Falcons-Vikings

When Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer dreams of a football team it might be a lot like the Vikings team that was on the field yesterday. His team throttled the visiting Atlanta Falcons from start to nearly finish in a 28-12 win. It wasn't a shutout but it sure felt like a shutout. The Falcons scored two late touchdowns. The last of which was against backups and Harrison Smith providing a hint of stability. The Vikings controlled this game with defense, a running game, more running, defense, and some more defense. It was a game better suited for the 1970s. A game of Zimmer's dreams.

The Vikings defense started the throttling with a three-and-out of the Falcons on the opening possession the game. Eric Wilson blocked the punt, recovered it, and set the Vikings offense up nicely at the Falcons 21-yard line. On the second play after a penalty, Kirk Cousins connected with Adam Thielen for a 23-yard touchdown.

This a fine time to mention the Vikings passing game against the Falcons.

Kirk Cousins attempted 10 passes. 10! He completed eight of the 10 for 98 yards and the touchdown to Thielen. Those are passing numbers from the Christian Ponder days. Or the 1960s. Ponder routinely put up light passing numbers because that was all those Vikings teams could manage. Cousins passed only 10 times because that was all that was needed. This was a different sort of game. So much so, the tight end Kyle Rudolph suggested that the offense might set the league back 100 years.

The defense continued the throttling on the Falcons second possession. The Falcons did get a first down but that was it. Vikings safety Anthony Harris intercepted a Matt Ryan pass on the first play of the second set of downs. That set the Vikings offense up nicely at the Falcons 41-yard line.

Then Dalvin Cook took over. He gained all 41 of those yards. The final 19 was a touchdown run.

It was 14-0 and the Vikings offense had yet to take a snap on their side of the field.

It's difficult to shut down this Falcons offense for an entire game. Ryan did eventually get his team moving but the Vikings defense kept them from ever threatening the early lead.

Falcons Possessions:

1. 3 plays, 8 yards-Blocked Punt
2. 3 plays, 12 yards-Interception
3. 11 plays, 34 yards-Punt
4. 4 plays, 51 yards-Fumble
5. 7 plays, 20 yards-Punt
6. 3 plays, 36 yards-End of Half
7. 13 plays, 82 yards-Interception
8. 3 plays, 0 yards-Punt
9. 8 plays, 66 yards-Touchdown
10. 12 plays, 71 yards-Touchdown

The Vikings turned each forced Falcons miscue into a touchdown.

Anthony Harris had both interceptions and recovered the fumble. The second interception was in the end zone. The fumble recovery was at the Vikings 20-yard line. Each ended Falcons' scoring threats. Things never really looked great for the Falcons but Harris' interception in the end zone really took the life out of them. If there was any life left, the Vikings offense took it away when they turned that interception into an 80-yard march to a touchdown and a 28-0 lead.

Players of the game:

Offense:
Dalvin Cook
21 carries, 111 yards, 2 touchdowns (19,7)
2 receptions, 9 yards

Defense:
Anthony Harris
2 interceptions
1 fumble recovery
2 pass defensed
5 tackles

Harris' play deserves recognition but the entire defense played well. 4 sacks, 7 tackles for loss, holding Julio Jones to 6 catches and 31 yards, shutting down Devonta Freeman. Holding a talented Falcons offense to two late touchdowns. It was a complete team effort.

Special Teams:
Eric Wilson-his punt block got it all started.

Despite throttling a very good Falcons team, this game wasn't all smiles and warm embraces.The game did provide some concerns.
Penalties:
The Vikings had 11 penalties for 100 yards. That's way too many.
On four occasions, false starts by the Vikings defensive line gifted the Falcons with third down conversions.
Despite this being a dreamy game for Zimmer there's nothing dreamy about those penalties. In a closer game, handing an opponent a new set of downs can turn a win to a loss.

Pass Protection:
Cousins was hit far too often. Especially considering that he only threw 10 passes. He was hit a couple of times just as he was throwing the football. Each could've had disastrous outcomes. Fortunately, nothing other than perhaps a sore Cousins on Monday was the outcome. The biggest troublemaker on the Falcons defense was defensive tackle Grady Jarrett. Slowing this offense-wrecker is a tough task for any offensive line. This was the first real game together for the Vikings' offensive line. I expect them to get better individually and especially as a group. 10 pass attempts will not be the norm and Cousins can't take hits like he took yesterday.

An indication that this was going to be a different sort of game for the Vikings came on their first possession. On the first play after the blocked punt, a nice Cook run was negated by a holding penalty. This sort of mistake after a big play has often derailed the Vikings. Instead of first-and-goal on the Falcons 8-yard line they had first-and-20 on the Falcons 31-yard line. Instead of allowing the penalty to derail a fine situation and settling for a long long field goal attempt, the Vikings offense just took it in stride. Two plays later, Thielen was in the end zone. This was a different sort of game.

On a broadcast note. I really could've done without that ridiculous, 4th quarter conversation with Michael Vick. What is this? The preseason? I don't really need to ever hear from Vick. Certainly not during a football game.

This 28-12 win over a Falcons team with realistic aspirations of contending is a dreamy start to the 2019 season. It's only one game. As many as 15 teams will win their first game. A trip to Green Bay is up next.