Vikings 20, Falcons 10

At Georgia Dome, Atlanta STORYLINE: Adrian Peterson ran for 158 yards and two touchdowns against the league’s No. 1 rushing defense, carrying Minnesota (8-3) into sole possession of first place in the NFC North. Atlanta (6-5) is fading fast with four straight losses. The Vikings, who lost at home to Green Bay a week ago, have won six out of seven to move ahead of Green Bay (7-4) in the division. Peterson leads the NFL with 1,164 yards rushing. He scored on a 1-yard plunge in the first quarter and sealed the win with a 35-yard TD with 4:15 left in the game. He moved into 18th on the career rushing list with 11,354 yards, passing O.J. Simpson, Corey Dillon and John Riggins. The Falcons trailed 13-3 with 4:45 to play and went for it on fourth-and-1 from their 48-yard line. Matt Ryan, in the shotgun with no running backs, was sacked by linebacker Anthony Barr and fumbled. Three plays later, Peterson burst down the sideline for his clinching touchdown. Since a 5-0 start, the wheels have come off for Atlanta under first-year coach Dan Quinn. Ryan had two ugly interceptions, the latter in the Vikings’ end zone, and he was 22 of 31 for 230 yards. Julio Jones (five catches, 56 yards) was held out of the end zone for a second straight week. QUOTABLE: “It was a grind. (Atlanta is) the No. 1 rushing defense. I look back at some of my runs and it could’ve been 250 (yards).” — Peterson NEXT: Seahawks at Vikings (-1), 10 a.m. Sunday; Falcons at Buccaneers (-2), 10 a.m. Sunday