WHAT TO KNOW
MINNESOTA (7-3) at ATLANTA (6-4) Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox OPENING LINE — Falcons by 3
RECORD VS. SPREAD — Vikings 8-2, Falcons 4-6
SERIES RECORD — Vikings lead 17-11 LAST MEETING — Vikings beat Falcons 41-28, Sept. 28, 2014
LAST WEEK — Vikings lost to Packers 30-13; Falcons lost to Colts 24-21
AP PRO32 RANKING — Vikings No. 7, Falcons No. 14
VIKINGS OFFENSE — OVERALL (29), RUSH (3), PASS (T30)
VIKINGS DEFENSE — OVERALL (9), RUSH (T17), PASS (6)
FALCONS OFFENSE — OVERALL (4), RUSH (13), PASS (5) FALCONS DEFENSE — OVERALL (10), RUSH (1), PASS (18)
STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES — Minnesota RB Adrian Peterson leads NFL in rushing with 1,006 yards. It is seventh 1,000-yard season of career. ... Falcons have their own league leader: WR Julio Jones has three straight 100-yard receiving games and six for season. Overall, he’s got 89 receptions for 1,189 yards, topping NFL in both categories. ... Vikings are missing two starting offensive linemen for season: center John Sullivan (back) and right tackle Phil Loadholt (Achilles tendon). They gave up six sacks and many more pressures against Packers. ... Vikings QB Teddy Bridgewater is coming off a96-yard passing game, his second-highest total of season. ... A year ago, Bridgewater threw for 317 yards and added 27 yards rushing against Falcons in first career start. ... Atlanta RB Devonta Freeman sustained concussion early in last Sunday’s game. It’s not known if NFL’s fifth-leading rusher (764 yards) will be able to go. ... The Vikings have a three-game road winning streak for the first time since 2009. The last time they won four in a row on the road was 1998, the season they lost to the Falcons in the NFC championship game. ... Falcons WR Roddy White was targeted season-high nine times in loss to Colts. ... Vikings DT Linval Joseph has 51 tackles, the most in the NFL among defensive linemen. ... Fantasy Tip: Atlanta QB Matt Ryan threw season-high three touchdowns last weekend, but also tossed three interceptions. With questions swirling about his effectiveness, look for Matty Ice to bounce back with a big game.