By BLAKE BEDDINGFIELD, special correspondent

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Vikings will be minus their two best defensive players on Sunday versus the Titans.

Defensive end Danielle Hunter (on IR) and linebacker Anthony Barr (out for the season with a torn pectoral) will miss the game due to injuries; the Titans stand to get three weeks in a row of opposing teams that have lost their best players before they matchup.DavisHumphriesMH

(Photo by Mark Humphries, AP via pool)

Another big loss on the Vikings’ defense is run-stuffing defensive tackle Michael Pierce, who opted out before the season started.

These unfortunate circumstances for the opponent must be taken advantage of by the Titans.

Vikings Offense

Quarterback Kirk Cousins has had an up-and-down career. This season he has developed some bad habits. He is relying on wide receiver Adam Thielen too often. Thielen had twice as many targets in each of the first two games as any other receiver. He is also focusing on him on critical downs and not spreading the ball around.

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Paul Kuharsky has covered the Tennessee Titans since 1996, first for The Tennessean, then ESPN.com and now independently at paulkuharsky.com. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame selection committee and one of the longest-tenured Titans beat reporters in the franchise's history.

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