Vikings double up slumping Falcons

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.

Palmer completed 24 of 40 passes for 271 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions.

The Vikings (8-3) bounced back from last week’s loss to Green Bay and returned to the top of the NFC North division by themselves, thanks to Chicago’s upset of the Packers on Thanksgiving. Tennessee had taken a 21-17 lead and thought they had a game-saving play when safety Michael Griffin broke up a pass in the end zone on fourth down.

Again, the percentages say how much the play changed the Vikings’ chances to win, according to the model. But the 46-yard scamper was wasted when the rookie failed to keep a firm grip on the ball, allowing linebacker Anthony Barr to come up from behind and punch it away.

Barr was more critical of himself Monday, but said, “Second year, you should feel more comfortable”. The Lions would have to jump ahead of all the aforementioned teams in addition to the Rams, who win the tie breaker based on winning percentage in common games.

The best thing Bridgewater did was avoid negative plays. Unless you’re the Green Bay Packers or the Pittsburgh Steelers, teams with average or below average defenses don’t make the playoffs. “That next guy needs to be able to step in and play at the caliber of a starter”, Antone Exum said. Bridgewater finished 5-of-6 passing for 43 yards and three first downs on third down against the Falcons. Players like Andrew Sendejo and Robert Blanton have tried to fill the position, but they’ve been adequate at best this season.

Seattle kept pace in the NFC wild-card race, but suffered a significant loss with Jimmy Graham injuring the patellar tendon in his right knee in the fourth quarter. Three of Rivers’ scoring tosses came in the second quarter. Everything he does is just a football player at quarterback working easily. “I talk to her nearly every night”. We’re just trying to strive for greatness. “We’d been running that route, and he was kind of iffy about it. He went out there and beat the guy to the outside, and Teddy [Bridgewater] made a nice throw and [Rudolph] double tapped the sideline”. WR Devin Hester, out all season with a turf toe injury, is expected to fully participate in practice when the team returns to the field on Wednesday.

San Diego 31, Jacksonville 25: Philip Rivers threw four touchdown passes and the visiting Chargers (3-8) ended a six-game losing streak in a win over the Jaguars (4-7).

Plus, the Vikings have been plowing over defenders by using more formations with two or three tight ends and by giving fullback Zach Line a few more snaps per game. Cousins wasn’t sacked and didn’t throw an interception.

These games are likely going to fall more into Bridgewater’s hands.

The fact is tomorrow’s game will have very significant effects for both teams since the Falcons are hanging by a thread, while the Vikings would want to go up to a higher ranking in the NFC.

For Matt Ryan, it was another disappointing day.

“It was an opportunity for us to get into the end zone, and I ruined it”, Peterson said.