Nifty Fake Punt Highlights Otherwise Poor First Half for Vikings

The Vikings are not going to look back on their first half against the Bears with any great feeling of encouragement.

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It was a frustrating two quarters on both sides of the football for Minnesota, who went into halftime trailing Chicago 14-10.

Things were actually looking pretty good for the Vikings early, with the Bears seemingly on the verse of implosion. Minnesota took an early 3 point lead on a 50-yard Blair Walsh field goal.

More special teams heroics came on a beautifully executed fake punt resulting in a 44-yard Andrew Sendejo run.

Teddy Bridgewater threw a TD pass to Rhett Ellison on the ensuing play to give the Vikings a 10-0 lead.

But that early lead would not last long for Minnesota once Jay Cutler started going to work.

The Vikings’ pass rush went MIA in the second quarter, allowing Cutler plenty of time to work the edges with his big receivers. Alshon Jeffery and Brandon Marshall both had their way with cornerback Josh Robinson, leading to a pair of Bears TDs.

The big play came when Cutler hit Marshall in the end zone for a 44-yard score to give the Bears the lead.

The Vikings’ offense did their D no favors by going three-and-out on a consistent basis. Teddy Bridgewater could not push the ball down the field against what has so far this year been a very poor Bears pass defense.

The checkdown/screen game offense was not enough to move the ball against the Bears and keep control of field position.

The Vikings will need to open up their offense in the second half, and get that pass rush cranked up, or the Bears will have no problem walking away from Soldier Field with a win.

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