MINNEAPOLIS --The Falcons offense made the trip to Minnesota eager to show off some of the moves that were kept hidden during the 2007 preseason, but a list of miscues coupled with an aggressive Vikings pass rush complicated that debut and the Falcons fell 24-3 to Minnesota at the Metrodome.
It's the first season-opening loss for the Falcons in five seasons and it put plenty of life into the 62,815 Vikings fans eager to get a look at second-year quarterback Tarvaris Jackson and rookie running back Adrian Peterson.
Peterson rushed for 109 yards -- a Vikings rookie record -- and took a screen pass from Jackson midway through the fourth quarter for 60 yards and a touchdown.
Frustrations started early for Atlanta, even after the defense forced a Vikings punt to open the game.
"That's a tough loss for us," Head Coach Bobby Petrino said. "I thought in the first half our defense did a nice job of keeping us in there... We do need to improve defensivly in keeping guys backed up. Offensivly we didn't have very good field position the first half."
Leading his first drive of the regular season, quarterback Joey Harrington initially showed great mobility. He escaped two tacklers on his first snap and checked down to tight end Alge Crumpler for an 8-yard gain. But six plays later, as the Falcons offense inched toward midfield, Harrington threw an interception to Vikings defensive tackle Kevin Williams.
Like most defensive tackles, the 311-pound Williams isn't know for his speed. But he was the beneficiary of good field position on this return and had an open lane down the Falcons sideline for a 54-yard touchdown.
"The interception for a touchdown is a tough play becaue the guy didn't rush and jumped up and made a nice catch and return," Petrino said. "That's something tht doesn't happen a whole lot."
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Falcons drop season opener
Falcons drop season opener
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