Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings: Second Quarter Open Thread

To start their Week 4 contest at U.S. Bank Stadium against the Detroit Lions, the Minnesota Vikings won the coin toss and deferred to the second half, giving the visitors the football first. Kai Forbath’s kickoff went into the end zone for a touchback, giving the Lions the ball at their own 25-yard line. Things got off to a roaring start for the Vikings. . .see what I did there. . .as Danielle Hunter sacked Matthew Stafford on Detroit’s opening play, but the Lions still managed to pick up a first down. But, after the initial first down, the Lions couldn’t generate another and were forced to bring on our old friend Jeff Locke to punt it away. Marcus Sherels brought the punt back to the Minnesota 26, and that’s where the Vikings took over.

Minnesota got a quick first down after a 4-yard run by Dalvin Cook and a nice connection from Case Keenum to Adam Thielen for a gain of 24 into Detroit territory. However, the drive stalled out from there, and Ryan Quigley came on to punt it away for Minnesota. The punt was not a good one, as it took a significant Detroit bounce and wound up being downed at the 21, making the punt just 19 yards.

Detroit got a big play from running back Ameer Abdullah on the first play of their next drive, as he took a handoff and went for 29 yards to put the Lions at midfield. But, the defense recovered and the Lions were forced to punt it away again. Locke’s punt went to Marcus Sherels, who called for a fair catch at the 10-yard line.

The Vikings’ next drive started with a 5-yard offsides penalty on the Lions, and then Dalvin Cook had a nice run for a first down. Keenum then found Blake Bell for a 12-yard gain to move the chains once again. Two more carries by Cook generated another first down, and the Vikings were approaching midfield once again. However, a pass from Keenum to Adam Thielen fell incomplete, and Quigley came on to punt again. Quigley did a much better job this time, dropping his punt out of bounds at the Detroit 8-yard line.

The Vikings forced a third down early in the Detroit drive, but Stafford found tight end Daniel Fells for a completion to move the sticks. Stafford found Fells again for another first down, but then Danielle Hunter picked up his second sack of the afternoon. However, Matthew Stafford then found Marvin Jones for a big catch down to the Vikings’ 38-yard line, and that’s where they’ll have it first-and-10 when we come back.

We’re scoreless after fifteen minutes of action at U.S. Bank Stadium, but the Lions have moved into Minnesota territory. Come join us for the second quarter of play!