Falcons with a repeat performance in 34-23 win over Packers

New season. New stadium. Same ol' result.

Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons picked up where they left off against the Green Bay Packers, building a big halftime lead on the way to a dominating 34-23 victory Sunday night. The rematch of last season's NFC championship game was essentially a repeat: Ryan threw for 252 yards and a touchdown, Devonta Freeman had a couple of scoring runs, and Desmond Trufant darted to the end zone off an attempted pass by Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers that was ruled a fumble.

"We came out aggressive," said Julio Jones, who had five catches for 108 yards. "We did a great job and got after them."

Back in January at the Georgia Dome, Atlanta earned a trip to the Super Bowl by racing to a 31-0 edge early in the third quarter on the way to a 44-21 blowout of the Packers.

In the first regular-season NFL game at $1.5 billion Mercedes-Benz Stadium - and the first sporting event in which the facility's camera lens-like roof was open - the Falcons put on quite a show to mark the occasion.

They were ahead 24-7 at halftime and 31-7 less than a minute into the third period.

Unlike the Super Bowl , Atlanta (2-0) made sure this lead stood up.

Ryan threw for 201 yards in the first half, getting Jones involved in the offense. Freeman rushed for 84 yards, and Tevin Coleman chipped in with 42 on the ground plus a touchdown catch. Trufant not only scored a defensive touchdown, he came up with a crucial interception near the end of the first half.

"That's when we really come to light," coach Dan Quinn said. "Different weapons. You never know who's going to be the one."

After struggling a bit offensively in a season-opening victory at Chicago that was preserved with a goal-line stand in the closing seconds, the Falcons dominated right from the start in an early showdown for conference supremacy.

"If we get down to a tie-breaker, this game could be a big one," Rodgers said, already looking far down the road.

On the opening possession, Ryan guided a nine-play, 86-yard drive that was reminiscent of the league's highest-scoring team a year ago. Jones hauled in two passes for 53 yards and the Falcons didn't get to third down until they were at the Green Bay 1. Freeman powered in from there to make it 7-0.

The Packers (1-1) responded with a 75-yard drive of their own, capped by Ty Montgomery's 1-yard TD run. But it was downhill from there for Rodgers and his offense, which was missing both of its starting tackles and lost receiver Jordy Nelson early on with a quadriceps injury.

Atlanta led 17-7 after Freeman's second TD run from 2 yards out and Matt Bryant's 51-yard field goal. Then, the game totally got away from Rodgers and the Packers near the end of the first half. Three penalties in four plays - one a disputed offensive pass interference that wiped out a 36-yard gain - pushed Green Bay back to its own 3 before Rodgers lofted a terrible pass down the right sideline that was picked off easily by Trufant at the 36.

Ryan hit Mohamed Sanu with a 21-yard pass, setting up a 3-yard scoring pass to Coleman with 24 seconds remaining .

On the second play of the second half, Trufant turned it into a rout .

Rodgers was plastered by 2016 sack leader Vic Beasley Jr. attempting to throw, the ball wobbling out of his hand for what appeared an incomplete pass. But Trufant wisely scooped it up and scooted into the end zone for what was ruled a 15-yard touchdown. The call stood when the replay didn't show conclusively that the pass went forward.

"A big play by him with the interception at the end of the half," Quinn said, "then a smart play to start the second half on the forced fumble."

The Packers finally showed a bit of life with a couple of fourth-quarter touchdowns, including Rodgers' 300th career scoring pass .

It wasn't nearly enough.

INJURIES

Green Bay: Already short-handed up front, the Packers lost several more players during the game. Nelson was the most prominent injury, but also going down were defensive tackle Mike Daniel (hamstring), receiver Randall Cobb (shoulder) and cornerback Davon House (quad). In addition, backup safety Kentrell Brice was forced out by a groin injury.

Atlanta: On the first touchdown of the night, right tackle Ryan Schraeder was knocked out of the game with a concussion. The Falcons also lost Beasley (hamstring) and defensive lineman Courtney Upshaw (ankle).

MILESTONES

Rodgers' first touchdown pass came on a 33-yard, fourth-down pass to Davante Adams, who made a brilliant play to keep his feet inbounds while kicking the pylon. No. 300 for Rodgers was as short as you can get, a little left-handed shovel pass to Montgomery from the 1.

"They all count," Rodgers quipped.

Bryant's first field goal was his 200th since joining the Falcons in 2009, making him the first Atlanta kicker to reach that figure. He also connected in the third quarter from 53 yards.

UP NEXT

Green Bay: Return to Lambeau Field to face the Cincinnati Bengals (0-2) next Sunday.

Atlanta: Travel to Detroit to take on the Lions (1-0), who face the New York Giants on Monday night.

