Minnesota Vikings Blownout By Cinninnati Bengals

Whatever momentum the Minnesota Vikings had created last Sunday when they won against the Philadelphia Eagles, all blew away on Sunday when the Cincinnati Bengals beat the Vikings 42-14.

Dec 22, 2013; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Matt Cassel (16) is tackled by Cincinnati Bengals middle linebacker Rey Maualuga (58) in the third quarter of the game at Paul Brown Stadium. Cincinnati Bengals beat the Minnesota Vikings by the score of 42-14. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowksi-USA TODAY Sports

Quarterback Matt Cassel fumbled and threw three interceptions which lead to 21 points. Cassel was 14 for 27 with 114 yards.

But Cincinnati quarterback Andy Dalton burned the Vikings’ secondary with four touchdown passes. He had 366 yards today which was Minnesota’s worst defensive performance. Cassel was sacked twice and had awful throws as the Vikings were held to 10 first downs and 209 total yards, including a meager 100 in the first half.

Minnesota gave up two touchdowns in each of the first three quarters, and turned the ball over three times in the first half and mounting little resistance in a blowout loss. Minnesota finishes the season 0-7-1 in road games.

And after a blowout loss like this, it’s tough to see Frazier lasting past next Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions.

Rookie Cordarrelle Patterson returned four kicks for 135 yards, taking advantage of the Bengals’ inability to kick the ball out of the end zone. But the Vikings wasted a day of good field position, scoring just once after starting four drives past their own 40. One of the Vikings’ two touchdowns was also created by Patterson, who took a handoff and ran 35 yards for his second rushing score of the season. With Adrian Peterson playing hurt and limited to 11 carries, Patterson finished the day as the Vikings’ leading rusher.

The Vikings (4-10-1) finish the season against the Lions, in the final game at the Metrodome next Sunday at 12:00 PM.