#3 – Peterson Posts Team Record 224-Yards Rushing in Victory at Chicago
#2 – Peterson’s First Career TD Leads Vikings to Season-Opening Victory
Sunday, September 9 - Rookie running back Adrian Peterson and a vicious Vikings defense lit up the score board and ignited the home crowd along the way to a 24-3 season-opening win on Heroes Day at the Metrodome. The win is Minnesota’s 16th home-opening win in the last 21 tries and marks the second straight year Vikings Head Coach Brad Childress opened the season with a victory.
Peterson rolled up 103 rushing yards on 19 carries and tacked on a touchdown reception of 60 yards to complete an impressive first-game performance. Starting running back Chester Taylor left the game in the first half and did not return, but Peterson’s effort was more than enough to spell Taylor and lead the Vikings to victory.
The Vikings defense also had their share of fun, posting six sacks, two interceptions and two touchdowns. Both Kevin Williams and Antoine Winfield picked off Falcons quarterback Joey Harrington and scored touchdowns, while linebacker E.J. Henderson manned the middle, posting seven tackles and two sacks.
Vikings quarterback Tarvaris Jackson managed the game well and avoided mistakes for the most part. He did throw one interception, but he was 13-23 passing for 163 yards and a touchdown. Jackson hooked up with nine different receivers in the effort, including Troy Williamson, who had two catches for 19 yards.
Harrington finished the day going 23-32 passing for 199 yards and two interceptions. Warrick Dunn and Jerious Norwood combined for 27 carries and 88 yards.
The Vikings defense dominated the game, controlling field position in the first half and stifling the Falcons offensive attack all game. The key stat was six sacks for 30 yards in losses.
Minnesota controlled the early field position battle, taking the opening drive just across midfield before punter Chris Kluwe pinned Atlanta on their own 11-yardline. A frantic play by Harrington, a personal foul penalty by Vikings linebacker Ben Leber and a crucial third down conversion gave Atlanta some breathing room near midfield, but the Vikings defense stood firm on third down and opened the scoring.
Williams intercepted Harrington’s pass and rumbled for a 54-yard touchdown return, with a full escort from defensive teammates, that gave Minnesota an early 7-0 lead. It was Williams’ third career interception and third-career touchdown.
“We were out there trying to get turnovers,” Williams said in the locker room following Minnesota’s win. “We got the early jump on them and had the momentum and they were fighting an uphill battle for the rest of the game.”
The Vikings defense was all over the Falcons on the ensuing drive, as Williams and Henderson teamed up to sack Harrington and then Henderson blitzed to stop Dunn for a five-yard loss. Minnesota’s next drive stalled near midfield and Kluwe handled a high snap to punt Atlanta inside their ten-yardline.
Minnesota continued to control field position well into the second quarter as Kluwe once again pinned Atlanta inside the ten. This time, Falcons returner Adam Jennings attempted to return Kluwe’s boot from his own five-yardline, but Vikings special teamers Ronyell Whitaker and Heath Farwell were there immediately to make Jennings regret the decision. Atlanta was forced to begin its drive on the three-yardline.
Henderson began the ensuing series by stopping Dunn for a loss of two, further infusing a raucous Metrodome crowd. The noise and pressure was so intense on second down that Harrington was forced to burn a timeout just before the play clock hit zero. But Harrington, who after four seasons with division-rival Detroit has seen the loud Vikings fans before, escaped on the next play with an 18-yard completion to sure-handed tight end Alge Crumpler.
Atlanta extended the drive to 14 total plays and drove to Minnesota’s 26-yardline, but kicker Matt Prater missed wide right on a 44-yard attempt to thwart the Falcons scoring threat. Henderson, who was all over the field in the first half, sacked Harrington three plays earlier to set Atlanta back. With 3:58 remaining in the first half, the Vikings defense had completely dominated the game, shutting Atlanta out and putting up the only points of the game.
