MINNEAPOLIS -- A severe storm delayed the Minnesota Vikings third preseason game for over an hour, but the purple go on to beat the Oakland Raiders 20-12 on Saturday night.

Teddy Bridgewater was solid, finishing the game 10-of-14 for 89 yards, but the first-team offense looked shaky with multiple dropped passes and missed opportunities.

The lone highlight of the first half was a fingertip catch by Charles Johnson in the back corner of the endzone on a perfectly placed ball from Bridgewater to tie the game 6-6 early in the second quarter.

The low-light for the game was kicker Blair Walsh, who missed the ensuing extra point and went 0-for-3 on his field goal attempts.

The inexplicably ballyhooed return of former Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder came and went with little notoriety -- much like his four years in purple -- finishing 7-of-11 for 69 yards.

Chase Ford hauled in a touchdown pass from backup quarterback Shaun Hill before halftime to give Minnesota a 13-9 lead.

Rookie fullback Blake Renaud added a touchdown plunge and the Vikings defense picked off Oakland quarterbacks twice in the second half en route to the 20-12 victory.

The Vikings are 3-0 this preseason improving head coach Mike Zimmer's career preseason record to 7-0.

Minnesota will travel to take on the Dallas Cowboys next weekend.

 

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