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Week 1 Game Recap: Atlanta Falcons 3, Minnesota Vikings 24
What you need to know
| Atlanta Falcons |
The Atlanta Falcons were never able to get much going on offense. Warrick Dunn was the focal point of the offense for most of the afternoon with 22 carries and four receptions on five targets and 81 total yards.
Joey Harrington struggled most of the afternoon, rarely throwing the ball downfield. He completed 22 of 32 passes for 199 yards, but had two interceptions returned for touchdowns. Many of his completions were short dump offs, or check downs to running backs. Harrington was under pressure from the Vikings for most of the afternoon, and had several coverage sacks.
No receiver had more than four receptions or more than 40 yards. Harrington spread the ball around consistently and did not appear to favor any one receiver.
| Minnesota Vikings |
Adrian Peterson was the story of the afternoon. Chester Taylor started the game but was injured early. Peterson was the primary ball carrier for the Vikings for the remainder of the game and finished with 103 yards rushing and a 60 yard reception for a touchdown.
The Minnesota Vikings started slowly on offense, while the defense played well and kept them in the game early. The Vikings slowly built momentum on offense and eventually pulled away.
Tarvaris Jackson started slowly, but appeared to play with more confidence as the game went on. He tried with little success to go deep on few occasions, and ended with just 163 yards passing.
What you ought to know
| QB Joey Harrington, Pass: 23 - 32 - 199 - 0 TD / 2 INT, Rush: 1 - 8 - 0 |
Harrington had difficulty finding any rhythm during the game. From the first series, he was under consistent pressure the entire afternoon, being sacked a total of 6 times. Harrington's completion percentage was decent, finishing 22 of 32 for a 68.7% completion rate. However, he rarely threw the ball deep, tending to settle for second and third safer option on many plays. Joey Harrington finished with 199 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions. Both interceptions were returned for touchdowns. He also had one scramble for eight yards, converting a third down.
| RB Warrick Dunn, Rush: 22 - 55 - 0, Rec: 4 - 26 - 0 (5 targets) |
Dunn was the primary offensive weapon for the majority of the afternoon. Dunn finished with 22 carries for 55 yards, rarely finding much room against the stout Minnesota Viking run defense. Multiple times he made longer carries out of what initially appeared to be nothing, picking his way through traffic for extra yards. He had most of his success running sweeps and tosses to the outside. Dunn also tallied 26 yards on four receptions and five targets. Dunn was a frequent option for Joey Harrington checking down from his wide receivers.
| RB Jerious Norwood, Rush: 5 - 33 - 0, Rec: 2 - 24 - 0 (2 targets) |
Norwood was nut much of a factor in the Falcons' overall game plan, but he did produce when given the opportunity. Norwood finished with 33 yards on only five carries on the ground, and 24 yards on two receptions. Norwood had what would have been a third reception nullified by a defensive penalty. When running the ball, he ran strong and displayed some nice moves, making multiple defenders miss on one run. Norwood also showed good speed turning the corner on an outside run. However, he was not on the field consistently, and both Norwood and Dunn appeared in the game on third downs.
| WR Roddy White, Rec: 4 - 29 - 0 (5 targets) |
White was Joey Harrington's most frequently targeted wide receiver. White was the target on a second down for a five yard gain just short of a first down. On the very next play, Harrington was flushed out of the pocket and found White for a nine yard play. In the second quarter, he made a short catch near the sideline, was hit by Chad Greenway, and fumbled the ball out of bounds. In the third quarter, Roddy White was the target of a rare Harrington deep ball, but again Harrington was unable to get him the ball. White's last target was a short comeback route for seven yards. White also had a false start penalty.
| WR Laurent Robinson, Rec: 3 - 32 - 0 (4 targets) |
Robinson was not targeted until late in the third quarter, and finished with 32 yards on three receptions. Robinson's first reception was on a first down making the catch on the sideline. Later on the same drive, Robinson picked up another first down making a catch getting just deep enough for the first. Harrington looked to Robinson on the very next third down, making a twelve yard reception on a third and seven. He also had a false start penalty.
| WR Michael Jenkins, Rec: 2 - 13 - 0 (4 targets) |
Jenkins had a rough afternoon. His first target was a crossing pattern and Harrington put the ball in a good spot, but Jenkins dropped the pass. On Jenkins' next target, which wasn't until the fourth quarter, the ball bounced off his hands, into the hands of Antoine Winfield who returned it for a touchdown. Harrington came right back to Jenkins on the next series, making a six yard reception. His last target was two plays later for seven yards over the middle.
| WR Joe Horn, Rec: 1 - 14 - 0 (3 targets) |
Horn finished with just 14 yards on one reception. He was targeted three times, including one of Joey Harrington's few deep throws, but was badly overthrown. His lone reception was a deep comeback route near the sideline on a first down.