Packers beat Seahawks 17-9 to take NFC heavyweight match

A marquee season opener between two NFC heavyweights turned into a defensive slugfest.

The Green Bay Packers - not the menacing Seattle Seahawks - landed the momentum-swinging punch.

Green Bay defensive lineman Mike Daniels' strip sack of Russell Wilson deep in Seattle territory in the third quarter set up Ty Montgomery's 6-yard touchdown run on the next play to spark the Packers' 17-9 win on Sunday.

"This really started with our defense," Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy said. "It starts on the line of scrimmage. We were in the backfield a bunch."

The Packers' Aaron Rodgers was 28 of 42 for 311 yards and added a 32-yard touchdown pass to Jordy Nelson to make it an eight-point game late in the third quarter.

Rodgers' regular-season streak of passes without an interception ended at a career-high 251. The Seahawks defense reinforced by the return of safety Earl Thomas bottled up receivers from making many big plays and put plenty of pressure on Rodgers.

But the Packers started denting Seattle with runs or quick passes to Nelson, Randall Cobb and Montgomery in the second half, chewing up clock in the process. A 12-play, 53-yard drive that took up more than five minutes ended with Mason Crosby's 40-yard field goal with 8:01 left to make it a two-score game.

"That was a great defense that we went against. They're going to keep everybody kind of in front, they're going to make us go the long way," Nelson said.

Green Bay's defense had an even better debut, especially considering how maligned the Packers were against the pass last season.

Seattle managed just three field goals. Wilson was held to 14 of 27 for 158 yards. The Packers held decisive edges in total yardage (370-225) and first downs (26-12). Green Bay held the ball for 39 minutes.

"I was disappointed they were able to be as aggressive up front as they were with their defense," Seattle coach Pete Carroll said.

EJECTED

Seattle cornerback Jeremy Lane was ejected after referee John Parry said he threw a punch during a scrum with Packers receiver Davante Adams.

The tussle occurred around the Packers 30 during a play in which Nazair Jones intercepted Rodgers at 9:26 of the first quarter. It was Rodgers' first interception since Nov. 13, 2016, at Tennessee.

Tensions were already high between the teams early in the game. Rodgers was picking on Lane in the secondary, with Cobb whistled for taunting following a 14-yard gain while being defended by Lane.

NATIONAL ANTHEM

Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett sat on the bench again during the national anthem. On the other sideline at about the 30, his younger brother Martellus Bennett, a tight end for the Packers, stood at the end of the line next to his teammates, but raised his right fist in the air during the anthem.

Michael Bennett last week released a statement alleging racially motivated excessive force by Las Vegas police.

Seahawks offensive lineman Justin Britt stood next to Bennett again during his anthem protest. Defensive linemen Frank Clark and Cliff Avril each went back to shake hands with Bennett during the anthem and then joined him on the bench.

Also for Green Bay, safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix helped hold a giant American flag on the field as the anthem was played.

INJURIES

Packers linebacker Ahmad Brooks, who just joined the team last week as a free agent after being cut by the 49ers, left with a concussion. His injury was announced at the start of the third quarter. ... Rodgers appeared to be limping after getting pushed back by a defender in the pocket late in the fourth quarter. He took a few extra seconds to get back to the huddle on a couple plays but did not leave the game.

UP NEXT

Seahawks: Host the San Francisco 49ers in home opener on Sept. 17.

Packers: Visit Atlanta Falcons on Sept. 17.

Rodgers throws 3 TD passes, Packers beat Bears 26-10

 Aaron Rodgers set a record. The Chicago Bears lost another quarterback.

After a slow start in the red zone, the Green Bay Packers picked up the pace in the second half to overpower their offensively-challenged NFC North rivals.

Rodgers threw for 326 yards and three touchdowns, Davante Adams and Ty Montgomery emerged as playmakers in the second half and Packers beat the Bears 26-10 on Thursday night.

Rodgers was 39 of 56, setting a franchise mark for completions in a game. It was the Packers' first contest without injured running back Eddie Lacy .

"A lot of moving parts, a very satisfying victory at home," coach Mike McCarthy said.

The Packers (4-2) moved effectively on short gains most of the night, but couldn't break into the end zone until Adams caught the first of his two touchdown receptions with 9:11 left in the third quarter for a 13-10 lead.

Rodgers and Adams combined again for a 4-yard score on the first play of fourth quarter for a 10-point lead.

The Bears (1-6) lost quarterback Brian Hoyer to a broken left arm in the second quarter. With Jay Cutleralready out with a right thumb injury, Chicago turned to third-stringer Matt Barkley.

An offense that was already 31st in the league in scoring got worse. Barkley was 6 of 15 for 81 yards and two interceptions.

