Minnesota Vikings

Upon Further Review: Bradford, Diggs shine in win over Packers

Published Sep. 19, 2016 2:00 p.m. ET

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Quarterback Sam Bradford and wide receiver Stefon Diggs have been practicing together for just two weeks, but they looked like longtime teammates in the Minnesota Vikings' first game at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Bradford and Diggs led the Vikings to a 17-14 win over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night, powering the offense as the Packers keyed in on running back Adrian Peterson.

Peterson left the game with a knee injury in the third quarter, bringing an unnerving end to another ineffective game for the 31-year-old running back.

Head coach Mike Zimmer's defense was stout if also sloppy, racking up five sacks and holding Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers to just 213 passing yards and one touchdown, while engineering a pair of critical takeaways.

Here's a recap of Sunday's game:

SUNDAY SCHOOL

-- Bradford's first game as a Viking was among the most successful in franchise history. He threw for 286 yards and two touchdowns, breaking the record for a quarterback in his Vikings debut.

-- He finished with a 121.2 passer rating, the third-highest mark of his career.

-- Bradford shook off an injury to his non-throwing hand in the second quarter, leaving the game briefly after being hit by Packers linebacker Clay Matthews.

-- The Vikings sacked Rodgers five times, as Everson Griffen, Danielle Hunter, Tom Johnson, Linval Joseph and Brian Robison each picked up one.

-- Zimmer's gutsy call on an early fourth down paid off in the end. The Vikings opted to pass on the Packers' 18-yard line rather than settling for a field goal, as Bradford hit Diggs on a 4-yard gain over the middle. The drive ended with an 8-yard touchdown catch for Kyle Rudolph.

-- Safety Andrew Sendejo led the Vikings with 9 tackles and recovered a fumble less than three minutes into the game. The turnover didn't last long though, as Sendejo promptly coughed up the ball to Packers receiver Randall Cobb.

-- Jerick McKinnon may be in line to inherit most of Peterson's workload if he's forced to miss any time, but he didn't log much action against the Packers. McKinnon picked up just one yard against the Packers, registering just two rushing yards and losing a yard on his only reception, while Asiata had six carriers for 14 yards.

DULY NOTED

-- Diggs is just the third receiver in franchise history to rack up more than 100 receiving yards in the first two games of the season, joining Cris Carter (1997) and Gene Washington (1969).

-- Prior to the injury, Peterson had 12 carries for just 19 yards. He has picked up just 50 yards on 31 carries this season, good enough for a meager 1.6 yards per carry.

-- Laquon Treadwell quietly made his NFL debut on Sunday, playing on two offensive snaps.

WHAT IT MEANT

The Tennessee Titans edged the Detroit Lions 16-15 on Sunday, while the Chicago Bears are 0-1 heading into a matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night, giving the Vikings sole possession of first place in the NFC North. Bradford picked apart the Packers' secondary on Sunday, stabilizing a position that has been in flux since Bridgewater's injury. But while the Vikings have proven that they can win without Bridgewater, they may have to do it without Peterson, pending the results of further testing on his injured knee.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

Bradford has already developed an impressive rapport with Diggs, who led the team with a whopping 11 targets. With Peterson bottled up and then sidelined with a knee injury, Diggs became the engine of the Vikings' offense. The second-year receiver hauled in nine catches for 182 yards and a touchdown, while averaging 20.2 yards per reception. He now leads the league with 285 receiving yards.

DON'T FORGET ABOUT ME

Diggs is making headlines this week for his standout performance, but Bradford looks to have some major chemistry with Rudolph as well. Bradford targeted Rudolph eight times against the Packers for 31 yards and a touchdown. Only Diggs and Jordy Nelson had more targets on the night.

THAT MOMENT

Rodgers picked on Trae Waynes all night, first via Nelson, then Davante Adams, coaxing the second-year cornerback into a pair of pass interference calls that cost the Vikings a combined 41 yards. However, Waynes settled the score on the Packers' final play of the game. Rodgers tried to hit Adams again on third-and-long with less than two minutes remaining, but Waynes was there, outmuscling Adams and hauling in a pivotal interception.

THIS NUMBER

4 -- The Vikings' defensive front harassed Rodgers all night, forcing four fumbles, three of which came off of the Packers' quarterback, but weren't able to convert until the fourth quarter. Defensive end Brian Robison swatted the ball out of Rodgers' hand from behind, forcing a momentum-killing turnover on the Vikings' 40-yard line after Rodgers had completed three consecutive passes.

THEY SAID IT

"[Diggs] was pretty much unstoppable out there tonight. He just got open time and time again." -- Sam Bradford

"I was impressed with pretty much everything [Bradford] did tonight. I thought he had great composure. I thought he had good control of things." -- Mike Zimmer

"Unbelievable. [Bradford] took hits he shouldn't have taken. He delivered the ball well. Just an overall great performance by him." -- Guard Alex Boone

WHAT'S NEXT

The Vikings have a week to prepare for a nasty road matchup against the Carolina Panthers in Week 3. Quarterback Cam Newton and the Panthers beat the San Francisco 49ers 46-27 in Week 2, but surrendered four turnovers, a situation that should have Zimmer's defense salivating after pair of big games.

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