But staying away from that third defeat isn't going to be easy as they get set to play Tennessee on Sunday at LP Field in Nashville. The undefeated Titans (3-0) sit atop the AFC South and are allowing only 9.7 points per game, the least in the NFL this season.

This is not exactly good news for a Vikings offense that continues to sputter far too often. Gus Frerotte took over for Tarvaris Jackson as the starting quarterback against the Panthers but Minnesota still only accounted for one offensive touchdown.

That came on Frerotte's 34-yard pass to tight end Visanthe Shiancoe in the third quarter and was set up in large part because the quarterback connected with receiver Bernard Berrian on a 48-yard strike earlier in that drive.

The Vikings offense seemed to be opened up more with Frerotte running the show, and there was a definite attempt to establish the aerial game early as Minnesota had 10 pass attempts and three rushes in the opening quarter.

The Vikings hope is that Frerotte's ability to throw the deep ball will keep defenses honest and not make it as easy for opponents to put eight-men in the box in order to try to stop Pro Bowl running back Adrian Peterson.

Peterson played against the Panthers despite a sore hamstring and had 17 rushing attempts for 77 yards. Veteran Chester Taylor, who had only nine rushing attempts in the first two games, helped carry a share of the load, rushing for 44 yards on 11 carries.

The Vikings likely aren't going to take any chances with Peterson's hamstring this Sunday and will look to involve both running backs once again.

However, yards on the ground and through the air are not going to come easily against the Titans defense. The unit ranks third overall and against the pass in the NFL and is 10th against the run.

One positive for the Vikings is that the 37-year-old Frerotte is unlikely to get flustered playing in a hostile environment. This might not have been the case with the inexperienced Jackson.

Frerotte's makeup is something that Vikings coach Brad Childress appreciates.

"It's almost like he's on Valium," Childress said. "He's a flat line kind of guy. You're not going to get a wave out of him. You saw that all the way, whether it was installing the openers or in the locker room or warming up (before the Carolina game). ... There is just a great way about him, a great confidence about him."

SERIES HISTORY: 11th meeting. Vikings lead series, 7-3, and have won the past four games against the Oilers/Titans franchise. The Vikings, who are 18-19-1 all-time against the AFC South, have outscored Tennessee 234-91 in their seven victories.