Minnesota Vikings vs Cleveland Browns
@ Twickenham Stadium 1:30pm
The 4th and final International series game in the UK will again take place at Twickenham Stadium and continues the four game series in London which has been shared between Wembley and Twickenham. Another sell out crowd is expected for these popular matches and kick off will be at 1.30pm.
Current season record Minnesota Vikings
- P7 W5 L2 F146 A119
Cleveland Browns
- P7 W0 L7 F103 A169
This match on paper appears to be very one sided sadly but hopefully will still provide adequate entertainment for the expected full house here at Twickenham nonetheless. Minnesota come in with a strong winning record which cannot be said for the Cleveland Browns who are still looking for their first season win and also ended last season with a 1-15 record so the odds are stacked in the favour of the Vikings. Cleveland at least went close to that elusive victory last weekend only losing in the last few minutes of overtime 12-9 against the Tennessee Titans. Last weekend the Vikings managed a 24-16 home victory against the Baltimore Ravens and are the 'Away' side here today but they are strong favourites with a handicap of -9.5 to cover. As such I do expect a high scoring game but perhaps one sided game, however if Cleveland can open the score it could be interesting so will be backing the 'Overs' Half time and Total Points markets and cover the handicap spread in favour of the Minnesota Vikings.For those of you not coming to Twickenham this Sunday afternoon it's a joy that this match will be screened live on the the BBC as it has been in recent years. And don't forget the excellent NFL Show with Jason Bell and Osi Umenyiora together with host Mark Chapman which is on all season twice a week (Tues/Sat). The Superbowl itself will also be shown live on BBC1 in early February 2018.
Have a fun day.
1st Quarter;
Case Keenum will start as Quarterback for the Vikings today, recovering from a recent chest injury, his opposite number will be rookie DeShone Kizer who has been benched twice in recent games but surely deserves to start and try and get some confidence.
Cleveland kick off to get this final UK series contest this afternoon here in Twickenham the ball is caught in the end zone and therefore the Vikings will start their opening drive from their 25 yd line and despite picking up a quick 1st down they are soon picked off with a Joe Schobert interception for the Browns and they take over on the 37 yd line just two plays later it's Isaiah Crowell running 26 yds into the end zone for a touchdown. Browns lead 6-0, missing the extra point attempt, but good start for the 'host' side.
Vikings struggle to advance and have to punt on 4th and 3, however the ball is dropped by the Cleveland Browns Bryce Treggs and recovered by Minnesota's Emmanuel Lamur but they also incur a 15 yd penalty although it's still good field position given it should have been the Browns to return. Case Keenum comes back out with the offence on the Browns 35 yd line looking to get on the scoreboard but failed to convert in the red zone and settled for a 35 yd field goal by Kai Forbath with still plenty of time left in the opening quarter. Cleveland take the ball from their own 25 yd and progress slowly to the 43 where they miss a big pass on 3rd down and have to punt it away. It's tight in the opening quarter as the Vikings take the ball from their 15 yd line with less than three mins on the clock. The running game is slow progress but I guess has been an effective weapon and Latavius Murray runs up the middle for another first down for the Vikings but they still inside their own half and then that soon gets cancelled out with a penalty on Rashod Hill causing 2nd and 21 and they lucky not to be intercepted again as the quarter comes towards an end with the Browns back in possession on their 36 yd line.
2nd Quarter;
It's 6-3 to the Browns as the 2nd quarter starts, the Browns in possession on their 39 yd line, their first play is a completed pass from Kizar up to the half way line and then it's just a few yards each time but failing to secure another 1st down so another punt away, this is becoming frustrating that no side can put a drive together. We need one of these to start throwing the ball or finding some gaps, at least the Vikings achieve this to a small degree but it's starting from their own goal line so they only up to their 27 yd line, where what looked like a great play (potential catch and run 41 yard advance) is cancelled out by an offensive penalty taking them back to their 12 yd line and this is going to be a long afternoon. A good play by Adam Thielen for 22yds makes another 1st down and the Vikings move forward a little more and then a penalty on 3rd and 8 means that they advance into Cleveland territory 1st and 10 from the 45 yd line but have to punt away because these useless receivers simply cannot catch a ball. Not surprised that Cleveland haven't won a game since they cannot move the ball and the only shock here is that they still lead.
