If you watched the Las Vegas Raiders vs Minnesota Vikings matchup and thought, “There’s no way the box score tells the whole story,” you’re absolutely right. This game packed way more nuance than the final score suggests, and the Las Vegas Raiders vs Minnesota Vikings match player stats actually reveal some pretty interesting trends once you slow down and read between the lines.
This wasn’t just another preseason style clash where nothing matters. This game showed roster depth, quarterback decision making, rushing efficiency, and situational football the stuff that decides real games later in the season. And yeah, there were moments that made me laugh, moments that made me shake my head, and a few plays that screamed, “Okay, this guy belongs.”
So grab a coffee, settle in, and let’s talk football like two fans breaking it down on the couch.
Contents
- 1 Quick Game Snapshot
- 2 Quarterback Breakdown: Who Really Controlled the Game?
- 3 Rushing Game Stats: Efficiency vs Volume
- 4 Receiving Stats: Quiet Contributions That Matter
- 5 Defensive Player Stats: Bend, Don’t Break Football
- 6 Time of Possession: The Stat That Lies (Sometimes)
- 7 Penalties and Discipline
- 8 Standout Players You Should Remember
- 9 What These Match Player Stats Really Tell Us
- 10 My Honest Take (Fan to Fan)
- 11 Final Summary
- 12 Final Thought
Quick Game Snapshot
Before we get into individual performances, here’s the quick snapshot for context:
-
Final Score: Vikings 24, Raiders 23
-
Total Yards: Vikings ~452, Raiders ~308
-
Turnovers: Vikings 1, Raiders 0
-
Time of Possession: Raiders led, Vikings maximized efficiency
One point game. One. And yet the stat sheet tells us these teams didn’t approach the game the same way at all. Curious already? Good you should be.
Quarterback Breakdown: Who Really Controlled the Game?
Vikings Quarterback Performance
J.J. McCarthy didn’t just put up numbers he ran the offense.
-
Passing Yards: ~310
-
Completions/Attempts: 22/41
-
Touchdowns: 2
-
Interceptions: 1
-
Yards per Attempt: ~7.6
What stood out most wasn’t raw arm talent. McCarthy consistently made quick reads, took what the defense gave him, and avoided panic throws. Even the interception felt more like a timing issue than a bad decision.
IMO, that’s exactly what coaches want to see early. You don’t need hero ball every snap. You need rhythm, confidence, and command and McCarthy checked those boxes.
Raiders Quarterback Performance
Gardner Minshew and the Raiders’ QB rotation played safer football.
-
Passing Yards (Total): ~188
-
Completion Rate: ~58%
-
Touchdowns: 1
-
Interceptions: 0
Protecting the ball matters. But here’s the catch conservative playcalling limits upside. The Raiders avoided mistakes, but they also avoided explosive plays. That’s fine if your run game dominates, but when it doesn’t, things tighten up fast.
Ask yourself this: would you rather have fewer mistakes or more momentum? In this game, Minnesota chose momentum and it paid off.
Rushing Game Stats: Efficiency vs Volume
This is where things get sneaky interesting.
Vikings Rushing Attack
-
Total Rushing Yards: ~142
-
Yards per Carry: ~6.5
-
Rushing Touchdowns: 1
The Vikings didn’t just run often they ran well. Their backs hit gaps decisively and forced linebackers to commit early. That opened up short to mid passing lanes and kept the Raiders guessing.
This wasn’t flashy highlight reel stuff. This was death by efficiency.
Raiders Rushing Attack
-
Total Rushing Yards: ~120
-
Yards per Carry: ~3.2
-
Rushing Touchdowns: 1
The Raiders ran hard, but not clean. Too many second and long situations killed drive momentum. When you average barely over three yards per carry, you’re basically daring the defense to stack the box.
And defenses love dares.
Receiving Stats: Quiet Contributions That Matter
Vikings Receivers
Minnesota spread the ball around, which made defending them annoying in the best way.
