It’s been a long time since the Minnesota Vikings started two rookies on offense. To be exact, you have to go back to 1963 when rookies WR Paul Flatley and TE Ray Poage opened up the year in purple. But Dalvin Cook and Pat Elflein didn’t look anything like rookies in their impressive debuts against the New Orleans Saints.“This stadium is crazy and the fans make it even better,” Cook said. “Hearing the chant, hearing everything around you when you make plays, it’s unbelievable.”
Cook was sure to credit his offensive line, which was led by rookie Pat Elflein.
“I wanted to be calm and not overwhelm myself because that’s not going to do me any good especially when I’m making calls and making sure everyone’s on the same page,” Elflein said. “Really it goes into your preparation during the week. Work really hard then, study and when it comes to game day you just let it go. ‘Leave your anxiety in here,’ is what Coach Zimmer always says and I take that to heart.”
Quarterback Sam Bradford was impressed by Cook’s ability to keep grinding late into the game.
“I should be more surprised by that, but I’m not, probably because of how talented he is and because of what we’ve all seen from him since he got here,” Bradford said. “You can’t really say enough about him, to be able to come in and play as many snaps as he did to keep pounding and pounding and finally break a few at the end.”
http://www.1500espn.com/vikings-2/2017/0...in-saints/

I've got them vs Seahawks, Packers or Giants playing for the Lombardi in Minny. Giants? Giants?! 

Doesn't get much more difficult than playing them on their home-turf at their home opener...Still relishing 1/0, but can't help but look ahead a bit. 

I was listening to Chicago sports radio this afternoon and they were talking about teams around the NFL and who had a good weekend and who didn't. Some of the teams they mentioned have bad QB's and have had for a few years now. 
It got me to thinking about this whole Sam/Teddy debate that goes back and forth between some of the fans on this and other boards. No matter who you like in this debate, you have to admit it's good to have guys that are at the very least, decent QB's.
You may not like Sam, but he by no means will ever be a Christian Ponder, Tarvaris Jackson, or any of the 3rd rate QB's the Vikings had actually starting games for them. You may not like Teddy, but he's at the very least a guy you can get behind and have to love his upside if he can overcome the knee injury. 
Look what Houston has gone through over the years with a great defense and nobody to play QB for them. The 49ers signed not one, but two guys that the Bears didnt want anymore. The Bears for God's sake! 
I know everyone wants a Peyton Manning or Tom Brady, or even Aaron Rodgers, but those guys are really few and far between. Be glad we have a guy who given time to throw can light up defenses, and a guy who with a little more time could be a guy who plays for a very long time.
I for one would rather be in this position than where this team used to be, searching for a half way decent QB every season and coming up short.

Also, the line played very well last night. It was good to see that progress has been made in that area.

 Man, every time I see this kid play, I come away more impressed. Speed, routes, quickness, hands, toughness.  I think we're witnessing the emergence of a superstar. 

Re-watching the game from last night, I have to wonder, just how much of our OL woes from the last few years was the failure of our RB's to consistently recognize and pickup blitzers and/or free runners on the pass rush.  Watching Cook stone a few guys last night and gave Bradford more time seemed to be a huge difference.  Don't get me wrong, the turnstile tackles we had previously didn't help much either, but how many times did you see the free runner flying at our QB and the RB no where to be found?  It seemed that not only could Cook block well, but he seemed to recognize it much better and be in the right position.  Thoughts?

Wow, what a night, a rookie breaking records in his first NFL game and giving his team a spark in all three aspects of RB play!!

Oh...wait...that was Dalvin Cook??? Kamara only gained 18 yards (2.6ypc)? But Jon Gruden - in the 4th quarter! - was putting up pictures of one of those backs, and raving about his great future, and comparing him favorably to Reggie Bush, Darren Sproles, and even HOFer Marshall Falk! Was he watching the same game as the rest of us??? Because on my screen, it sure sure looked like Cook was the big story and Kamara was just another guy.

wow, very nice performance by the boys in Purple.  showed up big on a big stage.  pretty good balanced performance and with continued health (particularly on the OL) we can expect more.  

you can see the flashes of brilliance with Cook, the various threats in the passing game (wait until Floyd comes back to give a deep look in a 3 WR set).

With one game we can move past, a terrible last 11 games, a pathetic preseason, the ghost of AP, the ghost of Brett (a pocket passer), and the lack of a playmaking WR since the Freak.

we will be underdogs vs Pitt, going to be interesting to see the wrinkles of this week's D plus the double A gap look versus Pitt.  Give us a good performance Vikes in Pitt, no one is expecting a win so historically this is a game we steal.

A win next week, and we are where we belong, in the top rung of the NFC

If Sam Bradford remains healthy and plays this well, Teddy Bridgewater's comeback will result in him becoming a backup, or playing for another team.
Monday night, Checkdown Charlie became Slingin’ Sam.
Sam Bradford, who last year was as accurate and limited as a wind gauge in a living room, started the 2017 season by emphasizing the principle of verticality. When he’s vertical, so is the Vikings’ passing game.
In the Vikings’ season-opening 29-19 victory over the New Orleans Saints at U.S. Bank Stadium, Bradford personified a modern football scouting term: arm talent. A year after setting the NFL record for completion percentage, he showed that there is more to his game than short-pass accuracy and self-preservation, completing 27 of 32 passes for 346 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions while taking only one sack.
Bradford became the second Viking ever to pass for 300 yards, three touchdowns and an 80 percent completion percentage, joining Brett Favre. He completed seven passes for 15 yards or longer, two more than in any game last season, according to ESPN.
He produced a 143.0 passer rating, the highest of his career. After averaging 7 yards per throw in 2016, he averaged 10.5 on Monday.
http://www.startribune.com/vikings-first...443858063/

What was he fuming about? Didn't see it at the stadium cause frankly I wasn't watching him on the sideline. Plus I'm on the Vikings side of the stadium.