Case Keenum starts another drive on the 40 yd line and here's hoping it can lead to some points on the board so we will have something to cheer with only six minutes in the half left. David Morgan gives the Vikings a first down with a 14 yard catch and run that with a couple of runs from Jerick McKinnon takes them inside the 23 yd line and suddenly the Vikings are on the move and have to convert this into something surely. And hallelujah we have a 18 yard pass to Adam Thielen for the touchdown (but again the point after is missed) and it's 9-6 now to the Vikings.
After the two minute warning DeShone Kizer throws deep and finds Ricardo Lewis for 38 yards up to the Vikings 44 line and that is followed by another big play and penalty and suddenly the Cleveland Browns are alive and it's 1st and Goal from the 6 yard line with little over a minute to play now.
Three attempts to rush in takes them into the end zone from the 1 yd line by quarterback Kizer and the extra point is successful too so as the half is about to be called the Browns retake the lead 13-9. The Vikings have only 34 seconds on the clock though but with three time outs they manage to use it well and get inside field goal range to reduce the lead to just a single point with a 34 yd kick from Kai Forbath.
Half Time -- The Browns have the lead despite only have possession for 9:15 compared to 20:45 for the Vikings. Pleased to say that we have a football game on!
H/T Score; Minnesota Vikings 12 -- 13 Cleveland Browns.
3rd Quarter;
Minnesota kick off the second half, Kai Forbath sends the ball to the Cleveland 22 yard line. But their drive lasts one play as the ball is stolen by Anthony Harris and the Vikings are on the Browns 30 yd line but are unable to make further inroads and are stopped resulting in a 43 field goal from Forbath so the Vikings lead again now 15-13 with only 90 seconds of the 3Q played.
Forbath keeps busy this half and kicks off again and this time the Browns return it 72 yards by Matt Dayes so the Browns have a great chance again from the Vikings 31 yd line as a result. Another 1st down gain from Isaiah Crowell takes Cleveland into the red zone again, where they couldn't complete a pass and then also missed the 35 yd field goal which ruins an otherwise impressive offensive drive, doesn't take long for the Vikings to send it back after a 40 yd punt which is returned to the Cleveland 40 yard line lets hope they can do a bit better than the last series.
Browns quarterback Kizer takes them up to the 34 yd line where they complete another 1st down on 3rd and 6, making 9 yards and are into the red zone once more, can they complete this time? More penalties come there way too and it's 1st and Goal from the 6 yard line, and still no joy they have 3 goes and are almost intercepted on the goal line the result is another field goal from 23 yards which is good and the lead changes hands once again.
Vikings time to move down the field as Case Keenum slips the pressure to send the ball downfield to Adam Thielen for 29 yards and they are up to the Cleveland 33. More penalties make it 1st and goal from the 1yd line where Jerick McKinnon runs into the end zone for a touchdown and the Vikings go for the 2pt conversion which is successful and the lead is back with the Minnesota Vikings 23-16.
And not only does that give the Vikings a nice lead but it also means we've managed to win the "Over Points market" which was set at over 38. Thank you.
4th Quarter;
Cleveland having to punt away as the final quarter begins, and with two massive penalties the Vikings are quickly down to the Browns red zone inside the 5 yard line looking to increase their lead and they do with a great catch and footwork from Kyle Rudolph to get it done and it's 30-16 with the extra point as the Vikings start to pull away in the final quarter with a two touchdown lead which means we also looking good for the -9.5pts handicap spread too.
As we head towards to latter half of this quarter the Browns look like they have run out of puff and have continued to go three and out, punting away for the Vikings to run the game, no further scores for a while and it looks like job done. A few injuries being picked up but both sides have a bye next weekend so can rest after the trip home, now into the last five minutes here at Twickenham. The final nail in the coffin comes when Cleveland try a 4th and 10 inside their own half but DeShone Kizer is sacked for a loss and turnover so the Vikings can have another chance to extend the lead from the 32 yd line as we reach the two minute warning. And a final 51 yard field goal by Kai Forbath makes it 33-16 as the seconds tick off to the final whistle.
The win for Minnesota improves their record to 6-2 while the hapless Cleveland Browns go to 0-8 and you have to feel a bit sorry for their fans who sit through this ever game.
F/T Score; Minnesota Vikings 33 -- 16 Cleveland Browns.
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