Daily Norseman
We’ve reached halftime at Soldier Field, and the Minnesota Vikings trail the Chicago Bears by a score of 10-6 in a game that, quite frankly, could be a whole lot worse.
The first play of the quarter saw J.J. McCarthy unload a deep pass toward Aaron Jones down the sideline, and the pass fell incomplete but the Bears got called for a pass interference penalty to move the ball into Chicago territory for the purple. McCarthy then scrambled for 11 more yards and another first down to put the Vikings into the red zone for the first time this season. McCarthy’s pass for Justin Jefferson on the next third down fell incomplete, and the Vikings got their first points of the season on a 31-yard Will Reichard field goal to make it 7-3 early in the second quarter.
The Bears then moved the ball down the field again and found themselves facing a 4th-and-3 from the Minnesota 24-yard line. Ben Johnson kept his offense on the field and Caleb Williams finally threw an incompletion to give the Vikings’ defense a stop and a turnover on downs.
Unfortunately, the Vikings’ offense could do nothing with the momentum, as they once again went three and out when their third down pass to Jefferson was about a yard short of the line to gain. Ryan Wright punted it away and the Bears started out at their own 35-yard line.
The Vikings’ defense then forced a three-and-out of their own and took over at their own 24-yard line with just under six minutes left in the half. But it didn’t matter, as they managed to go three-and-out once again, and the Bears started out with good field position near their own 40. They pushed into Minnesota territory once again, and added to their lead on a 42-yard field goal from Cairo Santos to make it 10-3.
The Vikings got the ball back with 24 seconds left in the half, and McCarthy then made his best throw of the night, connecting with Jalen Nailor for a gain of 33 yards to the Chicago 36-yard line. With no timeouts remaining, the Vikings brought Will Reichard out for a 59-yard field goal attempt, and he drilled it to make it 10-6 heading into the locker room at halftime.
Honestly, this could be a whole lot worse for the Vikings right now, given the way the offense has looked. The Bears have made a lot of mistakes, but the purple need to pick things up in a big way in the second half, where the Bears will get the ball first.
We’re at halftime in Chicago, and the Vikings trail the Bears by a score of 10-6. Come on in and join us for the third quarter of play!
