Atlanta Falcons Host Minnesota Vikings in Crucial NFC Game

The Atlanta Falcons (6-4) host the NFC North leading Minnesota Vikings (7-3) for a crucial game in the NFC playoff race. Can the Falcons stop the losing?

The Atlanta Falcons have lost four of their last five games since starting 2015 5-0. Regardless of their recent struggles, the Dirty Birds enter their Week 12 home game with the NFC North leading Minnesota Vikings as a slight home favorite (1-point).

This game has major NFC Playoff implications, as both the Falcons and the Vikings are very much in the mix for playoff spots. Minnesota now holds a slight, albeit temporary, half game edge over the 7-4 Green Bay Packers in the surprisingly strong NFC North. Atlanta holds a one-game lead for the 2nd NFC Wild Card over the Seattle Seahawks and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, both of whom are at .500 (5-5).

Atlanta played Minnesota last year in Minneapolis, falling 41-28. The Atlanta Falcons and the rest of the NFC South played the NFC North in its entirety last year. Of all the ten losses experienced by the 2014 Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta looked the worst in their game versus the Vikings. I remember rookie QB Teddy Bridgewater having an absolute field day versus the porous defense of then DC Mike Nolan.

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The Atlanta Falcons meet the Minnesota Vikings again in 2015, as both teams finished third in their respective divisions the year before. This year, the two teams will meet under totally different pretenses. Minnesota seems at this point almost a lock to make the NFC Playoffs. The Vikings could win the NFC North and get the 3-seed or could earn either Wild Card bid. Atlanta isn’t catching Carolina and will need to battle to claim either Wild Card spot.

After last year’s suspension former MVP RB Adrian Peterson has come back re-energized in 2015 for the Vikings, rushing for a league-high 1,006 yards. He’s continuing to prove he is a rare physical specimen, as he also leads the NFL in carries despite being 30 years old. Most of the time, running backs hit the metaphorical wall at around age 28.

Atlanta comes into their Week 12 meeting with the league’s leader rusher as the number one defense against the run. Atlanta rarely has guys go for over 100 yards on the ground. The defensive principles of HC Dan Quinn and the great teaching of DC Richard Smith and LB Coach Jeff Ulbrich have helped transform the Atlanta Falcons into a top half defense in Year One of their coaching regime.

Like last week’s home game versus the Indianapolis Colts, this is a must-win game for both teams, as both clubs would love to own the tiebreaker over the other NFC Playoff contending team. Minnesota doesn’t want to spoil a Week 12 loss by the Green Bay Packers. Atlanta doesn’t want either Seattle or Tampa Bay to catch or surpass them in the Wild Card hunt.

The Atlanta Falcons have some key injuries that may end up hurting their team. K Matt Bryant, RB Devonta Freeman, and WR Leonard Hankerson are all out versus the Vikings. Atlanta signed veteran K Shayne Graham on Thanksgiving and rookie RB Tevin Coleman will get the start in the Atlanta backfield. Expect rookie RB Terron Ward to get plenty of carries as well now that Freeman won’t play.

I see a great battle between Adrian Peterson and the number one run defense in the Atlanta Falcons this afternoon. However, where the game comes down to is when the Atlanta Falcons are on offense versus the strong defense of HC Mike Zimmer.

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If QB Matt Ryan can limit the turnovers to at most two, then Atlanta can hold their own and maybe win this game. Teddy Bridgewater will also need to have a rough day for Atlanta to win. All Atlanta Falcons games are close, but again will unfortunately come up short as the Vikings are probably the better team on Sunday.

Prediction: Minnesota Vikings 24, Atlanta Falcons 20.

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