Edge rushers Patrick Jones II, Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel

The trio lived behind the Tennessee Titans’ line of scrimmage, where they combined for four sacks and another four hits on quarterback Will Levis. Those hits included Jones drilling Levis on fourth down late in the fourth quarter on an incompletion that led to a turnover on downs. Van Ginkel, Jones and linebacker Blake Cashman each sacked Levis on a third down in the first half as the Vikings built a 16-3 lead. Greenard also posed a run threat, stopping a third-down draw against Titans running back Tony Pollard in the fourth quarter. That led to Jones’ second sack on a failed Tennessee fourth-down try.

Safety Harrison Smith’s interception with 1:57 to go

Smith, who grew up in Knoxville, enjoyed his homecoming to Tennessee by ending any hope the Titans had of coming back against the Vikings. Smith got his 36th career interception – his first in three career games in his home state – when Levis offered a prayer deep down the field intended for Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley. Levis’ pass sailed past Ridley and into the arms of Smith. Smith nearly intercepted Levis in the first half on another forced deep ball from Levis under pressure. It is Smith’s second interception of the season.

Smith’s interception marked the Vikings defense’s twelfth fourth-quarter victory this season; six of those came in the last three weeks against the Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars and Titans. The Vikings are now 24-2 under coach Kevin O’Connell when winning or breaking even on turnover margin. Every team had turnovers on Sunday, but there were opportunities for more. Darnold’s 14th turnover of the season came when his pitch to running back Aaron Jones fell slightly behind, leading to a fumble. Jones later fumbled and recovered from his own accident.

The Vikings make the annual trek to Soldier Field, where the Chicago Bears (4-6) are reeling after letting a potential win over the rival Packers slip away. The Packers blocked the Bears’ game-winning field goal attempt from 46 yards out in the final seconds of Green Bay’s 20-19 victory on Sunday. It was the first game calling plays for new Bears offensive coordinator Thomas Brown, who replaced the fired Shane Waldron after serving as Waldron’s passing game coordinator.