Houston Texans at Minnesota Vikings: Second Quarter Open Thread

To start their Week 5 contest against the Houston Texans, your 4-0 Minnesota Vikings got the ball first as the Texans won the coin toss and elected to defer. Cordarrelle Patterson couldn't do much on the return, as he could only get the ball to the Minnesota 16-yard line. The Vikings got their initial first down on a pass from Sam Bradford to Cordarrelle Patterson, and followed it up with a pair of runs by Jerick McKinnon for 17 yards to get near midfield. Bradford then hit Adam Thielen, who started in place of Stefon Diggs, for a gain of 23 yards to the Houston 35. After a short loss on a run by Matt Asiata, the Vikings found the end zone, as Bradford found Thielen from 36 yards out for a big-time score! Blair Walsh added the extra point, and the Vikings staked themselves to a 7-0 lead with just over 11 minutes left in the quarter.

Houston got to start their initial drive at their own 17-yard line after a return by Braxton Miller. Brock Osweiler and company didn't do much on the drive, and wound up going three-and-out. They brought Shane Lechler in to punt the ball away, and Marcus Sherels did a nice job on the return, gaining 12 yards to set the Vikings up with very good field position at their own 45-yard line.

A quick pass to Patterson got the Vikings into Houston territory, and McKinnon then took one out of the Wildcat for five yards and a first down. Bradford then found Asiata on a third down for 23 yards, and the Vikings were in the red zone again at the Houston 15-yard line. Houston was then flagged for 12 men on the field to move the Vikings to the 10, and McKinnon ran for eight yards to set up 1st-and-goal from the 2. After a facemask penalty on Jadeveon Clowney gave the Vikings a fresh set of downs, they added more points on a 1-yard touchdown run from Asiata! Walsh put the extra point home again, and the Vikings were out to a 14-0 lead.

The next kickoff from Walsh resulted in a touchback, giving the Texans the ball at their own 25-yard line. Houston had to burn a timeout due to the crowd noise before a 3rd-and-5 attempt, but Eric Kendricks broke up an Osweiler pass, and the Texans went three-and-out again. Lechler punted it away, and after a penalty the Vikings set up shop at their own 8-yard line.

Unfortunately, the Vikings put up their first three-and-out, as Whitney Mercilus and Antonio Smith took Bradford down for a sack to stop the drive and nearly register a safety for the visitors. Minnesota had to call on Jeff Locke for the first time in the game, and while Locke got a good punt away, a 55-yarder, but Tyler Ervin took it for the Texans and returned it down to the Minnesota 38-yard line.

Houston, much like on their first two drives, could not generate a first down. Houston brought Nick Novak in for a 51-yard field goal attempt. Novak wasn't even close, pushing the ball wide to the right, and Minnesota took over again at their own 41-yard line.

Minnesota gave the ball to Cordarrelle Patterson on an end-around to start the next drive, and he picked up eight yards. On third down, Bradford took a shot, but completed a pass to Jarius Wright for ten yards and a first down. As we move to the second quarter, the Vikings are looking at 1st-and-10 from the Houston 45-yard line.

Fifteen minutes in the books at U.S. Bank Stadium, and the Minnesota Vikings are leading the Houston Texans by a score of 14-0. Come on in and join us for the second quarter of play!