Vikings Use Their Winning Blueprint to Get Back on Track Against Falcons

The Minnesota Vikings rebounded from last Sunday's loss by getting back to a blueprint that has powered their rise to the top of the NFC North through 12 weeks. 

Adrian Peterson rushed for 158 yards and two scores, and head coach Mike Zimmer's defense provided another commanding effort as the Vikings pounded the Atlanta Falcons, 20-10, Sunday at the Georgia Dome.

Minnesota's fourth straight road win—coupled with the Green Bay Packers' upset loss to the Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving night—will keep the Vikings in first place in the division entering December. 

Staying there will require Minnesota to stick with the same working script over the final five games of the season. 

The Vikings have established a specific winning recipe over the first three months: run the football with Peterson, protect Teddy Bridgewater in the passing game and keep opponents off the scoreboard. It's a simple but effective way of winning in today's NFL, and the Vikings have all but mastered it. 

Situation	Vikings
When Teddy Bridgewater takes one or fewer sacks	5-0
When Teddy Bridgewater attempts fewer than 30 passes	5-0
When Adrian Peterson rushes for more than 100 yards	6-0
When the Vikings allow fewer than 20 points	7-0

Sunday was just another example. 

Minnesota gained 365 total yards, with 187 coming via Peterson. The Vikings rushed 39 times, attempted just 28 passes and allowed zero sacks. The result was only 20 points, but a Bridgewater interception in the end zone and a Blair Walsh missed field goal robbed Minnesota of adding more. 

The Vikings also improved to 5-0 this season when Bridgewater attempts fewer than 30 passes in a game. While the stat seems like an indictment of Bridgewater's ability as a quarterback, it's more so a realization of the way Minnesota wants to play on offense.

When Peterson is chewing up yards and keeping the Vikings ahead of the sticks, the quarterback position just needs to play safe football and pick up first downs when the opportunities are there. 

David Goldman/Associated Press

Bridgewater mostly did that, with 10 of his 20 completions creating first downs. His performance was tainted by a bad decision to throw down the seam to Kyle Rudolph in the first half, but the interception wasn't a decisive moment. 

Peterson did all the heavy lifting. He averaged 5.4 yards per carry, punched in a first-half touchdown and all but ending the proceedings with a 35-yard scoring scamper in the fourth quarter. The Vikings are now 6-0 when he rushes for more than 100 yards in a game this season. 

The Minnesota offense has simple goals: ride Peterson, avoid 3rd-and-long situations and allow Bridgewater to throw quick and on time. The Falcons allowed seven third-down conversions and did not have a sack. 

Zimmer's defense once again allowed some wiggle room on offense.

David Goldman/Associated Press

Minnesota intercepted Matt Ryan twice, including Terence Newman's pick in the end zone on 3rd-and-goal in the third quarter. Second-year linebacker Anthony Barr was a one-man wrecking crew, as he forced a fumble from rookie Tevin Coleman at the end of a big run and had a strip-sack of Ryan on fourth down to end another Atlanta drive. 

The Falcons scored a garbage-time touchdown to get to 10 points. The Vikings are now 7-0 when holding an opponent under 20 points this season. 

Of course, all teams want to run the ball well and avoid giving up points to the opposition. It's a winning strategy. But the first 12 weeks have proved how ingrained this blueprint is in Minnesota's season. 

Taking away just one piece of the puzzle can turn things ugly in a hurry. Just look at the team's losses. The San Francisco 49ers won in Week 1 by shutting down Peterson (31 yards rushing) and winning at the line of scrimmage in the run game. The Denver Broncos did enough against Peterson (81 yards) and beat up Bridgewater in Week 4. The Packers took away Peterson (45 yards), harassed Bridgewater and got 100 rushing yards from Eddie Lacy last Sunday. 

But when all the components come together, the Vikings are a tough outfit to beat. 

Where Minnesota's season ends up will come down to how successful the team is at executing its firmly established winning strategy every week. The final five games against the Seattle Seahawks, Arizona Cardinals, Chicago, New York Giants and Green Bay figure to present many challenges to the blueprint, but Minnesota can beat anyone when everything is there like it was Sunday in Atlanta. 

Zach Kruse covers the Vikings for Bleacher Report. 

Follow @zachkruse2