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We have officially reached halftime of this NFC North battle at U.S. Bank Stadium, and our Minnesota Vikings trail the Chicago Bears by a score of 20-10.
The Vikings were driving when the quarter started, but the drive ended with Kirk Cousins getting sacked for the second time on the afternoon, forcing a Britton Colquitt punt. Chicago took possession and pushed deep into Minnesota territory once again, and ultimately capping the drive with a 1-yard run from David Montgomery. Cairo Santos added the extra point and the lead for the visiting team went to ten at 17-7.
On the Vikings’ next possession, they faced a fourth-and-inches from their own 34-yard line, and after initially bringing on the punt team, Mike Zimmer changed his mind and decided to go for it. Dalvin Cook got stuffed for a loss, so the result was a turnover on downs.
The Bears got some points out of that as well, as Santos connected from 35 yards out to extend the Chicago lead to 20-7.
The Vikings got a few points back at the end of the half, as Dan Bailey connected on a 24-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 20-10 going into the locker room.
Kirk Cousins has been under pressure all afternoon, having already been sacked twice and hit on numerous other occasions. He’s completed 9-of-14 passes for 83 yards and a touchdown, and should have had a second touchdown had Irv Smith Jr. not dropped one in the end zone that hit him in the chest. Only four different Vikings have caught passes, with Justin Jefferson leading the way with three grabs for 41 yards. Smith has two catches for 26 yards, Adam Thielen has two receptions for 11 yards and a touchdown, and Dalvin Cook has a pair of catches for a total of five yards.
Speaking of Cook, he’s had some success on the ground so far, carrying the ball 13 times for 79 yards in the first half. Cousins has a pair of scrambles for 17 yards as well.
We’re at halftime at U.S. Bank Stadium, and your Minnesota Vikings trail the Chicago Bears in a must-win game by a score of 20-10. They’ll get the ball to start the second half. Can they mount another comeback from down double digits?