"Well, when you lose your starting quarterback it can be disruptive," Bears coach John Fox said. "It's not an excuse, it's just a reality,"

He tried to lean on the rush against the NFL's third-best run defense. It didn't work either.

Kadeem Carey had 48 yards on 10 carries, including a 24-yarder. Receiver Alshon Jeffery was held to three catches for 33 yards against a Packers secondary without its top three cornerbacks because of injuries.

It got so bad for the Bears that Rodgers had more completions (37) than the Bears had offensive plays (36) by 5:31 of the fourth quarter.

That 37th completion for Rodgers was a 2-yard touchdown pass to Randall Cobb for a 16-point lead.

Adams, Montgomery and Cobb each finished with at least 10 receptions.

HOYER HURT

Hoyer left early in the second quarter after getting hit by Julius Peppers and Clay Matthews on an incompletion on third-and-6 from midfield. The right-handed Hoyer looked as if he landed on his left arm . He was attended to by trainers on the field for a couple minutes before going to the locker room. Hoyer was 4 of 11 for 49 yards.

TRIPLE THREAT

Adams had 13 catches for a career-high 132 yards, making Jordy Nelson-like moves to spin out of tackles for extra yards. Adams had just been cleared earlier Thursday from the NFL's concussion protocol after leaving the loss Sunday to Dallas.

Cobb finished with 11 catches for 95 yards.

Montgomery, who got the start in the backfield with running backs Lacy (ankle) and James Starks (knee) out, finished with 10 catches for 66 yards, and nine carries for 60 yards.

"You do what you have to do, you play the way you have to play," McCarthy said.

BIG FLOYD

The Bears' only touchdown came from rookie pass-rushing linebacker Leonard Floyd, who forced Rodgers to fumble on third-and-10 from the 15 on a sack. Floyd recovered the ball in the end zone for a 10-6 lead, 30 seconds into the third quarter.

Floyd had been limited in practice this week with a calf injury.

"He's got those kind of abilities. It's been problematic a little bit having him out there, but it was good to have him back out there tonight," Fox said.

The Packers scored touchdowns on their next three drives.

SLOW START

The Packers moved effectively with short passes in the first half but stalled on three drives inside the 22.Mason Crosby salvaged two series with field goals, but the Packers went scoreless on another drive when Montgomery was stopped on a fourth-and-goal run from the 1.

Green Bay, which led 6-3 at the half, exploited the Bears' underneath coverage. They also threw short passes as a substitute for the running game.

QUOTABLE:

"It means we threw it a lot. But a lot of times records like these are achieved in losses when you're way behind," Rodgers about his completions record.

INJURY REPORT

Bears: Besides Hoyer, RG Kyle Long left in the second quarter with an arm injury.

Packers: RB Don Jackson, who was just activated from the practice squad Thursday to replace Lacy, left in the first quarter with a hand injury.

Prescott throws 3 TD passes, Cowboys beat Packers 30-16

 Rookie Dak Prescott is stating an impressive case to remain the starting quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys.

He's off to quite the start in his NFL career after taking over following veteran Tony Romo's preseason back injury.

Prescott threw for 247 yards and three touchdowns, and the Cowboys forced four turnovers in a 30-16 win over the Green Bay Packers and their dysfunctional offense Sunday.

Prescott was 18 of 27 and shook off two fumbles and an interception to lead the Cowboys (5-1) to their fifth straight win.

"You just couldn't ask for more inspiration from a player because everybody on this team knows what a difficult position that is to play," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said.

Prescott showed poise in the fourth quarter while marching the Cowboys on a seven-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Cole Beasley for an 18-point lead with 10:26 left.

Romo seems to be getting closer to returning. After a bye, Dallas next plays on Oct. 30 against Philadelphia.

Asked if Prescott would remain the starter against the Eagles even if Romo was ready, Jones only said, "I wouldn't say unequivocally anything other than we just beat the Green Bay Packers in Green Bay."

Prescott picked on a Packers secondary that played much of the game without their top three cornerbacks because of injuries.

His fourth-quarter touchdown pass left Packers fans at Lambeau stunned. They were booing at times following another choppy game for Green Bay's offense. The four turnovers were a season high for Green Bay (3-2).

"Frankly, the biggest thing on offense ... is turning the ball over," coach Mike McCarthy said. "It's not part of our fiber."

The Packers had five fumbles on the day, losing three.

BOO BIRDS

Even two- NFL MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers wasn't immune from the jeering. Rodgers finished 31 of 42 for a season-high 294 yards.

"Look, we're upset, they're upset, it's part of it," Rodgers said of the booing. It's not the first time. Probably won't be the last time."

The Packers didn't get into the end zone until Rodgers and Cobb connected on a 6-yard touchdown pass with 6:53 left to get within 27-16.

