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 When the tests were negative, Bridgewater came back to the
sideline to witness the end of the game, but did not return. He was
smiling when he left the field at the end of the game but appeared
to have a slight limp.
Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer isn't a doctor, but said if it's up
to him, there's no question Bridgewater will be ready to make his
second NFL start Thursday when the Vikings travel to Green Bay for a
game against the Packers.
"He's going to get an MRI (on Monday)," Zimmer said. "But I told him
he's fine."
Bridgewater was the fourth rookie since 1980 to win his first start
passing for at least 300 yards, joining Eric Zeier, Robert Griffin
III and Kirk Cousins.
Making his first start in the National Football League, chants of
"Ted-dy, Ted-dy" from the more than 52,000 in attendance came almost
every time Bridgewater stepped onto the field. The rookie from
Louisville showed poise, connecting on enough big plays to keep the
Vikings' offense moving to the tune of 558 total yards of offense.
"Teddy is the same all the time, he's always got the same demeanor,"
Zimmer said. "It's just amazing to be around this kid. He's a good
kid. I'm proud he's on my team."
When they got close to the goal line, it was running back Matt
Asiata who did the dirty work, tying a career-high with three
touchdowns, the longest of which came from six yards.
Away from the goal line, it was rookie running back Jerick McKinnon
doing the damage, rushing 18 times for 135 yards -- the first
100-yard game of his brief NFL career.
"That's what we wanted to do, help take the pressure off Teddy,"
Asiata said. "But he didn't need it."
Wide receiver Jarius Wright also set a career high with eight
receptions for 132 yards, including a 52-yard reception on the
Vikings' drive to set up Asiata's first score of the day.
"Anytime you have more than 500 yards of total offense, it's a great
feeling," Bridgewater said. "That was a total team effort. It's not
about me. All I have to do is drop back and put the ball in the
playmakers' hands."
Asiata's third score of the day gave Minnesota a 33-28 lead with
just over 10 minutes to play. On the play before, Bridgewater
scrambled to the 1 and appeared to have his left ankle rolled up on.
He finished the drive by handing off to Asiata and then was taken to
the locker room for X-rays.
That meant giving way to much-maligned quarterback Christian Ponder,
who after an Atlanta punt, promptly led Minnesota on a short scoring
drive, going 18 yards on five plays to get into position for a
55-yard field goal by Blair Walsh that gave the Vikings a 38-28
lead.
Looking for points on their next drive, Atlanta quarterback Matt
Ryan was intercepted by safety Harrison Smith at the Falcons 30 with
just over three minutes remaining. Walsh connected on his fourth
field goal of the day to provide the final margin.
"Obviously we did a great job offensively," Zimmer said.
"Defensively, we had a few bonehead things we have to fix. But I
like how this team competes, I like how it works, I like how it
studies."
Falcons coach Mike Smith was disappointed in his defense, saying a
number of mistakes -- physical and mental -- led to numerous
breakdowns.
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"Obviously, this is not the type of performance we need to have to
win football games," Smith said. "It was very disturbing in a number
of areas in what we were able to get accomplished."
Minnesota took a 24-14 lead into halftime thanks to a pair of
first-quarter scores by Asiata and a Bridgewater 13-yard run in the
second. After a 41-yard field goal by Walsh made it 27-14 early in
the third, Atlanta scored a pair of touchdowns less than six minutes
apart. Ryan connected with wide receiver Devin Hester on a 36-yard
score midway through the third before running back Antone Smith
busted through the left side of the Vikings defense and down the
sideline for a 48-yard touchdown, giving Atlanta a one-point lead
heading to the final quarter.
"We were able to fight back and get a one-point lead and then we
went back out on defense and we were not able to stop them," Smith
said. "They ran the ball, they threw the football. They did
basically whatever they wanted to in terms of controlling the line
of scrimmage. That is very alarming, in the way we play on the road
through the first two games, is a big concern."
Minnesota had 44 carries for 241 yards, Bridgewater had oodles of
time to throw all game and wasn't sacked a single time.
"We just need to wrap up and play physical up front," Falcons
defensive tackle Paul Soliai said. "It starts with us up front on
the D-line. We didn't do our job."
Asiata's third score came with 10:50 remaining and a hobbled
Bridgewater connected with tight end Rhett Ellison on the two-point
conversion to make it a seven-point game.
Ryan finished the game 25-for-41 passing for 298 yards and three
scores. Wide receiver Julio Jones had six catches for 82 yards.
Perhaps most concerning for Atlanta is the health of the offensive
line. Three starters up front -- left guard Justin Blalock, right
tackle Lamar Holmes and center Joe Hawley -- were lost during the
game. In the fourth quarter, tight end Levine Toilolo was lined up
at right tackle.
NOTES: Falcons S William Moore left the game in the first quarter
with a shoulder injury and did not return. ... Falcons LG Justin
Blalock left the game in the second quarter with a back injury and
did not return. ... Falcons RT Lamar Holmes left the game in the
third quarter with a right foot injury and did not return. ...
Falcons C Joe Hawley left the game on a cart on the final play of
the third quarter with an apparent leg injury. ... Vikings QB Teddy
Bridgewater left the game in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury
and did not return. X-rays were negative and he will have an MRI on
Monday.
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