Kearse offers the Vikings a big option as a fifth defensive back. Although he is still listed as a safety on Minnesota’s roster (Kearse showed he could play that position by filling in for Smith in the third preseason game), the former Clemson standout has essentially switched positions in...
*I think the Vikings did something in Week 1 that took them all season to do last year – establish their identity! We’re a running football team that's going to play rock-solid defense and control the clock. While I don't see Kirk Cousins throwing just 10 passes each game, it’s nice knowing we...
2. Defense had answers at every turn
Early in the game, the Vikings defense was dictating the terms. Anthony Barr had a sack on the game’s first snap and Anthony Harris ended Atlanta’s second possession with an interception. As Atlanta kept battling and got to the “grind it out” stage of the...
Head Coach Mike Zimmer credited Minnesota’s offensive coaches for finding ways to be effective against a defense that wanted to stop the run.
“They’re really good defensively, and they’ve got eight [players], an extra guy in the box almost every single play,” Zimmer said. “So to run the...
Zimmer openly talked this offseason about wanting to establish a run-first mentality, but even he said he was a little surprised the Vikings ran the ball nearly 80 percent of the time Sunday.
“Well, I never thought we’d throw it 10 times, but the score of the game dictated that,” Zimmer said...
The Vikings started the 2019 season off with a bang.
Minnesota's defense had four sacks, two interceptions, one fumble recovery, and a blocked kick against one of the league's most potent offenses.
Dalvin Cook led the way for the offense with a pair of rushing touchdowns and 111 yards on the...
Harris then recovered a fumble a few minutes into the second quarter with Atlanta nearing the red zone, but he saved his best play for the third quarter with another opportunistic takeaway.
Minnesota led 21-0 but the Falcons had the ball at the 2-yard line. Ryan lobbed a pass toward the right...
Pregame question: How would the Vikings try to limit Julio Jones, and would they be successful doing it?
In-game action:
Minnesota implemented a variety of methods that included Xavier Rhodes shadowing Jones, as well as blending some other coverages. The Vikings also got to Matt Ryan with a...
YAC Attack
A factor to watch on Sunday when the Vikings offense is on the field is yards after the catch. In last year’s season opener against the San Francisco 49ers, who run a similar defensive scheme to the Falcons, the Vikings offense was able to move the ball down the field when it...
EAGAN, Minn. — Friday's Injury Report: The Vikings released Friday's injury report after the final practice of the week before the team takes on the Atlanta Falcons.
Wide receiver Stefon Diggs (hamstring) and tight end Tyler Conklin (ribs) were listed as questionable after being limited...
Vikings commitments to run game to collide with Falcons | By @pcraigers
Dalvin Cook is fast. He’s shown it during moments of his first two seasons and threw in a reminder by taking one of his two carries 85 yards for a touchdown this preseason.
The Falcons defense also is fast, healthier...
The name Jolie means “pretty one,” in French, but Zimmer jokes that she’s also a lucky one.
He and Corri recalled a time when Jolie made an appearance at Vikings Training Camp, and cornerback Terence Newman came over to greet and pet the dog before practice.
“He caught three interceptions...
EAGAN, Minn. — At some point this season, Rick Dennison will gather Minnesota’s group of offensive linemen for a game of $100,000 Pyramid.
The popular television game show features one person giving a series of clues while their partner tries to guess the topic, with the difficulty getting...
We’ve almost made it to the Week 1 game between the Vikings and Falcons on Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium. Kickoff is at noon (CT).
Both teams enter 2019 with a similar mindset, as both Minnesota and Atlanta missed the playoffs in 2018 despite lofty preseason expectations.
And while there has...
The Vikings are kicking off the 2019 season in front of the home crowd by hosting the Atlanta Falcons at noon (CT) Sunday.
Atlanta finished 7-9 in 2018 and did not make the playoffs in a season where Matt Ryan was sacked 42 times.
Falcons Digital Managing Editor Matthew Tabeek joined the...
3. 2017 (21 points)
Where were you during the “Minneapolis Miracle?”
The final play of an all-time classic playoff game against New Orleans ended with Stefon Diggs hauling in a pass from Case Keenum, keeping his balance along the sideline and racing into the end zone (and Vikings lore)...
EAGAN, Minn. — The Vikings and Falcons have had nearly five months to think about this one since the schedule was announced in April.
That’s a lot of time to study an opponent on readily available film, look for tendencies a play caller may have in certain situations and scheme up what might...
Cook’s dazzling touchdown run in exhibition play was a hopeful glimpse of what the Vikings running back can do if healthy on more a consistent basis this season.
As the Vikings prepare to open the 2019 regular season, Cook will be counted upon to carry the load in a Minnesota run game that...
LOCAL RADIO
RADIO: KFAN 100.3-FM/KTLK 1130-AM in Minneapolis/St. Paul
Play-by-Play: Paul Allen
Analyst: Pete Bercich
Sideline Reporters: Greg Coleman & Ben Leber
Radio Pre-game Show: Mike Mussman | 10 a.m. (CT)
KFAN and KTLK serve as the flagship stations for the five-state Vikings...
“One of the things I’ve been impressed with for a long time with Thielen, just his ability to track a deep ball,” Quinn said. “He can run full speed and then, at the last second, throw hands up. And Diggs, on the intermediate cuts, him and Calvin [Ridley] have a lot of similarities – guys who...