Falcons-Vikings: A Preview

The Minnesota Vikings (9-5) can clinch the NFC North Division with a win Sunday afternoon against the Atlanta Falcons (9-5). The Vikings also could clinch the NFC North with a Bears loss to the Packers on Monday night, should the Vikings be unable to beat the Falcons.

Either way, each team has a lot to play for. The Falcons are teetering on the edge of playoff contention at 9-5 and a loss would be a near fatal blow to their playoff hopes. The Falcons would clinch a playoff spot with the win and a loss by Tampa Bay and either Dallas or Philadelphia.

The game will feature the league's top two running backs in Adrian Peterson and Michael Turner, respectively. Turner is averaging 101.5 yards per game while Peterson is averaging just under 113 yards a game.

The game will also feature two young quarterbacks, rookie sensation Matt Ryan and Tarvaris Jackson. Jackson was picked to start over veteran Gus Frerotte by coach Brad Childress on Friday morning after performing well in the absence of Frerotte to injury.

Defensively, the Vikings are holding teams to 71 yards rushing per game, putting them at the top of the league in that category. The Falcons sit 22nd in the category, allowing just over 120 yards a game. Those stats may come into play as Adrian Peterson has ran all over teams with weak running defenses all season.

I think the defensive key will be which defense can frustrate and force the opposing quarterback into making bad decisions. Whoever wins that battle, may just win this game.

Offensively, both teams must try to establish the run and then look to pass to stretch the field, for even more yards on the ground. If Jackson can break even for the Vikings the Vikings should be successful. Likewise, if Matt Ryan can buy himself the time with the likes of Jared Allen and Kevin Williams hunting him down, he could put up some big numbers against the Vikings' mediocre pass defense.

The Vikings are riding a four-game winning streak coming into this game and have all to play for. A win, and they are division champions for the first time in eight years.

A win and a Panthers victory against the Giants will set up another huge tie-breaking match against the Vikings and Giants in Week 17, a victory in that matchup and the Vikings will have a first-round bye in the playoffs.

With a 5-1 record at home with their only loss coming by a game-winning field goal with time expiring, it's going to be tough to pick against the Vikings in this one.

Prediction: Vikings win, 28-24.