Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings: Third Quarter Open Thread

The second quarter started with the Minnesota Vikings facing a 3rd-and-8 from their own 22-yard line, and Teddy Bridgewater got it on a scramble after protection broke down. Unfortunately, Bridgewater then took a sack that lost eighteen yards by Datone Jones, and that pretty much killed everything for the Vikings' offense. The Vikings called on Jeff Locke to punt the ball away. He got away a 44-yard punt to the Green Bay Packers' 33-yard line, and that's where Green Bay started their first drive of the second quarter.

It took the Packers just two plays to get into Minnesota territory, thanks to a pass from Aaron Rodgers to Davante Adams and a big 25-yard run from Eddie Lacy down to the Minnesota 27-yard line. However, the Minnesota defense tightened up once again, and for the third time on the afternoon the Packers had to call on Mason Crosby for a field goal attempt. Crosby was good once again, this time from 40 yards out, and Green Bay moved back into the lead by a score of 9-6.

Minnesota once again started at their own 20-yard line after another touchback from Crosby. A nice pass from Bridgewater to Stefon Diggs got the ball out to the 40, but then the Vikings took yet another penalty, this one a hold on Brandon Fusco to push them back. Jeff Locke was brought on to punt again, and this one set the Packers up at their own 22-yard line for their next possession.

Green Bay picked up a first down on a pass from Rodgers to Randall Cobb for 14 yards, but the Packers' drive was snuffed out on third down on a sack by Captain Munnerlyn. The ensuing punt was partially blocked (it appeared) by Jerick McKinnon, and the Vikings took over with great field position at the Green Bay 42-yard line.

Unfortunately, the Vikings' offense did nothing with the ball, as they went backwards. Worse still, it appeared that Bridgewater suffered a significant injury to his left shoulder on a sack from Julius Peppers. We'll update the Bridgewater injury when we can. The Vikings punted the ball away, and the Packers started at their own 22-yard line.

The Vikings appeared to have the Packers stopped following a sack on second down by Everson Griffen, but on third down the Packers managed to draw a 50-yard pass interference penalty on Terence Newman to put the ball down at the Minnesota 35-yard line. The Vikings committed three third-down penalties on that drive, and eventually it came back to bite them, as Rodgers found Randall Cobb with six second left in the half. Crosby made the extra point, and the Packers took a 16-6 lead into the locker room.

Looking at the stat sheet, Teddy Bridgewater has completed 10-of-12 passes for 99 yards and a touchdown. Adrian Peterson has only carried the ball nine times for 32 yards thus far. Stefon Diggs is the Vikings' leading receiver right now, bringing in three catches for 32 yards.

On the Green Bay side, Aaron Rodgers has completed 11-of-20 passes for 98 yards and a touchdown. Eddie Lacy has carried the ball five times for 33 yards, and James Jones is leading the Green Bay receivers with three receptions for 41 yards.

At halftime at TCF Bank Stadium, the Minnesota Vikings trail the Green Bay Packers by a score of 16-6. Can the Vikings make a pretty significant comeback and pull off their sixth consecutive victory?