Minnesota Vikings vs. Cincinnati Bengals – Week 1 live game highlights

Vikings vs. Bengals: First half

The Minnesota Vikings got the ball to open the game and couldn’t get much going. Penalties moved them back and forced them to punt the ball away. Once the Bengals got the ball, Nick Vigil made a nice tackle for a loss and a pass sailed a little high for Tyler Boyd. On third down, Eric Kendricks made a tackle after a short Cincinnati gain to force a punt back to the Vikings.

After two tough runs and an incomplete pass, the ball went back to the Bengals. A nice return from Cincinnati gave them good field position to start the drive. A nice sack by Nick Vigil pushed the Bengals back and forced a punt to give the ball back to Minnesota.

Two sacks of Kirk Cousins destroyed this drive and pushed the Vikings back near their own goal line. The punt allowed Burrow’s team to start near midfield but a potential first-down catch from Tee Higgins was swatted away by new Vikings safety Xavier Woods.

https://twitter.com/Bengals/status/1437109104363937808

A questionable non-call on some Justin Jefferson pass interference nearly stalled a drive, but a 17-yard Dalvin Cook run kept the drive alive and a short screen picked up another first down. A strike to Justin Jefferson moved the chains. A reverse from Justin Jefferson turned into a pass to K.J. Osborn that was completed near the 25-yard line.

Two penalties moved the Vikings back into a second and 28 situation K.J. Osborn broke a tackle and lept for the first down and set Minnesota up in the red zone. A defensive holding penalty on the Bengals gave Minnesota the ball at the five-yard line, where Cousins hit Adam Thielen in the end zone for a touchdown. After the extra point, the Vikings led 7-0.

Cincinnati attempted to test the Vikings run defense to start the drive and got nowhere. A connection to Ja’Marr Chase picked up the first down, but Harrison Smith busted through the line on the next play for a sack.

Sadly, on a free play from an offside penalty, Bashaud Breeland was called for pass interference that puts the ball at the three-yard line. On second down, Burrow threw a touchdown pass to Tee Higgins with the extra point tying the game at 7-7.

With 1.47 left on the clock, Minnesota took over at their own 25 following a touchback. A holding call on Rashod Hill moved them back ten yards Two short passes weren’t enough to move the chains and Minnesota gave the ball back with 1:23 remaining.

Burrow heaved a pass to Chase that was hauled in for the second Bengals score of the game. After the big play, Cincinnati led 7-14.

Adding some insult to the play, Chase celebrated with Justin Jefferson’s signature move: the Griddy.

Now with 35 seconds left in the game. Bashaud Breeland went to the sideline after an injury scare and Minnesota took over at their own 25. A false start on Brian O’Neill moved them back to the 20, making this the fifth false start on the Vikings in this game. Thielen had a grab for a first down, but Minnesota followed that up with a holding call on Rashod Hill to move the ball back. This was the team’s tenth accepted penalty.

Penalty number nine came with an illegal formation call on Rashod Hill, who is struggling in a huge way. That was followed with penalty number 10 on Garrett Bradbury, who was flagged for holding. Minnesota punted back as the clock expired.