A bad snap ultimately ended the Vikings next drive, but a 52-yard punt by Kluwe discouraged Atlanta from trying to mount a late-half scoring drive and they ran out the clock.
The half ended with Minnesota in front 7-0, despite being out-gained heavily by the Falcons. Atlanta held an advantage in every offensive category, yet because of Williams’ interception return and a stout performance by the rest of the unit, the Vikings maintained a lead. Harrington was nine of 13 passing for 82 yards and one interception, while Dunn and Norwood combined for 63 yards rushing on 15 carries.
Peterson had eight carries for 40 yards to pace the Vikings rushing attack and Taylor had 18 yards rushing before leaving the game with what appeared to be a rib injury. Henderson had six tackles and two sacks in the opening two quarters.
Atlanta’s average starting field position in the first half was their own nine-yardline, but Harrington and company were able to begin the opening drive of the second half on their own 32-yardline. Better field position didn’t make a difference after Williams and linebacker Chad Greenway halted Dunn on third and short, forcing an Atlanta punt and giving Minnesota the ball with 13:12 remaining in the third quarter.
The Vikings next drive looked promising as they drove past midfield into Falcons territory, but defensive back DeAngelo Hall ended the series with an interception after Jackson’s pass was tipped. Atlanta took over on their own 41-yardline, maintaining the field position advantage they couldn’t capture in the first half.
But the Vikings defense stood firm yet again, holding a relentless grip on the Falcons offense and forcing another punt. Pinned deep in his own territory, Jackson erased the bad field position by avoiding a sack on one play and then hooking up with receiver Bobby Wade for a 28-yard gain out to the Vikings 49-yardline on the next play. A six-yard Peterson burst and then an 11-yard completion to rookie Aundrae Allison moved the Vikings down to Atlanta’s 31-yardline, but that’s where the drive stalled. Ryan Longwell salvaged the drive, however, by converting a 49-yard attempt to give Minnesota a 10-0 lead with 1:46 to play in the third quarter.
Atlanta was finally able to break the shutout with 9:23 remaining in the fourth quarter when Prater came in and converted a 45-yard attempt to make the score 10-3. The field goal capped a 13-play, 47-yard drive that was kept alive by a clutch third-down conversion on a completion from Harrington to Laurent Robinson for 12 yards.
The Vikings offense quickly responded to Atlanta’s first score of the game by recording their first offensive touchdown of the season. Faced with third and five on their own 40-yardline, the Vikings turned to Peterson to extend the drive and the result broke the game open and satisfied the home crowd’s anticipation.
Peterson hauled in short pass from Jackson and broke through the first wave of Falcons defenders to sprint on to a 60-yard touchdown reception down the right sideline. Minnesota’s lead increased to 17-3 after Longwell converted the PAT, with 7:14 remaining.
“I always expect myself to go out there and help the team by making plays,” Peterson said after the game. “That’s what you dream about the night before.”
At that point in the game, Peterson had accounted for 146 yards and one touchdown.
The Vikings defense iced the game further on the ensuing drive, sacking Harrington twice and tipping his only pass attempt. Brian Robison notched his second-career sack on first down and then Spencer Johnson downed the Atlanta quarterback on third down to end the drive and any hopes of a late Falcons comeback.
The defense piled on late in the fourth quarter when Antoine Winfield intercepted a tipped Harrington pass and returned it 14-yards for another defensive touchdown, making the score 24-3.
Single-game tickets and a two-game mini-pack for 2008 Minnesota Vikings home games are now on sale. Fans can purchase tickets online via Ticketmaster.com, in person at all Midwest Ticketmaster locations, or by phone through Ticketmaster at (651) 989-5151.
Single-game ticket prices range from $30 – $135. If available, tickets for the Vikings game versus the Green Bay Packers will only be sold in the following two-game mini-pack – Green Bay (Nov. 9) and Seattle (Aug. 8) -- ranging from $96 - $176 per package.
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