Tennessee Titans last game against Minnesota Vikings

Tennessee Titans

Nashville, TN – In Week 5 of the 2012 season, the Minnesota Vikings controlled play from both sides of the line of scrimmage against the Tennessee Titans in a 30-7 win at Mall of America Field.

Christian Ponder passed for 258 yards and two touchdowns for the Vikings, and the aerial assault was complemented by 175 rushing yards.

Adrian Peterson led the way with 88 yards on 17 carries (5.2 avg.).

However, it was wide receiver Percy Harvin who was arguably the biggest antagonist. He recorded a game-high 108 yards on eight receptions, including a touchdown. He also rushed for one of Minnesota’s three touchdowns.

Collectively, the Vikings gained 433 yards, while the Titans managed 267. Running back Chris Johnson was limited to 24 rushing yards on 15 carries. In the first half, the Titans were limited to 87 yards and converted one third down in seven tries.

The game was scoreless with three minutes remaining in the first quarter. The Vikings took the lead on a nine-play, 91-yard drive that included a 45-yard pass from Ponder to Harvin. Then, on first-and-goal from the four-yard line, Harvin took a handoff and darted into the end zone.

The Titans then committed two consecutive turnovers. They were driving with under a minute on the clock in the first quarter, converting a fourth-and-one with the punt team on the field on a 10-yard run by Jordan Babineaux. However, they lost the ball on the next play when safety Harrison Smith recovered a Johnson fumble.

The Titans forced a punt after that turnover, but they weren’t as fortunate on their next giveaway. Following an interception by Antoine Winfield off a Matt Hasselbeck pass, Blair Walsh made a 42-yard field goal to put the Vikings ahead 10-0.

On their next possession, the Vikings drove 77 yards on 12 plays, including a 22-yard run by Peterson. Walsh capped the series with a 36-yard field goal.

With the Vikings looking to increase their 13-0 lead late in the first half, the Titans recorded a takeaway of their own. Ponder lofted a pass toward the end zone to tight end Kyle Rudolph, but safety Robert Johnson tipped the ball up and then corralled it at the Tennessee two-yard line for an interception.

Early in the second half, the Titans victimized Ponder for the second consecutive time. Following a 34-yard rush by Peterson, Babineaux picked off a pass intended to Jerome Simpson.

The Titans, though, were unable to capitalize on the turnover, and the Vikings came back with a 69-yard drive and 26-yard field goal by Walsh.

The Vikings extended their lead once again near the end of the third quarter. A 17-yard run by Peterson was followed by a 29-yard reception by tight end Rhett Ellison, and finally, on third-and-five from the 10-yard line, Harvin caught a short pass from Ponder and turned it into a touchdown.

Trailing 23-0, the Titans finally got on the scoreboard in the fourth quarter. At the tail end of a 12-play, 77-yard drive, Hasselbeck found Jared Cook in the end zone from 10 yards out for a score.

The Titans then attempted an onside kick, but the ball went out of bounds before they could recover it. Starting in Titans territory, the Minnesota offense tacked on its final scoring drive of the day, finishing with a 15-yard scoring strike from Ponder to Rudolph.

Box Score

Tennessee Titans 7 at Minnesota Vikings 30
Sunday, October 7th, 2012
Mall of America Field, Minneapolis, MN