Atlanta Falcons Lose 4th in a Row, 20-10 to Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings faced the Atlanta Falcons’ league-leading rush defense, and deployed their league-leading running back, coupled with a brutally efficient defense, with great success. Then, on third-and-one from the New England 48, Anderson raced around the left sideline and into the north end zone. However, they’ve lost their last three games and may not even reach the playoffs should they keep on losing. We need them to lose as many games as possible. Quinn brought defensive principles over from Seattle, where he served as the unit’s coordinator, and slotted veteran linebackers Paul Worrilow and Justin Durant as run-stuffers and second-year cornerback Desmond Trufant in Richard Sherman-esque shutdown role. The Vikings produced three turnovers against the Falcons, and all three eliminated clear scoring opportunities for Atlanta. “I just come in and try to focus on doing my job and helping my team win”, Peterson said.

Fortunately for them, the Packers lost to the Chicago Bears on Thursday and they are again tied with Green Bay in the division, though the Packers hold that tiebreak at this point.

Coach Mike Zimmer often gives players a “Victory Monday” following a win, so most of the players available today will be those getting treatment for injuries … which is to say, a lot of them.

For Matt Ryan, this is becoming the norm, too.

Against the Falcons, who came in with the league’s top-ranked defense against the run, Peterson ripped off his sixth 100-yard game of the season. He is only averaging 3.9 yards per carry, so time will tell. The Falcons missed running back Devonta Freeman, although Tevin Coleman filled in well enough with 18 carries for 110 yards. Nick Foles started at quarterback for the Rams (4-7), replacing Casey Keenum, who was out with a concussion suffered in last week’s loss to Baltimore.

The Vikings and Falcons game will kick off at noon Sunday. But he has totaled just two catches and 26 yards over the last four games, targeted 10 times during that span. With Wallace’s salary cap hit of $9.9 million this season, that’s hardly worth the investment.

Bridgewater’s stat-line from Sunday was very Ponder-like: 174 yards, zero TDs, one INT, a 72.6 passer rating.

Credit the Minnesota Vikings for having a clear offensive identity almost all season. You can see why Peterson would want the ball more and would tell Zimmer as much.

MIN-Walsh 29 yard field goal, 1:49.

What’s concerning, though, is quarterback Matt Ryan’s growing number of turnovers in the red zone.

This will be Atlanta’s first game without Bryant, 40, since he signed with the team late in the 2009 season. “It starts with me”.

Tom Johnson promptly was flagged for illegal hands to the face, setting up the Falcons with first-and-goal from the 10.