Vikings open the season with a 34-6 win at St. Louis.

Here's Matt Vensel's first postgame report from St. Louis:

Mike Zimmer's official debut as an NFL head coach could not have gone much better than Sunday's 34-6 win over the St. Louis Rams in the season opener. The Vikings scored on their first possession and never trailed, Zimmer's new-look defense outscored the Rams offense and, despite a few shaky moments, starting quarterback Matt Cassel had an efficient, turnover-free afternoon.

The Vikings took a 13-0 lead into the locker room at halftime after cornerback Josh Robinson made a leaping interception of Rams quarterback Shaun Hill in St. Louis territory and Cassel connected with wide receiver Greg Jennings in the end zone a few plays later for an 8-yard touchdown pass.

Electric second-year wide-out Cordarrelle Patterson blew the game open in the third quarter. He lined up in the backfield as a running back, took a pitch toward the right sideline then cut across the field, breaking multiple tackles on his way to a 67-yard rushing touchdown that gave the Vikings a commanding 20-3 lead. It was the longest touchdown run by a wide receiver in franchise history.

After that, the once-rowdy crowd at the Edward Jones Dome was quiet as the Vikings coasted to a win, except for the boos when safety Harrison Smith intercepted Rams backup Austin Davis, who replaced the injured Hill after halftime, and returned it 81 yards for a touchdown with 2:57 left in the game.

Cassel completed 17 of his 25 attempts for 170 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Adrian Peterson rushed for 75 yards on 21 carries. Patterson led all players with 102 yards on three carries — the most by a wide receiver in Vikings history — and added three catches for 26 yards.

Linval Joseph, Tom Johnson, Everson Griffen and Smith each had a sack for the Vikings and top draft pick Anthony Barr, who started at outside linebacker, led the Vikings with seven tackles.