Atlanta Falcons at Minnesota Vikings: Second Quarter Open Thread

The Atlanta Falcons got the ball first in their contest with the Minnesota Vikings at TCF Bank Stadium, and it started where most opposing drives start against the Vikings. . .at the 20-yard line following a Blair Walsh touchback.

The Vikings' defense came out super hot, forcing a three-and-out from the Falcons on the first possession, and the Vikings took over at their own 27-yard line. The crowd was chanting "TEDDY" throughout the entire possession, and after the fair catch by Marcus Sherels, they got what they were asking for.

Teddy Bridgewater led the Vikings offense onto the field for his first ever NFL start. He got off to a great start, hitting his first three passes. They were all short passes, but the third one turned into a 52-yard catch-and-run for Jarius Wright to get the Vikings into the Atlanta red zone. A run by Matt Asiata and a Bridgewater scramble brought up a 3rd-and-4, and another short pass to Wright gave the Vikings a first-and-goal at the Atlanta 6. Two plays later, the Vikings broke into the end zone on a 3-yard run by Asiata, and they found themselves ahead 7-0.

The Falcons once again started at their 20 on the next drive, and a couple of nice runs for Steven Jackson picked up 16 yards. Matt Ryan then completed passes to Julio Jones and Roddy White to get Atlanta into Minnesota territory at the 37. The Falcons continued to advance, and eventually faced a 3rd-and-7 from the Minnesota 24. Ryan then found White for the easiest touchdown that he'll ever score, as both Josh Robinson and Captain Munnerlyn bit on a pump fake to Julio Jones and left White wide open for the score. That tied the game at seven.

Cordarrelle Patterson got the Vikings great field position on the next drive, thanks to his best return of the year. Minnesota started their second drive from their own 47-yard line after the 49 yard return. Matt Asiata got the Vikings into Falcons territory on a couple of carries for a first down, and Bridgewater found Greg Jennings for a 29-yard strike to push the Vikings into the Atlanta red zone at the 14-yard line. Asiata rumbled down to the 6 on first down, and then finished the drive with his second touchdown run of the day, this one a 6-yarder to make the score 14-7 in favor of the good guys.

Bridgewater went 6-for-6 through the air for 98 yards in the first quarter of play, and the Vikings' offense line has just ripped the Falcons defense thus far.

Another touchback from Blair Walsh meant the Falcons started at the 20-yard line again, and as we move to the second quarter of play, the Falcons are looking at 1st-and-10 from their own 31-yard line thanks to three carries by Steven Jackson.

The Minnesota Vikings lead the Atlanta Falcons by a score of 14-7 after the first quarter at TCF Bank Stadium. Let's move on to the second quarter!