ATLANTA -- The Vikings apparently are tired of being bullied and humiliated by the Falcons.

In what was their best third quarter of the season to date, the Vikings -- are you sitting down? -- OUTSCORED an opponent in the THIRD QUARTER for the first time this season.

The offense posted an impressive 14-play, 80-yard touchdown drive while the defense finally got tired of being slapped silly up and down the field. The result was a 7-0 advantage in the quarter and a tighter-than-expected 17-7 deficit heading into the fourth quarter.

Ponder converted three third downs in Atlanta territory during the touchdown drive. He ran for 5 yards on third-and-4, threw a 5-yard pass to Allen Reisner on third-and-1 and hit Percy Harvin for a 20-yard gain on third-and-10 from the Atlanta 21.

The Falcons, meanwhile, had only one first down for the quarter.