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It’s halftime at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, and the ugliness has continued for the home team, as the Minnesota Vikings trail the Atlanta Falcons by a score of 20-0.
The Vikings started the quarter with some momentum thanks to the fumble recovery at the end of the first quarter, and they pushed down to a 4th-and-goal at the 1-yard line. However, a handoff to Mike Boone was stopped just short of the goal line, and the Vikings turned it over on downs.
After forcing the Falcons to punt, Kirk Cousins was intercepted again, this time on a juggling pick by rookie A.J. Terrell, setting the Falcons up in Minnesota territory again. It was the ninth interception of the season for Cousins, or three more than he had in all of 2019.
Atlanta cashed in on that turnover as well, as Matt Ryan found Calvin Ridley for an 8-yard score, and the extra point from Younghoe Koo made it 17-0 just after the two-minute warning.
The Vikings were driving, but Cousins threw yet another interception, as he was hit as he threw and the fluttering pass was picked off by Foye Oluokun for his third pick of the first half, with the Falcons being set up at midfield again. The Falcons turned it into points once again, this time getting a field goal from Koo from 21 yards out to make it 20-0 going into the locker room.
An absolutely ugly first half for the Vikings, “highlighted”. . .if we can call it that. . .by the three Cousins interceptions, which led directly to 17 Falcons points. For the half, he has completed 8-of-14 passes for 102 yards and the three picks. Irv Smith Jr. is currently the leading receiver with one catch for 36 yards, while Kyle Rudolph has a pair of catches for 28 yards. Alexander Mattison, in the game for Dalvin Cook, has carried the ball eight times for 26 yards thus far.
The Vikings are down by three scores to an 0-5 team in their own building, as they trail the Atlanta Falcons by a score of 20-0 at halftime at U.S. Bank Stadium. Oh, and the Falcons will get the ball to start the third quarter. Can the Vikings eventually get it together here?