Vikings clip Falcons to keep streak alive, 14-9

The Minnesota Vikings defeated the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday afternoon in Week 13, 14-9. Here are all the highlights, the game recap and the final score.

In one of the best games of the week, we got a game that didn’t disappoint between the Minnesota Vikings and the Atlanta Falcons. While it didn’t offer the points we had hoped for, Minnesota kept Atlanta out of the end zone all day to win 14-9.

The Vikings improve to 10-2 on the season and have won an impressive eight games in a row. Atlanta falls to 7-5 on the year and cannot afford any more missteps along the way should the Falcons want to get back into the NFC playoffs for a second straight season.

With the way that this Vikings team played, we may have to seriously consider them as a legitimate Super Bowl contender the rest of the way. Atlanta had a difficult time passing the ball on the Vikings, as Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan only completed 17 of 30 passes for 173 yards on the afternoon. The Falcons left some points and some yards on the field.

Minnesota got an outstanding game out of MVP candidate (yes, MVP candidate) quarterback Case Keenum. He played about a perfect game, as he completed 25 of 30 passes for 227 yards and two touchdowns. Keenum spread the ball around marvelously to guys like tight end Kyle Rudolph and wide receiver Adam Thielen.

While Atlanta played very well defensively despite being down two cornerbacks, the Falcons couldn’t contain Vikings starting running back Latavius Murray. He carried the workload for the Vikings ground game with 16 carries for 76 yards. Atlanta native Jerick McKinnon would find pay dirt and did the Dirty Bird in Atlanta’s house.

Though Atlanta lost, it wasn’t a bad loss for the Falcons all things considered. Yes, the Falcons would have liked to have gotten into the end zone, but this Vikings defense is 100 percent championship caliber. Minnesota is the hottest team in the league. The Vikings could be the No. 1 seed in the NFC and get to play Super Bowl LII in their own building in February.

This could be a potential NFC Divisional round game. It would be at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis obviously, but it had a great playoff feel to it. Both teams were capable of winning this game, but the Vikings made fewer mistakes to get the well-deserved W over the hometown Falcons.

Three Stars

1. Case Keenum: Keenum completed 25 of 30 passes for 227 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.
2. Latavius Murray: Murray had 16 carries for 76 yards. He also had three catches for 21 yards.
3. Ricardo Allen: Allen had 10 tackles, nine solo and one for a loss of yardage.

Highlights

Next Game

Atlanta has a quick turnaround, as the Falcons will be facing their arch rival on Thursday Night Football this week. The hated New Orleans Saints will be coming to town for their first of two annual meetings. Kickoff from Mercedes-Benz Stadium will be at 8:25 p.m. ET on Dec. 7. NBC, the NFL Network and Amazon will carry that rivalry game.

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Minnesota will have to play another playoff contender in the NFC South on Sunday in Week 14. The Vikings will have to travel to the Queen City to take on the Carolina Panthers. Kickoff from Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte will be at 1:00 p.m. ET on Dec. 10. CBS will have that ball game.