| TE Alge Crumpler, Rec: 4 - 40 - 0 (5 targets) |
Crumpler had a quiet afternoon with three of his targets coming in the first quarter, and two in the fourth quarter. He was Joey Harrington's first target of the afternoon, making an eight yard reception on first down after Harrington escaped a sack. Later on the same drive, Crumpler made a nine yard reception on a third and 19. In the second quarter, Crumpler converted a third and nine with a 14 yard reception. Crumpler was quiet then until he made two fourth quarter receptions.
| PK Matt Prater 1 - 2 FG, 0 - 0 XP, 3 points |
Prater had only two chances, converting one 45 yard field goal, and missing a 44 yard attempt.
| ATL Rush Defense |
The Atlanta Falcons had difficulty containing the Vikings rush game. The Vikings finished with 139 yards on 27 carries. The Vikings consistently gained chunks of yards.
| ATL Pass Defense |
The Atlanta Falcons were rarely tested deep, and showed tight coverage for most of the game. The Falcons yielded just 163 yards through the air, but did not register any sacks.
| QB Tarvaris Jackson, Pass: 13 - 23 - 163 - 1 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 2 - 10 - 0 |
Jackson started slowly, but appeared to play with more confidence as the game went on. Jackson finished with 163 yards on 13 completions and 23 attempts with one touchdown and one interception. Jackson was not asked to do much, rarely throwing the ball deep, completing mainly short passes. His touchdown pass was on a short pass to Adrian Peterson that Peterson took for 60 yards.
| RB Adrian Peterson, Rush: 19 - 103 - 0, Rec: 1 - 60 - 1 (1 targets) |
Peterson had the chance to be the primary ball carrier after Chester Taylor went down early in the game with an injury and did not return. Peterson displayed his great speed and power throughout the afternoon. He finished with 103 yards on 19 carries. Peterson was stopped for less than 3 yards on only four of his carries. Peterson consistently picked up chunks of 4, 5, 6 yards at a time, dragging defenders with him for extra yards. On his touchdown reception, he almost dropped the ball, having to reach behind him to pull the ball in with one hand. Once the ball was secured, Peterson turned on the speed and ran past defenders for 60 yards to the end zone. Adrian Peterson also played on special teams returning kicks, returning one for 22 yards.
| RB Chester Taylor, Rush: 3 - 18 - 0, Rec: 1 - 3 - 0 (3 targets) |
Taylor started the game and appeared to be the focus of the offense early on. He tallied two targets, and three carries in the Vikings' first drive. Adrian Peterson was in the game for the Vikings' second drive, and Chester Taylor came back into the game to spell Peterson. However, Taylor was injured when he appeared to have been kicked by one of his offensive lineman on a screen pass. He did not return to the game and finished with 18 yards rushing and one three yard reception.
| WR Troy Williamson, Rush: 1 - 3 - 0, Rec: 2 - 19 - 0 (3 targets) |
Williamson, like all of the Viking receivers, was not much of a factor in the game. Williamson did make a tough catch on his first reception with a 13 yard slant and was hit as he caught the ball and managed to hang on. He also had a six yard reception. He did carry the ball once on a triple reverse, but gained just three yards. Tarvaris Jackson did target Williamson deep once, but overthrew him.
| WR Sidney Rice, Rec: 2 - 10 - 0 (4 targets) |
Rice finished with just ten yards on two receptions. Tarvaris Jackson looked his way early on the first series, but on a third and six, Rice ran only a four yard pattern. He did convert a short third down gaining six yards on a pass over the middle. Rice was also targeted on a deeper pass up the sideline, but was unable to keep his feet in bounds.
| WR Bobby Wade, Rec: 1 - 28 - 0 (4 targets) |
Wade finished with just one reception and 28 yards. He was targeted four times, but was not consistently looked for by Tarvaris Jackson. However, Jackson spread the ball around so much that Wade's 28 yards was the highest total for any Vikings wide receiver or tight end.
| TE Visanthe Shiancoe, Rec: 2 - 18 - 0 (3 targets) |
Shiancoe finished with three targets, and 18 yards on two receptions. His first reception was on a play action rollout where he appeared to be the primary target and went for ten yards. Shiancoe was Jackson's intended receiver on his lone interception. The pass appeared to bounce off Shiancoe and was caught by DeAngelo Hall.
| PK Ryan Longwell 1 - 1 FG, 3 - 3 XP, 6 points |
Longwell converted his only field goal attempt, having plenty of distance on a 49 yarder. He converted all of his extra points.
| MIN Rush Defense |
Minnesota was solid defending the run, allowing just 96 yards on 28 carries (3.4 yards per attempt). The Falcons had more success running outside against the Vikings, and had virtually no success up the middle.
| MIN Pass Defense |
The Falcons had open receivers consistently during the game. However, the Vikings were greatly improved over last year in the area of pressuring the quarterback. Joey Harrington was under constant pressure, scrambling for more time, and the Vikings tallied six sacks.
