FIRST REPORT: Vikings Fall to Saints 20-9 as Teddy Bridgewater Makes Debut
Minnesota would receive the second half kickoff and The Vikings took over from about their own 30 after a good Cordarrelle Patterson kickoff return. Bridgewater was able to march the offense down to the Saints 23 yard line behind a Saints defensive holding penalty that moved the chains on 3rd down and a Patterson 13 yard catch on an out route near the sidelines.
The drive stalled at the 23 however and Blair Walsh was forced to come on for his 3rd FG of the day which he converted from 40 yards out cutting the Saints lead to 13-9.
It looked as though the Minnesota defense would force a 3 and out on the Saints first possession but the Saints converted on 3rd and 14 to move the sticks. The Vikings defense did hold strong however as a 3rd and 10 shotgun snap went right through Drew Bree’s hands forcing punt.
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Josh Robinson negated a good Marcus Sherels return with a block in the back and the Vikings took over inside their own 20. Teddy got the Vikings out of bad territory with a long strike to Greg Jennings at the 40. It looked like the drive would continue as Bridgewater rolled to his left extending the play on 3rd and 5 but the pass to Jennings was just broken up. Jeff Locke pinned the Saints inside the 15 on the ensuing punt.
The Saints drive was stopped by a Captain Munnerlyn but The Captain was assessed a 15 yard personal foul for unnecessary roughness. The call was certainly controversial because the whistle didn’t come before Munnerlyn tossed Drew Bree’s to the ground, and Bree’s retaliated by pushing Robert Blanton in the back after the play and he was not penalized.
Former DB Ronde Barber and Fox commentator on the penalty “It’s unfortunate as it changed the outcome of the game.
New Orleans took advantage of their new life and converted on their next two third downs and then scored on a Marques Colston crossing route from 19 yards out taking the 20-9 lead.
The Vikings burned their first timeout facing a 3rd and 2 from their own 20, trailing by 11. The timeout paid off as the Vikings converted on a short pass to Patterson. The Vikings were unable to keep the drive alive however and had to punt the ball back to the Saints up 11 with 6:58 left in the game.
The Saints converted on 3rd and 10 after Brees eluded Brian Robinson and connected with Stills. Chad Greenway was out of the game with 4 minutes left in the game and the Saints took advantage gashing the Vikings with Khiry Robinson right up the gut. Just when it looked like the Vikings could give themselves a chance to get the ball back the Saints converted yet another 3rd and 10 as the clock hit the 2 minute warning. The Vikings put the final nail in the coffin as Everson Griffin jumped offside on 3rd and 3 giving the Saints an automatic first down allowing Drew Brees to take a knee ending the game to the tune of the New Orleans Saints 20 vs the Minnesota Vikings 9.
Teddy Bridgewater finished the day 12/20 for 150 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. Teddy also had 27 rushing yards on the day with Matt Asiata leading the way for all Vikings rushers with 35 yards. Greg Jennings snagged 5 receptions for 70 yards in the 11 point Viking loss.