Atlanta Falcons vs. Minnesota Vikings: Full game preview

Nov 15, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) runs the ball against the Oakland Raiders in the fourth quarter at O.co Coliseum. The Vikings defeated the Raiders 30-14. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

What to watch

No. 1 run defense vs. NFL’s leading rusher

This is a matchup worth watching. The Falcons defense has been dominant against the run, but they are yet to face a challenge as tough as what’s coming on Sunday. Adrian Peterson leads the NFL in rushing yards with 1,006 yards and six touchdowns. Stopping him is the key to beating the Vikings.

The pass rush

Stopping Peterson is one thing, applying the pressure on the quarterback is the other. Last week, the Packers held Peterson to just 45 yards, and were able to tee off Teddy Bridgewater, sacking him six times. The Falcons have struggled to generate any pressure this year, but now is the time to turn up the heat.

The response

It was a gut-wrenching defeat for the Falcons for the third straight defeat. An overtime loss to Bucs, a one-point defeat to the 49ers followed up with a dramatic collapse against the Colts has been tough to swallow for Atlanta. How will they respond?

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