-
Multiple receivers finished with 40+ yards
-
No single target dominated, but everyone contributed
-
Red zone routes looked crisp and intentional
This balanced approach forced the Raiders to defend the entire field. No tunnel vision. No predictable routes. Just steady progress.
Raiders Receivers
The Raiders leaned on shorter routes and checkdowns.
-
Limited yards after catch
-
Few deep threats attempted
-
Relied heavily on timing plays
That’s not inherently bad, but it shrinks the margin for error. When every drive requires 10–12 plays, one penalty or missed block can derail everything.
And yeah… that happened more than once.
Defensive Player Stats: Bend, Don’t Break Football
Vikings Defense
Minnesota’s defense played smart, not reckless.
-
Forced 1 interception
-
Limited explosive runs
-
Tightened coverage in the red zone
They gave up possession time, sure. But they won situational downs, and that’s how you win close games.
Raiders Defense
The Raiders’ defense worked hard maybe too hard.
-
Solid early down pressure
-
Missed tackles late
-
Fatigue showed in the fourth quarter
When your offense doesn’t finish drives, your defense pays the price. By the final quarter, Minnesota clearly looked fresher.
Ever notice how tired defenses suddenly forget how to tackle? Yeah… that.
Time of Possession: The Stat That Lies (Sometimes)
Here’s the wild part:
-
Raiders Time of Possession: ~34:39
-
Vikings Time of Possession: ~25:21
Normally, that screams Raiders win. But football isn’t about holding the ball it’s about what you do with it.
Minnesota scored faster. Converted key third downs. Finished drives. Las Vegas burned clock without burning the scoreboard.
Efficiency beats volume. Every time.
Penalties and Discipline
Penalties quietly shaped this game.
-
Raiders: 6 penalties, 35 yards
-
Vikings: 4 penalties, 30 yards
Nothing outrageous, but timing mattered. A holding call here. A false start there. In a one point game, those moments add up fast.
Clean football wins ugly games. Minnesota played cleaner.
Standout Players You Should Remember
Vikings
-
J.J. McCarthy: Calm, composed, efficient
-
RB Committee: Consistent chunk gains
-
Secondary: Tight coverage when it mattered
Raiders
-
Gardner Minshew: Protected the ball
-
Defensive Front: Solid early pressure
-
Special Teams: Kept the game close
No one took over the game completely and honestly, that’s what made it fun to watch.
What These Match Player Stats Really Tell Us
Here’s the real takeaway from the Las Vegas Raiders vs Minnesota Vikings match player stats:
-
Minnesota trusted efficiency over control
-
Las Vegas trusted control over explosiveness
-
Minnesota finished drives
-
Las Vegas survived drives
One approach wins more often than the other.
If this NFL game happens again later in the season with starters fully locked in, adjustments will matter especially for the Raiders’ offensive pacing.
My Honest Take (Fan to Fan)
If I’m a Vikings fan, I feel encouraged. This looked like a team that understands its identity and plays within it.
If I’m a Raiders fan, I feel cautiously optimistic but also slightly frustrated. The talent is there. The execution just needs sharper edges.
And yeah, losing by one point always stings more than losing by ten. Trust me, I’ve been there.
Final Summary
Let’s wrap it clean:
-
Vikings won with efficiency and balance
-
Raiders controlled possession but lacked punch
-
Quarterback play favored Minnesota
-
Rushing efficiency made the difference
-
Discipline and situational football decided the outcome
That’s the story the scoreboard doesn’t tell but the stats absolutely do.
Final Thought
If you’re the kind of fan who loves digging into numbers to understand why a game unfolded the way it did, this matchup delivered. The Las Vegas Raiders vs Minnesota Vikings match player stats prove that football isn’t about flashy totals it’s about timing, efficiency, and execution when it counts.
And honestly? Games like this are why we keep watching. One point. One play. One stat that changes everything.

