Minnesota Vikings at Cincinnati Bengals: First quarter recap and second quarter discussion

Fifteen minutes of football are in the books, and we are scoreless at Paul Brown Stadium, as the Minnesota Vikings and Cincinnati Bengals stand tied at 0-0.

The Vikings got the football first after the Bengals won the coin toss and chose to defer to the second half. The kickoff went for a touchback, and Kirk Cousins led the Vikings’ offense onto the field at their own 25-yard line. Though they mixed in a couple of nice plays, the drive stalled because the Vikings committed four penalties (including three false starts) in one drive and had to punt it away.

Minnesota’s defense got off to a nice start, forcing a punt after allowing one Bengals’ first down, and got the ball back at their own 20 after a touchback. Unfortunately, the ball went right back to the Bengals after a three-and-out, and the home team started things out at their own 45. The Vikings then got their first sack of 2021, courtesy of. . .Nick Vigil, as the former Bengal dropped Joe Burrow for a loss of 12 and forced a three-and-out for the Vikings’ defense.

The Vikings did pick up a first down on their next possession, but then the Vikings gave up two sacks on the next three plays to force another Jordan Berry punt and give the Bengals the ball back at midfield. But, it appears that the Vikings’ defense has forced another three-and-out and the Bengals will be punting it away as we move to the second quarter.

We’re through the first 15 minutes in Cincinnati, and we are scoreless in Week 1 between the Vikings and the Bengals. Come on in and join us for the second quarter!