Associated Press photo by Bruce Kluckhohn / Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook (33) scores on a 7-yard touchdown run ahead of Atlanta Falcons strong safety Keanu Neal (22) during the second half of the season opener for both teams Sunday in Minneapolis.MINNEAPOLIS – After dropping back to pass a mere 11 times for the Minnesota Vikings in their season opener Sunday, Kirk Cousins joked that this defense-and-running-dominated performance felt like youth football.
He was more than happy to hand the ball off and get out of the way.
Anthony Harris had two interceptions and a fumble recovery, and Dalvin Cook rushed for 111 yards and two touchdowns as the Vikings beat the Atlanta Falcons 28-12 on Sunday.
“It was what the game called for, and I have no problem with being conservative,” Cousins said. “As long as we win the football game, that’s all that matters.”
Eric Wilson recovered a punt he blocked at the 21-yard line after a three-and-out by the Falcons on the first possession of the game, and the Vikings were well on their way to winning a fourth straight opener. Including the blocked punt, their first in five years, they turned all four Atlanta turnovers into touchdowns.
Cousins connected with Adam Thielen for a 23-yard score to finish the short first drive. He crossed the goal line on a 1-yard sneak in the second quarter to cap a 79-yard march that gave Minnesota a 21-0 lead. Cousins went 8-for-10 passing for 98 yards, all career lows for NFL games he started, but there was no need for more on this turnover-free afternoon by an offense that sputtered down the stretch last season.
“When I’m on the field, a lot of special things can happen,” said Cook, who missed 17 games due to injury in his first two pro seasons.
Cook carried the ball 21 times behind the new zone-blocking scheme influenced heavily by first-year offensive adviser Gary Kubiak, the former Denver Broncos and Houston Texans head coach. Cousins averaged 38 passes per game in his first year with the Vikings, and much to Zimmer’s chagrin they finished with the third-fewest rushing yards in the NFL.
The new system directed by offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski and the favorable field position sure shifted the ratio hard the other way.
“We know that’s the strength of our team,” Thielen said. “We know we have one of the best running backs in the NFL, if not the best, and we know we have an offensive line that can just ground and pound.”
Matt Ryan played more like a rookie than the 2016 league MVP beginning his 12th NFL season, unable to find his footing all afternoon in the face of a fierce pass rush that racked up four sacks. The worst moment came at the end of Atlanta’s first possession of the second half, a 13-play, 82-yard drive thwarted when his second-and-3 fling into the back of the end zone for backup tight end Luke Stocker was picked off by a leaping Harris.
Ryan said Stocker cut his route too short.
“Both interceptions today were poor decisions, and they cost us,” said Ryan, who finished 33-for-46 for 304 yards and two fourth-quarter scores to Calvin Ridley and Julio Jones.
Devonta Freeman had only 19 yards on eight carries, plus the lost fumble.
Jones, who signed a $66 million, three-year contract extension on Saturday, was targeted 11 times but managed only 31 yards on six catches.
“It’s the first game. We don’t need to freak out, things like that, but at the end of the day, we control this,” Jones said. “We’re shooting ourselves in the foot, getting behind the sticks early on, and we couldn’t stay out there on the field, get the defense some rest, things like that. We’ve just got to do better and we will be better. That’s that.”
Though his contract negotiations lasted longer than expected, Jones said he was never worried, assurance in part that came from team owner Arthur Blank and his desire to keep Jones on the roster for the remainder of the receiver’s career.
“For me, I just want to be a great teammate. All that other stuff, that’s more so for my family. I’m not a ‘me’ guy, like, hey, being the highest-paid guy, you this, you that,” Jones said. “I just love to be out there with my guys. My brothers, we go about it every day. I love it, and I’m ready to get back to work.”
Trying to get a once-potent offense back on track this year after missing the playoffs last season, the Falcons started rookies Kaleb McGary and Chris Lindstrom on the right side of their offensive line. James Carpenter won the left guard job over Jamon Brown, who signed an $18.75 million, three-year contract in free agency.
McGary took turns at right tackle with Ty Sambrailo, with Matt Gono inactive because of a back injury. Lindstrom left the game with a foot injury.