Vikings beat Raiders in one of the NFL's worst games in years

Style points do not count in the NFL, and the Minnesota Vikings should be very thankful for that fact following their 3-0 win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. The important thing for the Vikings is they got the win to continue their push for a playoff spot. The important thing for football fans is that the game is over and can no longer hurt their eyes. 

The Vikings couldn't manage to score the game's only points until there was 1:57 remaining in regulation. Thankfully, Greg Joseph connected on a 36-yard field goal. Until then, there was nothing.

It would be easy -- and charitable -- to call this a clinic in strong defensive football, but it was anything but that. To be blunt, this game was a showcase in incompetent offense on both sides.

The Vikings made the decision to bench Joshua Dobbs for Nick Mullens. A few weeks ago Dobbs was one of the biggest success stories in the NFL after joining the team and immediately stepping into the lineup and leading the team to a couple of wins. But his play rapidly regressed over the past few weeks and hit rock bottom on Sunday with a 10-for-23 performance that saw him throw for just 67 yards.

Mullens came in off the bench and completed 9-of-13 passes for 83 yards to help get the Vikings into field goal range for the win. 

Things were not much better over on the Las Vegas side. Aidan O'Connell threw for just 171 yards, while the Raiders managed just 56 yards on the ground. 34 of those yards belonged to Josh Jacobs.

The Vikings are fighting for their playoff lives and they are in no position to apologize for the way they win, especially with quarterback Kirk Cousins out for the season. That's not even mentioning superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson being sidelined for multiple weeks and then leaving Sunday's game following his return to the lineup. The Vikings just need wins. They got a big one on Sunday, even if it was terrible to watch.