New York Giants at Minnesota Vikings: Second Quarter Open Thread

To start the final (scheduled) home game at TCF Bank Stadium, the New York Giants won the coin toss and chose to defer to the second half, meaning that the Minnesota Vikings got the football first. Cordarrelle Patterson returned the kickoff, and failed to reach the 20-yard line, getting stopped at the 19. The Vikings wound up going three-and-out on their first possession, and had to call on Jeff Locke to punt the ball away. The punt by Locke was pretty awful, as it traveled only 29 yards, allowing the Giants to start at their own 45-yard line. The Vikings wound up forcing a three-and-out of their own, and Brad Wing got a very good punt away for the Giants. . .about as good as you can get, as New York downed it at the Minnesota 4-yard line.

The Vikings picked up the initial first down of the evening, courtesy of a quick pass to Stefon Diggs. Teddy Bridgewater found Diggs again for another first down, but the Vikings stalled at their 35 and had to punt it away again. Locke's punt was short again, and Dwayne Harris was able to return it to the Giants' 37-yard line to give the visitors decent field position again. The Giants were quickly into Vikings' territory on a 16-yard run by Rashad Jennings. On the next play, Eli Manning attempted to find Hakeem Nicks, but the pass was deflected by Xavier Rhodes and into the hands of Andrew Sendejo for the interception! Sendejo returned the pick to the Minnesota 45-yard line, where the Vikings started their next drive.

Unfortunately, the Vikings couldn't take advantage of the turnover, as they went three-and-out once again courtesy of a drop by Adrian Peterson and a sack of Bridgewater by Robert Ayers and George Selvie. Locke's next punt wasn't a great one, but it got a good bounce as the Vikings were able to down it at the New York 7-yard line. A couple of carries by Jennings got the Giants out to the 20-yard line, but the drive was quickly snuffed out after that courtesy of Danielle Hunter getting a sack of Manning. Wing punted the ball away, and Minnesota got good field position at their own 46-yard line.

Peterson started the drive with a 5-yard run into Giants' territory, and then Bridgewater found Jarius Wright for a nice 18-yard gain to the New York 31. Peterson then picked up seven more, and then picked up five more to put the Vikings into the red zone. However, the drive stalled out at the New York 14-yard line, and the Vikings had to call on Blair Walsh for a short field goal attempt. Walsh was good from 32 yards out, and the Vikings took a 3-0 lead with seconds remaining in the first quarter.

The kickoff from Walsh was returned by Shane Vereen to the Giants' 26-yard line, and as we move to the second quarter, the Giants are looking at first-and-ten from that spot.

After fifteen minutes of play at TCF Bank Stadium, the Minnesota Vikings lead the New York Football Giants by a score of 3-0. Come hang out with us for the second quarter of play!