Sam Darnold leads Vikings to 3rd straight win, beating Titans 23-13

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Sam Darnold lost a fumble on the Minnesota Vikings' third offensive play.

He more than made up for that turnover for the rest of the game.

Darnold threw for 246 yards and two touchdowns and ran for a score and the Vikings beat the Tennessee Titans 23-13 Sunday.

The Vikings quarterback had been picked off five times over the previous two games, matching his total over the first seven games of the season. Then his toss to Aaron Jones on the Vikings' third offensive play was fumbled and recovered by Jeffery Simmons for the Titans.

Darnold answered right back to help the Vikings (8-2) win their third straight and improve to 5-0 against AFC teams this season. He found Jordan Addison for a 47-yard catch-and-run touchdown as the Vikings didn't trail again as they scored 16 straight for a 16-3 halftime lead.

“How he played in those moments was a huge indicator of a guy that had put the work in and was confident and just going out there and do his job ... and then also overcome some things around him to make some plays, which was critical for us,” Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell said of Darnold.

Andrew Van Ginkel had his two sacks on back-to-back plays as Minnesota finished with five. Pat Jones II also had two. Harrison Smith clinched the win with an interception with 1:50 left, giving the Vikings' fans that turned this into a near home game another reason to celebrate chanting “SKOL."

“Seeing all the purple when we’re on the road like that, it’s an awesome feeling knowing we got the best fan base in the National Football League,” O'Connell said.

The Titans (2-8) lost their second straight and went winless against the NFC North. They sure made it interesting.

Will Levis threw the longest TD pass in the NFL this season with a 98-yard score. He found Nick Westbrook-Ikhine on the right sideline for the catch-and-run, pulling the Titans within 16-10 midway through the third.

"Luckily put enough on it to get it behind the safety, and Nick made a good catch,” Levis said of making the completion when backed up.

It was the Titans' longest pass play since DeAndre Hopkins' 61-yarder on Oct. 29, 2023, against Atlanta in Levis' first NFL start. It tied the longest TD pass in franchise history matching Willard Dewveall's TD catch from Jacky Lee with the then-Houston Oilers on Nov. 25, 1962, against the Chargers.

Levis also had a 51-yard TD pass to Calvin Ridley inside the final minute of the third wiped out by an illegal formation penalty on right tackle Isaiah Prince. They settled for Nick Folk's second field goal, this a 43-yarder.

Down 23-13, they went for it twice on fourth down near midfield. Levis was sacked by Jones on fourth-and-4, and he was forced to throw it away on fourth-and-7 with 2:23 left.

The Titans couldn't stop hurting themselves with too many penalties. Brian Callahan even drew a couple of flags tossed high in the air as the first-year Titans coach vehemently protested a penalty on safety Mike Brown for a hit on Addison in the end zone.

“I saw a hit that was level with the shoulder pads to the body,” Callahan said of Brown's hit that drew two flags. “That’s what I saw.”

Brown loved Callahan having his back: “Honestly, I love it, dog. That just shows how much he’s going to fight for us.”

Darnold easily scored on a 1-yard keeper. Parker Romo's extra point went off the right upright, but he made up for that with a 40-yard field goal late in the first half.

After Levis' big play, Darnold padded Minnesota's lead to 23-10 with a 3-yard toss to Cam Akers late in the third.

“This was a great win for us,” Darnold said.

The Titans just keep hurting themselves. They had nine penalties for 71 yards by halftime. Minnesota didn't draw its first flag until the Titans already had eight. Tennessee finished with 13 penalties for 91 yards compared to three for 35 yards by the Vikings.

Two illegal formation penalties on Prince alone wiped out a TD and a 23-yard reception in the fourth by Westbrook-Ikhine. Levis said Callahan reminded them to limit what they said about officiating and added: "That’s not going to help us at all."

Vikings: Addison dealt with cramping in the fourth quarter. TE Josh Oliver hurt an ankle that will be evaluated back in Minnesota.

Titans: LB Jack Gibbens was carted off the field with his right ankle in an air cast early in the third quarter that Callahan said likely will end his season. ... RB Tyjae Spears left in the second half being evaluated in the concussion protocol and didn't return.

The Vikings wrap up a three-game road swing at Chicago, while the Titans hit the road again visiting AFC South rival Houston.

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Tennessee Titans linebacker Jack Gibbens (50) is carted off the field after getting injured during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold greets fans after an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) celebrates in front of Tennessee Titans safety Mike Brown (44) after catching a pass for a first down during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)

Tennessee Titans cornerback Darrell Baker Jr., left, breaks up a pass intended for Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan, left, questions a call with referee Clete Blakeman (34) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (3) is hit by Tennessee Titans safety Mike Brown, right, while reaching for an incomplete pass during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)

Minnesota Vikings linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel (43) celebrates after sacking Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)

Tennessee Titans linebacker Kenneth Murray Jr. (56) celebrates with teammate linebacker Harold Landry III (58) after a sack during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (15) celebrates with teammate quarterback Will Levis (8) after catching a 98-yard touchdown pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan reacts to a call during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Minnesota Vikings running back Cam Akers (27) celebrates after catching a touchdown pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (14) throws a pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)

MANAUS, Brazil (AP) — President Joe Biden has authorized Ukraine to use U.S.-supplied long-range missiles to strike deeper inside Russia, easing limitations on the weapons as Russia deploys thousands of North Korean troops to reinforce its war, according to a U.S. official and three other people familiar with the matter.

