyers had a four-game touchdown streak from Weeks 5–9 but has only hit the end zone once since then, ironically in the contest before the bye against the Chiefs. This is an extremely disappointing output considering the Raiders had plenty of opportunity to work some things up in the bye week.
Michael Mayer: 2 Targets, 1 Reception, 14 Yards
Austin Hooper: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 5 Yards
Tre Tucker: 1 Target