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Four and out: Surprises from the NFL in Week 2

By Dani Bostick

Aug 22, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs (14) catches a pass before the game against the Oakland Raiders at TCF Bank Stadium. The Vikings win 20-12. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 22, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs (14) catches a pass before the game against the Oakland Raiders at TCF Bank Stadium. The Vikings win 20-12. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 18, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs (14) celebrates his touchdown with wide receiver Adam Thielen (19) during the third quarter against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings defeated the Packers 17-14. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 18, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs (14) celebrates his touchdown with wide receiver Adam Thielen (19) during the third quarter against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings defeated the Packers 17-14. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Minnesota can beat Green Bay

Sunday night the Minnesota Vikings played their home opener in their brand new stadium. Though the team lost Teddy Bridgewater in the preseason to a gruesome knee injury and Adrian Peterson to a torn meniscus early in the game, the Vikings were able to beat the Green Bay Packers, 17-14.

Going into Week 1, ESPN power rankings had the Vikings at No. 12. The Green Bay Packers were ranked at No. 6. Going into Week 2, ESPN put the Green Bay Packers in their top spot, while the Vikings remained steady at No. 12.

The Vikings scored two defensive touchdowns and no offensive touchdowns in Week 1, causing analysts to worry about the overall strength of their squad, especially in the absence of Bridgewater. The Vikings put those concerns to rest  in Week 2 en route to their victory over Green Bay. Oft-maligned quarterback Sam Bradford completed 22 of 31 passes for 286 yards and two touchdowns. He outperformed Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers who completed 20 of 36 passes for 213 and a single touchdown.

Wide receiver Stefon Diggs had nine receptions for an astounding 182 yards. Diggs could be a standalone surprise from Week 2, judging from the number of fantasy team owners regretting their decisions to keep him on the bench.

Related Story: 5 fantasy replacements for Adrian Peterson

Currently, the Vikings are the only undefeated team in the NFC North going into Week 3. While Vikings fans always have Super Bowl aspirations (sometimes delusions, depending on the year), it has been surprising to see the Vikings play so well after the huge setback they suffered after Bridgewater’s unlucky knee injury before the season even started.

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