Check out the news and notes from the Minnesota Vikings season opener as they host the Atlanta Falcons in the Metrodome.
Series leader: Vikings, 14-8
Streaks: Falcons have won two of past three matchups
Falcons: Bobby Petrino makes NFL head coaching debut. ... QB Joey Harrington makes first start with Falcons, and is 3-0 in career on Kickoff Weekend. ... WR Joe Horn joins club after spending past seven seasons with Saints where he caught 523 passes for 7,622 yards and 50 TDs. Horn will also wear Michael Vick's cleats in a show of support for the fallen star ... In past two seasons, Pro Bowl CB DeAngelo Hall has 10 INTs for NFL-best 308 yards (30.8 avg.).
Vikings: Have won 15 of past 20 home openers. ... QB Tarvaris Jackson makes third career start and last year became only third rookie in team history to start at QB as rookie. Passed for career-high 213 yards in last start. ... RB Chester Taylor rushed for career-high 1,214 yards last season, fourth-best total in franchise history. ... Team's first-round draft pick RB Adrian Peterson (No. 7) makes NFL debut. Peterson rushed for 1,000-plus yards in all three seasons at Oklahoma, finishing with 4,045 yards and 41 TDs.
Minnesota Vikings rookie running back Adrian Peterson opened the game on the field. Peterson was the deep returnman on the opening kickoff.
Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Kevin Williams recorded his third career interception and rumbled 54 yards for a touchdown. The score marked his third career touchdown. With 7:43 remaining in the first quarter, the Minnesota Vikings held a 7-0 lead.
Running back Chester Taylor injured his hip with 1:31 remaining in the quarter. His return is questionable.
2nd Quarter
The fans in the Metrodome did a nice job supporting their Vikings. On two occasions in the 2nd quarter Falcons quarterback Joey Harrington tried to audible at the line but was forced to burn a time out due to the crowd noise level.
Atlanta attempted a 44-yard field goal attempt with four minutes left to go in the half. Kicker Matt Prater pushed the kick wide right and the Falcons remained down seven.
Minnesota Vikings kicker Ryan Longwell extended the Vikings lead to 10 when he split the uprights on a 49-yard field goal attempt. The offense moved 60 yards on ten plays and took 4:17 off the game clock.
4th Quarter
With 10:27 remaining in the game, rookie defensive end Brian Robison recorded his first career sack when he dropped Joey Harrington for a loss of five yards.
Falcons kicker Matt Prater cut into the Minnesota lead when he connected on a 45-yard field goal. Atlanta’s offense moved 47 yards on 13 plays and took 7:23 off the game clock. With 9:28 remaining in the game, Minnesota 10, Atlanta 3.
First-round draft pick Adrian Peterson erupted with 7:19 remaining in the game. Peterson took a swing pass from quarterback Tarvaris Jackson 60 yards for his first NFL score. The Minnesota drive moved 80 yards on four plays and took 2:04 off the clock. Peterson has 16 carries for 86 yards and one catch for 60 yards. Minnesota leads the Falcons, 17-3.