Hey guys, I wonder why the wheels came off the defense in the third quarter? Questionable offensive play in the fourth quarter – long, incomplete passes instead of milking the clock? We had to work way too hard to beat the Titans. Leave it to the Vikings to motivate (Will) Levis and make him think he can win the game? Below are my 3 ups and 3 downs for the game:

1. The first quarter TD goes to (Jordan) Addison and the third down completion goes to (Trent Sherfield, Sr.) in the battle for a first down to end the first quarter; both were exceptional plays.

2. Very nice defensive sequence at the end of the half. A punt was forced and the punt receiver was clearly told not to field the ball – nice job based on the lesson Packer learned.

3. Two very nice defensive stands midway through and at the end of the fourth quarter. Plus the game interception!

1. Fumble on first possession. Not the way to start.

2. Two more wasted timeouts for fouls in the first half. First, a wasted timeout on a first down early in the second quarter. Followed by another wasted timeout on a first down four minutes into halftime? Par for the course.

3. Complete defense in the third quarter, especially the complete defensive breakdown on third-and-10 from the 2 for a 98-yard TD pass? Isn’t Jefferson the only one allowed to get TD passes of more than 97 yards? Unforgivable.

Another ugly win. But I’ll take it.

I’m looking forward to Da Bears.

– Respectfully, Jeff Ludwig

I’m not an expert QB evaluator, but I thought Darnold had one of his best games of the season, from the decisions to the breakout plays to making plays on the move and putting most of the footballs in ideal locations.

He finished 20 of 32 passing for 246 yards with two touchdowns, no interceptions and a passer rating of 107.0. His day included a 47-yard touchdown to Addison, hitting the receiver in stride and allowing him to zip through the secondary. After Addison left with cramps, Jalen Nailor replaced him and had a great opportunity for Darnold to add a 46-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, which would have put the game away (or at least built on the lead of 23-13), but Nailor did not bring it in.

The scrambling and connection to Sherfield was great to see. Props to Sherfield and Ryan Wright teaming up to put the Titans at their 2, even if Tennessee followed with the 98-yard score that topped Jefferson’s 97-yarder in Week 2.

It was cool to see Harrison Smith get another chance for an interception late in the game. The 35-year-old Tennessee native has 36 in his career. He walked out of the locker room with that football, as well as a game ball that O’Connell handed out.

I thought Levis made some nice throws and played hard, building on a good performance last week against the Chargers.

The Vikings defense, especially the front seven, really put a stamp on the game, pressuring the Titans QB and throwing the Titans off schedule with repeated tackles for loss.

O’Connell knows the value of timeouts, and there may be reasons that aren’t traditional.