The decision allowing Kyiv to use the Army Tactical Missile System, or ATACMs, for attacks farther inside Russia comes as President Vladimir Putin positions North Korean troops along Ukraine's northern border to try to reclaim hundreds of miles of territory seized by Ukrainian forces.

Biden's move also follows the presidential election victory of Donald Trump, who has said he would bring about a swift end to the war and raised uncertainty about whether his administration would continue the United States' vital military support for Ukraine.

The official and the others knowledgeable about the matter were not authorized to discuss the U.S. decision publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's reaction Sunday was notably restrained.

“Strikes are not made with words," he said during his nightly video address. “Such things are not announced. The missiles will speak for themselves.”

Zelenskyy and many of his Western supporters have been pressing Biden for months to allow Ukraine to strike military targets deeper inside Russia with Western-supplied missiles, saying the U.S. ban had made it impossible for Ukraine to try to stop Russian attacks on its cities and electrical grids.

Zelenskyy's statement came shortly after he posted a message of condolence on Telegram following a Russian attack on a nine-story building that killed at least eight people in the northern city of Sumy, 40 kilometers (24 miles) from the border with Russia.

Russia also launched a massive drone and missile attack, described by officials as the largest in recent months, targeting energy infrastructure and killing civilians. The attack came as fears are mounting about Moscow’s intentions to devastate Ukraine’s power generation capacity before the winter.

“And this is the answer to everyone who tried to achieve something with Putin through talks, phone calls, hugs and appeasement,” Zelenskyy said.

The comment appeared to be a dig at German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who spoke Friday with Putin in the first such call with a sitting head of a major Western power in nearly two years.

Some supporters have argued that the limitation and other U.S. constraints could cost Ukraine the war. The debate has become a source of disagreement among Ukraine’s NATO allies.

Biden had remained opposed, determined to hold the line against any escalation that he felt could draw the U.S. and other NATO members into direct conflict with nuclear-armed Russia.

Putin has warned that Moscow could provide long-range weapons to others to strike Western targets if NATO allies allow Ukraine to use their arms to attack Russian territory.

News of Biden's decision followed meetings over the last two days with the leaders of South Korea, Japan and China. The addition of North Korean troops was central to the talks, which took place on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Peru.

Biden did not mention the decision during a speech at a stop in the Amazon rainforest in Brazil on his way to the Group of 20 summit.

Asked about the decision, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told reporters that the U.N. position is “to avoid a permanent deterioration of the war in Ukraine.”

“We want peace, we want fair peace,” Guterres said Sunday before the summit in Rio de Janeiro. He didn't elaborate.

The longer-range missiles are likely to be used in response to North Korea’s decision to support Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, according to one of the people familiar with the development.

The overall supply of ATACMS missiles is short, so U.S. officials in the past have questioned whether they could give Ukraine enough to make a difference. Some supporters of Ukraine say that even a few long-range strikes deeper inside Russia would force its military to change deployments and expend more of its resources.

North Korea has provided thousands of troops to Russia to help Moscow try to claw back land in the Kursk border region that Ukraine seized this year. The introduction of North Korean troops to the conflict comes as Moscow has seen a favorable shift in momentum. Trump has signaled that he could push Ukraine to agree to give up some land seized by Russia to find an end to the conflict.

As many as 12,000 North Korean troops have been sent to Russia, according to U.S., South Korean and Ukrainian assessments. U.S. and South Korean intelligence officials say North Korea also has provided Russia with significant amounts of munitions to replenish its dwindling weapons stockpiles.

Trump, who takes office in January, spoke for months as a candidate about wanting Russia’s war in Ukraine to be over, but he mostly ducked questions about whether he wanted U.S. ally Ukraine to win.

He also repeatedly slammed the Biden administration for giving Kyiv tens of billions of dollars in aid. His victory has Ukraine’s international backers worrying that any rushed settlement would mostly benefit Putin.

America is Ukraine’s most valuable ally in the war, providing more than $56.2 billion in security assistance since Russian forces invaded in February 2022.

Worried about Russia’s response, however, the Biden administration repeatedly has delayed providing some specific advanced weapons sought by Ukraine, agreeing only under pressure from Kyiv, its supporters and in consultation with allies.

That includes initially refusing Zelenskyy’s pleas for advanced tanks, Patriot air defense systems and F-16 fighter jets, among other systems.

The White House agreed in May to allow Ukraine to use U.S.-provided weaponry for limited strikes just across the border with Russia.

Long, Miller, Knickmeyer and Lee reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Will Weissert in West Palm Beach, Florida, and Hanna Arhirova in Kyiv contributed to this report.

FILE - US President Joe Biden, left, participates in a wreath laying ceremony with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the memorial wall outside of St. Michael's Golden-Domed Cathedral during an unannounced visit, in Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, Feb. 20, 2023. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

FILE - President Joe Biden, right, listens as Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, speaks during their meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Sept. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

U.S. President Joe Biden arrives on Air Force One at Manaus-Eduardo Gomes International Airport, in Manaus, Brazil, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Edmar Barros)