Photo: Getty Images
It was a less than ideal situation when the Vikings didn't have most of their star players active through most of the preseason. There would certainly be some rust to knock off when the regular season started and that's exactly what we saw through the first half of their week one matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Not only was the offense a little slow to get going against the Bengals, they were plagued with penalties and mental mistakes as well. As a team, the Vikings finished the first half with 10 penalties for 91 yards putting them in tough spots left and right.
The lone score for the Vikings came in the second quarter as Kirk Cousins hit Adam Thielen from 5 yards out for the touchdown capping off an ugly, but productive 14 play, 91 yard drive.
The Bengals though struck back on the next drive as Joe Burrow used more Vikings penalties to get in position to hit Tee Higgins for the score to tie the game.
After the Vikings stalled within two minutes, Burrow and the Bengals got the ball back and took their shot early hitting Ja'Marr Chase on the 50-yard deep touchdown pass with :35 left to give Cincy a halftime lead.
The Bengals will receive the second half kickoff.