The good guys have the early lead
We’re through the first quarter of play at Paycor Stadium with the Minnesota Vikings leading the Cincinnati Bengals by a score of 7-3.
The home team got the football first to start this one as the Vikings won the coin toss and deferred to the second half. They pushed into Minnesota territory on the strength of a few nice throws from Jake Browning, but got a little too cute on a 3rd-and-1 with an attempted tight end-around pass that wound up losing yards. They settled for a 34-yard field goal from Evan MacPherson to take an early 3-0 lead.
The Vikings then took the ball and the Ty Chandler show started. He carried the ball seven times on the drive for 30 yards and also had a 16-yard reception to set the Vikings up with first-and-goal from the 1-yard line. Chandler finished the drive with a touchdown run, and the Vikings went up 7-3 with just over two minutes left in the first quarter.
Spins and in!@Channdler_35 puts the #Vikings on the board early.
: @NFLNetwork pic.twitter.com/jxEg0xSYbD
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 16, 2023
The Bengals went three-and-out on their next possession and the Vikings got the ball back inside of their own 20. Unfortunately, the Vikings answered with a three-and-out of their own, and the second quarter will start with a Minnesota punt from their own 13-yard line.
We’re finished with the first quarter in Cincinnati with the Vikings leading the Bengals by a score of 7-3. Come on in and join us for the second quarter of play!