Minnesota Vikings: Studs and duds from Week 3 vs. Titans

Stud: Justin Jefferson

Another stud who emerged for the first time this season and of his NFL career for Minnesota on Sunday afternoon was rookie wide receiver Justin Jefferson. Going into Week 3, Jefferson was viewed as a player who would have to step up and help fill the hole left behind by Stefon Diggs’ absence in the wide receiver group. Unfortunately, he hadn’t been too involved in the flow of the offense through two weeks of the year and of his rookie campaign.

On Sunday in Minneapolis, however, it was great to see Jefferson more involved in the passing game and the rookie wideout stepped up early and often throughout the matchup against Tennessee.

Jefferson finished with seven catches on nine targets, hauling in a total of 175 yards through the air. Minnesota needs to get Jefferson into the fold more in the passing game, and that was certainly the case in Week 3.

Dud: Second half play

While taking a nine-point lead into halftime, the Vikings allowed the Titans to outscore them 22-12 in the second half and pull ahead late with a field goal to go up for good.

Minnesota was able to get out to a nice advantage early on and improved on slow starts it experienced in the first two losses, but as everyone knows, you have to put together a full four quarters if you want to win by the end of the contest. The Vikings did not do that.