The second half of the 2024 NFL season got underway over the weekend, and – in typical, albeit wild fashion – it didn't disappoint.

Nine of the 14 games in Week 10 were decided by one score, marking the eighth week this season and third consecutive in which nine or more games ended by that margin. Four of those nine games came down to a final field goal attempt, with the lone unsuccessful try coming via a block by the Chiefs against Denver to keep Kansas City's perfect start to the season intact at 9-0.

While the Vikings (7-2) 12-7 victory over Jacksonville (2-8) on Sunday didn't require a game-winning kick during the final play, Minnesota needed every single kick from Parker Romo's right leg.

Making his NFL debut, Romo – who signed with the team last Wednesday after rookie Will Reichard was placed on Injured Reserve – connected on all four of his field goal attempts (45, 33, 34 and 29 yards). Romo became the first player in NFL history to make four or more field goals and score all of the team's points in a debut. He is also the first Vikings kicker since Blair Walsh in 2012 with four made field goals in a debut.

For the second consecutive week, Minnesota’s offense recorded season-highs in time of possession (42:19) and total plays (82) and nearly reached season-bests in total yards (402) and first downs (28). But the Vikings struggled once they reached Jaguars territory, especially in the red zone.

Of the Vikings 82 plays on Sunday, 61 were on Jacksonville's side of the field. Minnesota ran 20 plays inside the Jaguars 20-yard line, but it could only produce 20 yards of offense in five red-zone drives that ended in two interceptions by Sam Darnold and three field goals.

Darnold finished the afternoon 24-of-38 passing for 241 yards and threw three interceptions for a passer rating of 48.2.

The Vikings defense, however, stepped up and turned in a gutsy performance, forcing three turnovers of its own and limiting the Jaguars offense to 143 total yards across a span of just 17:41. Jacksonville only ran 16 plays in the second half, with its final three possessions ending in a turnover, including Camryn Bynum's interception with 1:52 remaining.

According to NFL Media Research, Sunday's game was the first time in 148 games since 2010 where a team won despite not scoring a touchdown and committing at least three turnovers. Additionally, teams that scored zero touchdowns and had three or more turnovers were 0-196 since Dec. 21, 2006. Coincidentally, that game also involved Minnesota, as Brett Favre and the Packers edged the Vikings 9-7 by doing the same thing.

Despite the win, Minnesota saw some movement in this week's Power Rankings, with the biggest change being two spots. Here's a look at where the Vikings rank going into Week 11:

No. 6 (no change): Eric Edholm, NFL.com

[Vikings Head Coach] Kevin O'Connell gave Sam Darnold a postgame vote of confidence, both to the media and to Darnold himself in the locker room victory speech. O'Connell called it a game he'll remember for a long time for the struggle; not too many teams turn it over three times, fail to score a touchdown and win on the road. Sunday was the first of three straight road games for Minnesota, and almost all of the Vikings remaining opponents are still in contention. This week's foes, the Titans, are only nominally in contention, but they have caused some issues for opposing quarterbacks this season. Minnesota could be in a vastly different situation if J.J. McCarthy hadn't been injured in August, but that's neither here nor there now. The Vikings know they have to throw their full weight behind Darnold if they're going to shake this post-bye malaise. He's really their best shot, warts and all, but it's nice to know the defense can still bail out the offense.

No. 8 (down 2 spots): NFL Staff, Bleacher Report

Generally speaking, when a two-loss team holds an opponent under 150 yards of offense, that team wins going away. But the Minnesota Vikings needed all 60 minutes to squeak past a terrible Jacksonville Jaguars team, because the Vikings are developing a Sam Darnold problem.

Darnold's decision-making with the ball has been shaky in recent weeks, and Sunday was no exception — the 27-year-old threw three more interceptions Sunday, giving him five in the last two games.

"I've got to do a lot better job to take care of football," Darnold said. "I think that's obvious."

However, O'Connell came to the defense of his embattled quarterback.

"We're going to check back on this moment and use it the right way, and Sam is going to be better off for it," O'Connell said. "I truly do believe that."

"The 7-2 Vikings should be headed to the postseason following last year's absence. However, I have two big concerns with this squad," [Bleacher Report NFL analyst Kristopher Knox] said. "The first is an inconsistent secondary that is incredibly turnover-dependent when facing QBs not named Mac Jones. The second is the bad decision-making we've seen from Sam Darnold over the past few weeks.

"Darnold is better than anything Minnesota had at quarterback following Kirk Cousins' injury in 2023," Knox added. "When he's taking care of the football, the Vikings look like a team that can beat anybody. When he's not, the Vikings look like a team destined to be one-and-done in the playoffs."

No. 7 (no change): Pete Prisco, CBS Sports

Sam Darnold needs to get back to playing good football. That showing in Jacksonville was bad with his three picks. Good teams will make him pay for it.

No. 8 (down 2 spots): Nate Davis, USA Today

Too bad the Vikes don't reside in the AFC South, whose teams they've beaten by an average of 13.3 points. They can complete a divisional season sweep Sunday in Nashville.

No. 8 (down 1 spot): Josh Kendall, The Athletic

Sunday was the game the Sam Darnold skeptics have been waiting for. Darnold threw three interceptions and had a passer rating of 48.2 against a Jacksonville defense that had been very generous to opponents all season. Darnold is 21^st in EPA per dropback (.01). After the first month of the season, he was 11^th (.09), but fading in the second half has been a hallmark of Darnold's career. It appears now more than ever that he's just keeping the job warm for J.J. McCarthy (No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft), who suffered a season-ending knee injury in training camp.

No. 5 (up 1 spot): Conor Orr, Sports Illustrated

I enjoy how Sam Darnold has just his second game of the season in which his quarterback rating is under 100 and we're now treating it as if he's the Cinderella carriage that has been turned back into a pumpkin. Really excellent quarterbacks routinely slump but our margin of error for Darnold is somehow razor thin as we try to swallow him back into this narrative of underperformance. The Jaguars bracketed Justin Jefferson. Darnold still tried his alpha No. 1 wideout. We'd be all over him if he ignored Jefferson and hadn't targeted him at least 9 times.

No. 8 (no change): Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News

The Vikings had a sloppy game with Sam Darnold passing poorly in the red zone, but they got a break with their defense getting to operate vs. Mac Jones and the Jaguars. Darnold needs to clean up his play to keep his job and keep Minnesota on the fast track to the playoffs.

No. 11 (down 2 spots): Frank Schwab, Yahoo! Sports

Sam Darnold now leads the NFL with 10 interceptions. The Vikings still have a good coach and a good cast led by Justin Jefferson, so there's hope that Darnold can turn his turnover slump around. But the last two weeks are why Darnold never took off with the Jets or Panthers.