Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings: Fourth Quarter Open Thread

Coming off of their long drive to finish the first half of play, the Detroit Lions got the ball first in the second half, leading the Minnesota Vikings by a score of 10-3. Detroit started their first drive at their own 22-yard line after the Blair Walsh kickoff, and the Minnesota defense forced a quick three-and-out. Stefon Diggs, in for a hobbled Marcus Sherels, fielded the punt, and set the Vikings' offense up at their own 35-yard line.

Unfortunately. . .and stop me if you've heard this one. . .the Minnesota offense answered with a three-and-out of their own following a sack of Sam Bradford by Kerry Hyder. Jeff Locke came on to punt again, and Andre Roberts called for the fair catch on the punt at the Detroit 23-yard line.

Minnesota's offense stepped up once again, forcing a second consecutive three-and-out. The punt from Sam Martin went out of bounds at the Minnesota 22-yard line for the Vikings' second possession of the third quarter. They actually picked up a first down to start off their next drive, with a pass from Sam Bradford to Charles Johnson and a run by Ronnie Hillman moving the sticks. Johnson then drew a pass interference penalty on a long pass from Bradford and the Vikings were into Lions territory at the 45-yard line.

Stefon Diggs then took and end-around on a Wildcat snap to Matt Asiata for 12 more yards down to the Detroit 33. Bradford then found Adam Thielen for a 17-yard gain to the Detroit 16-yard line to put the Vikings into the red zone. Matt Asiata then took the ball down to the 9-yard line, and then set the Vikings up with first-and-goal at the 5 on another carry. Asiata was then flagged for a false start to make it first-and-goal from the 10. Asiata continued to get work, carrying for six yards down to the Detroit 4. Asiata then got the ball down to the 1, and the Vikings brought in Linval Joseph. . .yes, Linval Joseph. . .to play fullback. Of course, that just opened things up for Bradford to find Kyle Rudolph for a 1-yard touchdown pass!

Of course, Blair Walsh then proceeded to bounce the extra point off of the right upright, so the Lions held onto the lead at 10-9. Yeah, that happened.

The kickoff from Walsh went through the end zone for a touchback, giving the Lions the ball at their own 25. The Vikings' defense stepped up with a third consecutive three-and-out to get the offense the football back, and Stefon Diggs got a very nice return of the Sam Martin punt, breaking one for 19 yards to the Minnesota 41-yard line to give the offense good field position.

Minnesota got themselves a first down into Detroit territory thanks to a couple of passes from Bradford to Cordarrelle Patterson to the 45. Bradford then found Diggs on a big third down play for 12 yards to the Detroit 31-yard line. As we move to the fourth quarter of play, that's where the Vikings have the football.

With fifteen minutes of football left at U.S. Bank Stadium, the Vikings trail the Lions by just one point by a score of 10-9. Can the home team finish the comeback against their division rivals?