Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings: Second Quarter Open Thread

In the home opener for the Minnesota Vikings, the Detroit Lions won the coin toss and defered to the second half, giving the home team the football first. After not getting a lot of work in the opener, Adrian Peterson got the ball on the first three plays of the game, picking up 13 yards on those attempts. The Vikings moved down the field, including a nice pass from Teddy Bridgewater to Jarius Wright for 17 yards to convert an early third down, and the Peterson ripped off a 25-yard carry down to the Detroit 20-yard line. Bridgewater then converted on a designed draw to give the Vikings 1st-and-goal at the 5, and on second down the Vikings got their first touchdown of 2014, as Bridgewater found Kyle Rudolph for a 5-yard touchdown pass. Blair Walsh converted the extra point, and Minnesota jumped out to an early 7-0 lead.

After a touchback by Walsh, the Vikings appeared to be on the verge of a three-and-out, but Matthew Stafford found Golden Tate for a 19-yard gain to convert on third down. They couldn't convert a second one, however, as Brian Robison knocked down a screen pass to force a Detroit punt. Unfortunately, the Vikings only answered with a three and out, as a pass to Mike Wallace that was originally ruled a first down was ruled short after Detroit challenged the spot successfully.

A very good punt by Jeff Locke and a penalty on the Lions had the visitors starting inside their own 10 to start their next drive, and the Vikings gifted them a first down thanks to a neutral zone penalty on Everson Griffen on third down. However, the Lions couldn't do anything else with it, as a penalty and some solid defense from the Vikings pushed them back inside the 15 and they were forced to punt again. Lions' punter Sam Martin's punt was a short one, and the Vikings started their third drive from the midfield stripe.

Two consecutive carries by Peterson to start the next drive pushed the Vikings to the Detroit 35-yard line, and then Jarius Wright took a flip from Peterson after a handoff and streaked 29-yards to the Detroit 6 (thanks to a great block from Teddy Bridgewater). After a run on second down was originally called a touchdown, it was reversed and Peterson was ruled down at the 1-yard line.

That's where we stand as we move to the second quarter of play, with the Vikings facing third-and-goal at the 1 and holding onto a 7-0 lead. Peterson, thus far, has 13 carries for 71 yards, while Bridgewater has thrown just four passes, completing three of them for 26 yards and the touchdown to Rudolph.

Can the Vikings keep this up, folks? Let's watch it together and find out!