Bengals Strike Quickly, Hold On to Beat Vikings

The Cincinnati Bengals, going with a no-huddle offense, scored 21 first-quarter points against a confused Minnesota defense and went on to defeat the Vikings, 24-20, Sunday.

“Their no-huddle offense was a very big factor in that first quarter,” Minnesota safety Joey Browner said. “They were running plays we could not get ready for.”

The Bengals, executing pre-called plays without a huddle, prevented the Vikings from inserting players for specific defenses.

After the first quarter, Cincinnati’s offense slowed considerably, but by then the Bengals had enough points to win.

The Bengals (8-4) remained tied with Cleveland atop the AFC Central. The teams play Dec. 14 at Cincinnati.

Minnesota (6-6) lost for the fourth time in its last five games and the defeat severely crippled the Vikings’ hopes for an NFC wild-card playoff berth.

The Vikings were without the services of quarterback Tommy Kramer, who has a sprained thumb on his throwing hand. In his place, Wade Wilson completed 15 of 32 passes for 181 yards.

Meanwhile, Cincinnati’s Boomer Esiason completed 17 of 25 passes for 252 yards.

Viking Coach Jerry Burns said: “We had practiced for the no-huddle all week, but still, when it comes at you for the first time in a game, it’s hard to get used to. We spent too much time trying to get into position against the no-huddle and couldn’t concentrate on playing defense.”

Both teams scored on their first three possessions. First, Esiason tossed an eight-yard touchdown pass to James Brooks. Then the Vikings drove to the one and settled for a 24-yard field goal by Chuck Nelson.

The Bengals came right back, with Esiason connecting with Eddie Brown on a 54-yard bomb to set up a 2-yard touchdown run by Stanley Wilson.

Darrin Nelson then scored on a three-yard run for the Vikings to make the score 14-10.

Tim McGee ran the ensuing kickoff back 94 yards before being shoved out of bounds on the five-yard line, and Wilson scored on the next play for a 21-10 Bengal lead.

Wade Wilson directed a 14-play, 60-yard drive that resulted in his one-yard scoring dive in the second quarter, and Chuck Nelson kicked a 35-yard field goal on the last play of the half to move Minnesota to within 21-20.

Jim Breech, who missed two earlier field-goal attempts, connected from 39 yards to make it 24-20 with 13:31 left to play.

Minnesota missed two chances to go ahead in the final quarter. With nine minutes left, the Vikings’ Issiac Holt intercepted a pass off a fake field goal by holder Steve Kreider at the Minnesota 33-yard line. But Minnesota was unable to make a first down.

Two minutes later, Browner intercepted an Esiason pass at the Cincinnati 43, but again the Vikings failed to attain a first down.

The Bengals’ offense sputtered in the second half, but their defense took up the slack, allowing the Vikings to gain only 48 yards.