Sam Darnold threw four touchdown passes, Aaron Jones accounted for 148 scrimmage yards and a score, and the Minnesota Vikings rolled to a 34-7 win over the Houston Texans on Sunday afternoon in Minneapolis.
Darnold completed 17 of 28 passes for 181 yards for Minnesota (3-0). Jones finished with 19 carries for 102 yards to go along with five catches for 46 yards and a touchdown.
C.J. Stroud hit on 20 of 31 passes for 215 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions for Houston (2-1). Cam Akers was limited to nine carries for 21 yards as the Texans struggled on the ground without injured starter Joe Mixon.
The game started ugly for Stroud and the Texans and never really improved. Stroud had his second pass intercepted by Vikings linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill, who returned the pick to Houston’s 21-yard line.
Minnesota capitalized less than three minutes later to grab a 7-0 lead. Darnold found Justin Jefferson for a 6-yard touchdown pass.
The Vikings made it 14-0 with 1:08 to go in the first quarter. After a missed field goal by the Texans, Darnold led a six-play, 56-yard drive that culminated with an 8-yard touchdown pass to Jones.
The Texans’ hole grew deeper when Darnold tossed a 4-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Nailor to make it 21-0 with 10:22 left in the third quarter. Nailor has three touchdowns in as many games this season.
The Texans got on the scoreboard with four minutes left in the third quarter. Akers hauled in an 8-yard touchdown pass from Stroud to cut the deficit to 21-7.
Minnesota scored 13 straight points to put the game out of reach in the fourth.
Will Reichard made it 24-7 with a 35-yard field goal and closed the scoring with a 58-yarder at the 4:43 mark.
Darnold tallied his fourth touchdown pass, this time to Johnny Mundt, to make it 31-7 with 10:14 remaining. Mundt scored from 2 yards out for his first touchdown reception of the season and his third career touchdown in 84 games.
Vikings trainers looked at Darnold’s left knee after he twisted it while he was hit in the third quarter. Darnold limped and took a seat after the hit but returned to the game.