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Vikings beat Packers to open US Bank Stadium

Published  September 19, 2016 5:56pm CDT
Sports
FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul

MINNEAPOLIS (KMSP) - The Minnesota Vikings beat the Green Bay Packers 17-14 Sunday night, winning the first ever regular season game at U.S. Bank Stadium. In front of 66,813 fans and a national TV audience, Stefon Diggs had a breakout performance, with a career-high 9 catches for 182 yards and a highlight reel touchdown.

In his first start for the Vikings, Sam Bradford out-dueled Aaron Rodgers, completing 22 of 30 passes for 286 yards and 2 touchdowns. Bradford’s first touchdown pass was an 8-yard bullet to tight end Kyle Rudolph on third down, tying the game at 7-7 in the second quarter. The highlight hookup of the night was a 44-yard strike from Bradford to Diggs late in the second quarter – the longest offensive play of the year for the Vikings and a career-long reception for Diggs.

Blair Walsh was good on his first field goal attempt at U.S. Bank Stadium, giving the Vikings a 10-7 lead on a 46-yard kick in the second quarter that followed a delay of game penalty.

The Packers frequently targeted second-year cornerback Trae Waynes, who mostly drew the assignment of veteran receiver Jordy Nelson. Waynes was flagged for pass interference penalties of 13 yards and 28 yards, as well as a defensive holding penalty.  But it was Trae Waynes who had the last laugh, with a game-sealing interception of Aaron Rodgers in the final two minutes.

Stefon Diggs had one more big play left in his arsenal to secure the Vikings win, drawing a pass interference penalty on third down in the final 1:33.

Adrian Peterson injured: Adrian Peterson was helped off the field by trainers after suffering a knee injury Sunday night against the Green Bay Packers. During the NBC Sunday Night Football broadcast, sideline reporter Michele Tafoya said the Minnesota Vikings training staff was examining the back, outside part of Peterson’s knee. Peterson was injured with 3:32 remaining in the third quarter, following a 5-yard run – his longest rush of the game.

Bradford bruised too: Sam Bradford also suffered an apparent injury to his non-throwing hand. He left the field for x-rays in the first half, but remained in the game.

Welcome home: The Vikings are 3-0 in new stadium openers, with a 37-13 win over the Chicago Bears in 1961 and a 17-10 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the Metrodome in 1982.