Following a first half filled with field goals, the Minnesota Vikings and Jacksonville Jaguars were tied at 9-9 going into the second half at Everbank Field. Jacksonville got the ball first coming out of the locker room, and they started at their own 25-yard line following a touchback. The Jaguars got another big pass from Blake Bortles to Marquise Lee to move themselves into Minnesota territory at the 27-yard line, but the Jaguars' offense stalled out from there. The Jaguars brought Jason Myers on for his fourth field goal attempt of the afternoon, and for the first time today we saw a miss, as Myers' 41-yard attempt went wide to the right.
Minnesota took over at their own 31, and Sam Bradford found Adam Thielen for another big pass play, a 26-yarder to move the chains in Jacksonville territory at the 43. Bradford then found Thielen for 11 more to move the Vikings to the 32, and the Vikings were in business. So, naturally, the offense bogged down again, and Kai Forbath came on for his fourth field goal attempt of the afternoon. His attempt from 46 yards out was good, and the Vikings took the lead back at a score of 12-9.
Jacksonville started out their next drive at their own 10-yard line following a penalty on the return by Lee. The Jaguars converted a third down play on a connection from Bortles to Allen Robinson for 17 yards and a first down. Everson Griffen then collected his second sack of Bortles on the afternoon, but a pair of penalties on Xavier Rhodes. . .one for holding and one for unsportsmanlike conduct. . .gave the Jaguars new life and a fresh set of downs at the Minnesota 39-yard line. Rhodes went to the bench, and Bortles went after his replacement, Mackensie Alexander, immediately drawing another big interference penalty to move Jacksonville to the Minnesota 17. The Jaguars cashed in from there, as Bortles found Bryan Walters for a 14-yard touchdown pass for the game's first touchdown. Myers came in and hit the extra point, and Jacksonville had their first lead of the afternoon at 16-12.
After the Jaguars managed to get a delay of game on the kickoff. . .something I've never seen before. . .the Jaguars kicked short and David Morgan returned the kick to the Minnesota 38-yard line. Bradford found Stefon Diggs for 5 yards, and a 7-yard run for Jerick McKinnon moved the ball to midfield for the Vikings and got them a first down. A pass from Bradford to McKinnon picked up 12 more, and the Vikings were into Jacksonville territory at the 38. Bradford then found Adam Thielen for 23 more yards down to the Jacksonville 15, and the Vikings were in the red zone. McKinnon then had another reception down to the 8, and another catch by McKinnon set the Vikings up with 1st-and-goal at the Jacksonville 3. That's where we stand as we move to the fourth quarter of play.
We've got fifteen minutes of football remaining at Everbank Field, and the Jacksonville Jaguars lead the Minnesota Vikings by a score of 16-12, but the Vikings are on the doorstep for more. Can the Vikings get themselves a victory against a 2-10 Jaguars team?