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The Call: Vikings vs. Falcons

By Ben Goessling

December 3, 2017 at 12:12AM

Devonta Freeman, part of Atlanta’s potent 1-2 punch at running back, is returning to action after being out with a concussion. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

The Vikings have aced every test so far in the difficult second half of their schedule. Sunday could be where they see a seven-game win streak end, against a team with a full complement of weapons on offense and plenty of speed on defense.

Prediction: Falcons 24, Vikings 21.

Three big story lines

Falcons on the rebound

The 2016 NFC champions started 3-0 and after three straight losses dropped them to .500, they've won four of their last five, They'll get running back Devonta Freeman back from a concussion on Sunday.

Diggs could benefit with Trufant out

Falcons CB Desmond Trufant will miss Sunday's game because of a concussion, which could mean C.J. Goodwin spends much of the day covering Stefon Diggs.

Mercedes-Benz next super home

Mercedes-Benz Stadium — the Falcons' $1.6 billion new home — has replaced U.S. Bank Stadium as the NFL's newest facility, and will follow it as the host of the Super Bowl. The retractable-roof facility is slated to be the home of Super Bowl LIII on Feb. 3, 2019.

Two key matchups

Vikings CB Xavier Rhodes vs. Falcons WR Julio Jones

Rhodes will likely shadow Jones in the third matchup between the former first-round picks. In their last meeting, Jones caught just five passes for 56 yards.

Vikings offensive line vs. Falcons DT Grady Jarrett

The Vikings have the league's sixth-best rushing attack, and it's their best chance to win on Sunday. That means running the ball effectively against a defense that has given up at least 138 rushing yards in three of the Falcons' four losses. The Vikings' interior linemen will have to play well against Jarrett, who's been a stout run defender at either tackle spot.

One stat that matters

48.1 The Falcons' league-leading third-down conversion percentage. The Vikings' defense has allowed third-down conversions just 28.5 percent of the time, which is also the best in the NFL.

The Vikings will win if …

• They can take advantage of the Falcons' sporadic run defense and keep pressure on Matt Ryan.

The Falcons will win if …

• Devonta Freeman can attack the Vikings on multiple fronts, making up for what Xavier Rhodes might do to slow down Julio Jones.

Goessling's win probability

50%

about the writer

Ben Goessling

Sports reporter

Ben Goessling has covered the Vikings since 2012, first at the Pioneer Press and ESPN before becoming the Minnesota Star Tribune's lead Vikings reporter in 2017. He was named one of the top NFL beat writers by the Pro Football Writers of America in 2024, after honors in the AP Sports Editors and National Headliner Awards contests in 2023.