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Kai Forbath kicks six field goals as Minnesota Vikings stop Baltimore Ravens

By Jess Myers, The Sports Xchange
Minnesota Vikings kicker Kai Forbath (2) with Minnesota Vikings punter Ryan Quigley (4) holding kicks a 42 yard field goal in the second quarter of the Steelers home opener at Heinz Field on September 17, 2017 in Pittsburgh. File photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI
Minnesota Vikings kicker Kai Forbath (2) with Minnesota Vikings punter Ryan Quigley (4) holding kicks a 42 yard field goal in the second quarter of the Steelers home opener at Heinz Field on September 17, 2017 in Pittsburgh. File photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo

MINNEAPOLIS -- On a day that belonged to the kickers, Minnesota's offense did just enough to spur the Vikings to their third consecutive win, 24-16, over the Baltimore Ravens.

Kai Forbath kicked six field goals for the Vikings (5-2) while Baltimore (3-4) got a trio from Justin Tucker. It was the fourth loss in five games for the Ravens.

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It was a game dominated by defense on both sides as the teams combined for just two touchdowns, and the Vikings sacked Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco five times.

Vikings running back Latavius Murray was the rare offensive standout, picking up 113 yards on the ground and scoring Minnesota's lone touchdown.

Flacco finished 27-of-39 passing for 186 yards, and hit Chris Moore for a 13-yard touchdown on the final play of the game. Vikings quarterback Case Keenum was 20 of 31 for 188 yards and an interception.

The Vikings tried to go long on their first play of the game, but Keenum's pass intended for Laquon Treadwell was tipped and intercepted by cornerback Brandon Carr. It was the game's only turnover.

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The Ravens got a field goal on the ensuing drive to take a 3-0 lead, but lost wide receiver Mike Wallace for the game to a concussion. Wallace was hit hard after catching a pass across the middle, losing his helmet and fumbling in the process. The turnover was negated when the Vikings were flagged for unnecessary roughness on the play.

Neither team found the end zone in the first half, with Minnesota up 9-6 at halftime via a trio of Forbath field goals, answered by two Tucker field goals for the Ravens.

After settling for another field goal on their opening drive of the second half to go up 12-6, the Vikings finally broke through when Murray rumbled into the end zone from 29 yards out with 7:58 to play in the third. Forbath's extra-point attempt hit the right upright leaving it an 18-6 Minnesota lead.

Tucker hit a 47-yard field goal late in the third quarter, while Forbath added two more in the fourth.

NOTES: In an interview on the field during a timeout, former Vikings and Ravens C Matt Birk got a round of cheers when he said if he were NFL commissioner for a day he would require all players to stand for the national anthem. ... Run-stopping Ravens DT Brandon Williams, who had missed the previous four games due to injury, tackled Vikings RB Latavius Murray for a three-yard loss on Minnesota's first run of the game. ... The 57-yard field goal by Ravens K Justin Tucker in the second quarter was his longest of the season. His career long is a 61-yard shot he hit in 2013. ... The Vikings' receiving corps was thin on Sunday, with both Stefon Diggs and Michael Floyd inactive due to injury.

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