Atlanta at Minnesota: 3 Thing We Learned

Looking at this on paper, it looked like the Atlanta Falcons would be able to go into Minnesota and beat a Vikings team that was starting a rookie quarterback with a rookie coach on the sideline. The Falcons – flying high from a 56-14 win last week. It was all a recipe for defeat.

For the Falcons.

Teddy Bridgewater and the Vikings offense outscored Atlanta, despite huge injuries to both teams.

Here is what we learned from Sunday’s game.

TEDDY IS THE (INJURED) MAN

Even injured, Teddy Bridgewater proved he could be the leader of this Vikings team.

The rookie passed for 317 yards and a key 2-point conversion before hurting his ankle in the fourth quarter, and the Vikings beat the Atlanta Falcons 41-28 on Sunday.

Bridgewater was 19 for 30 with no turnovers and ran five times for 27 yards and a score in his first career start, but his last carry was costly. His left foot rolled underneath him as he was sandwiched by two tacklers at the 1-yard line. Matt Asiata powered his way in on the next play for his third touchdown, and Bridgewater stayed in to zip a crisp pass to Rhett Ellison to push the lead to 35-28.

Bridgewater was back on the sideline before the end of the game, with Ponder the only healthy quarterback left on the active roster.

BIG YARDS, BIG RUNNING

The Vikings piled up 351 yards by halftime, a total higher than half of the teams in the league averaged per game over the first three weeks. Bridgewater dived head-first into the end zone to finish a 13-yard touchdown run for the first score of his career and a 21-14 lead in the second quarter.

Fellow rookie Jerick McKinnon of Georgia Southern, had a big day, too, running 18 times for 135 yards. But his touchdown run on the next drive was called back on replay review because he was down short of the goal line, and the Vikings had to settle for a field goal.

FALCONS BEAT UP IN LOSS

The scenario is reminiscent of 2013. The Falcons not only lost the game – but in the process suffered many injuries. Per atlantafalcons.com.

• Safety William Moore left the game in the first quarter with a shoulder injury. He was taken to the locker room and never returned. In the second half, Moore was officially announced as out for the game.
• Right guard Jon Asamoah left the game in the first half and his hand was being taped on the sideline. He was replaced by Gabe Carimi for two plays and then returned to his position and played the rest of the game.
• Left guard Justin Blalock came off the field gingerly a few plays after Asamoah left and was announced as having a back injury. He was announced as questionable to return but he did not return to the sideline or the game after being taken to the locker room.
• Right tackle Lamar Holmes left the game in the second half with an announced foot injury and was questionable to return. He did not return to the game. Carimi, who had been filling in for Blalock, was moved to right tackle and Peter Konz entered the game to play left guard.
• Center Joe Hawley went down and had to be carted from the field. He was announced as having a knee injury and did not return to the game. At this point, Konz was moved to center, Carimi returned to left guard and Toilolo played right tackle.
• Safety Kemal Ishmael left the game but his injury was never announced in the press box. He returned to the game in the fourth quarter.
• Punter Matt Bosher appeared to injure his right arm while making a special teams tackle, but he did not leave the game and he was not announced as having an injury.
• Wide receiver Devin Hester came off the field with an injury near the end of the game and the injury was not announced.