Minnesota Vikings at Atlanta Falcons Preview

By Chuck Bednar | Saturday, October 01, 2005 | ( 0 )

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The Minnesota Vikings avoided a disastrous 0-3 start with a victory over the New Orleans Saints last week, and they broke out in a big way. Can they keep the offensive momentum going as they prepare to face the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome this Sunday at 4:15pm.

After throwing no touchdowns and eight interceptions in his first two games, Minnesota Vikings QB Daunte Culpepper regained his Pro Bowl form of old against the Saints. Culpepper completed 21 of 29 pass attempts for 300 yards and a trio of scores, including a pair to WR Travis Taylor. He will be tested this week, though, as he prepares to face a Falcons defense that allowed just 75 passing yards and 208 yards of total offense against the Buffalo Bills last Sunday. The key to victory may well be the banged-up Vikings offensive line, who managed to open enough holes to help RB Mewelde Moore gain 101 yards on 23 carries in the New Orleans game, but who also allowed seven sacks on the afternoon.

That blocking needs to improve in a hurry. The Atlanta Falcons sacked Bills QB J.P. Losman four times during last weekend's game, and they have one of the NFL's premiere front sevens. DT Rod Coleman already has three sacks on the year, and DE Patrick Kerney and NT Chad Lavalais each have 1.5 sacks in 2005. The Falcons defense has eight sacks, three forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and a pair of interceptions thus far. Combine that with the fact that the potent DVD offense of RB Warrick Dunn, QB Michael Vick and RB T.J. Duckett leads the NFL with 183.7 rushing yards per game while the Vikings allow 142.3 yards on the ground, third worst in the NFL, and you most likely have a recipe for an Atlanta victory this Sunday.

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