The Viking Age
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Minnesota Vikings Best and Worst: Week 1 vs. Atlanta Falcons

By Adam Carlson

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 08: Minnesota Vikings Wide Receiver Adam Thielen (19) celebrates his 1st quarter touchdown with Minnesota Vikings Tight End Irv Smith Jr. (84) and Minnesota Vikings Running Back Dalvin Cook (33) during a game between the Atlanta Falcons and Minnesota Vikings on September 8, 2019 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, MN.(Photo by Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 08: Minnesota Vikings Wide Receiver Adam Thielen (19) celebrates his 1st quarter touchdown with Minnesota Vikings Tight End Irv Smith Jr. (84) and Minnesota Vikings Running Back Dalvin Cook (33) during a game between the Atlanta Falcons and Minnesota Vikings on September 8, 2019 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, MN.(Photo by Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - SEPTEMBER 08: Anthony Harris #41 and Xavier Rhodes #29 of the Minnesota Vikings celebrate an interception in the end zone against the Atlanta Falcons by Harris during the third quarter of the game at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 8, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
Anthony Harris #41 and Xavier Rhodes #29 of the Minnesota Vikings (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

More good stuff

There weren’t a lot of things that didn’t go right for the Minnesota Vikings in this game. They came out to a hot start by shutting down the Atlanta Falcons and putting their foot on the gas pedal, never really looking back.

Despite a couple of close calls, the Vikings didn’t turn the ball over all game long and controlled the pace of the contest all game long. Picking up ten first downs on the ground is always good and running the ball 38 times compared to ten passing attempts in the game will allow the game to be dictated.

Here are some other good things to come out of the second preseason game for the Minnesota Vikings:

  • Anthony Barr is at his best when rushing the passer. He’s okay in coverage, but the game kicked off with the linebacker getting a sack right away. Barr had one other quarterback hit on the day, but seeing him used in an effective way is a great sign for his play this season.
  • Special teams look to have their stuff together. With all the drama surrounding punters, kickers, holders, and long snappers this offseason, everything went smoothly. Punts and kicks all looked good and the unit even blocked a punt! If you hadn’t been following that drama, you’d never know there was an issue.
  • Adam Thielen picks up right where he left off. Thielen is a football catching machine. Every ball thrown his way was caught as he went three-for-three for 43 yards and a touchdown. When Cousins only throws the ball ten times, efficiency is key…and they don’t get much better than Thielen.
  • His first year as a full-time starter, Anthony Harris is off to an amazing start. The safety had two interceptions in the game as well as a fumble recovery. If the secondary can do a great job in coverage while taking advantage of a strong pass rush, opposing offenses have to be terrified.
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