Rodgers accounted for two turnovers with an interception to go with a fumble on first-and-goal at the Cowboys 1 with 1:10 left in the third quarter. It was a designed draw play out of an empty backfield.

RECORD STREAK OVER

Prescott threw the first interception of his career after he was picked off on third-and-8 from the Dallas 6, throwing out of his end zone with 20 seconds left in third quarter. Safety Morgan Burnett had the diving interception.

Prescott's NFL record streak for a quarterback at the start of his career without an interception ended at 176 pass attempts. He broke the mark of 162 previously held by New England's Tom Brady earlier in the game.

"We get that out of the way now," Prescott said with a laugh. "Another one to start up."

OUT OF SYNC

Drops were a problem again at times for Packers receivers. Timing may have been off on a couple other throws.

Rodgers and McCarthy said the Packers would figure out the problems after watching the film.

"We're hard on ourselves, and I'm as hard as anybody on myself. So I'm going to get it fixed. Just been a little bit off," Rodgers said.

It was Green Bay's worst defeat at home with Rodgers as the starting quarterback since a 37-20 loss to the Giants in the 2011 NFC divisional playoffs.

STRENGTH VS. STRENGTH

Dallas dented Green Bay's league-best run defense.

The Cowboys rushed for 93 yards in the first half against the Packers, which was already a season high against Green Bay. The Packers had been allowing 42.8 yards per game entering Sunday.

Dallas was averaging a league-best 155.2 yards per game.

Rookie Ezekiel Elliott finished with 157 yards on 28 carries, giving him 703 yards rushing - the second-most in a player's first six career games, behind only Eric Dickerson (787). Elliott also became the only rookie to rush for at least 130 yards in four consecutive games.

INJURY REPORT

Cowboys: CB Morris Claiborne left with a concussion after getting hurt in the second quarter.

Packers: The Packers' thin secondary, which was already without CBs Sam Shields (concussion) and Quinten Rollins (groin), lost cornerback Damarious Randall in the second quarter after he re-aggravated a groin injury. ... WR Davante Adams left in the third quarter to be evaluated for a concussion. ... RT Bryan Bulaga left late with a back injury.

UP NEXT

Cowboys: Host the Philadelphia Eagles on Oct. 30 after a bye next week.

Packers: Host the Chicago Bears on Thursday night.

Offense choppy, Packers D gets to Giants in 23-16 win

The Green Bay Packers appear to have the makings of a defense that could power a deep run into the playoffs.

It's the offense, for once, that is looking to maintain consistency.

Aaron Rodgers threw two touchdown passes, and the offensive line pushed around the New York Giants' front and powered the ground game in a 23-16 win on Sunday night over the New York Giants.

Rodgers was 23 of 45 for 259 yards and also threw two interceptions. Jordy Nelson and Davante Adams each had highlight-reel touchdown catches to help the Packers (3-1) build an 11-point halftime lead.

But the offense was mired by uncharacteristic drops, and couple of big plays were called back by penalties. Mason Crosby kicked three field goals, including two in the fourth quarter.

"It is all about winning," Rodgers said before adding, "We had a lot of opportunities tonight. ... We have to execute in the passing game as well as we're doing up front in the run game."

The Packers' defense, though, kept limiting the Giants.

New York's Eli Manning was 18 of 35 for 199 yards and was sacked three times.

"Defense, particularly our young guys in the secondary, did a heck of a job," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. "Run defense was there, pass rush was there. We were able to play good red zone defense."

The Giants (2-3) looked out of sorts until a hurry-up drive that ended with Beckham's 8-yard touchdown catch with 2:54 left.

"We didn't make enough throws or contested catches. We need to play and execute better," coach Ben McAdoo said.

EYES ON ODELL

Beckahm's first touchdown catch of the season stood on replay review after the receiver jumped high in the air for Manning's pass and was ruled inbounds after straddling the back line of the end zone.

Beckham raised his both arms in the air in celebration after watching the replay on the Lambeau Field video board. He finished with five catches for 56 yards.

Perhaps more importantly for the Giants, Beckham didn't throw an attention-grabbing tantrum like the meltdowns he had the previous two weeks against Minnesota and Washington.

STAT LINE

Randall Cobb was the Packers' most consistent receiver with nine catches for 108 yards. With the Giants missing starting safety Nat Berhe because of an injury, Cobb excelled in his specialty of working the middle of the field and turning short passes into long gains.

Cobb appeared to be OK on the sideline after taking a hit to the back of his head or neck on a 13-yard catch on third-and-10 with about 2 minutes left.

SHAKING IT UP

The Packers' 16-play, 75-yard drive to open the game took up the first 8:42 of the game, the team's longest scoring drive by time on the season that ended with a touchdown . Coach Mike McCarthy threw different wrinkles at the Giants by using different personnel combinations on the opening drive, instead of sticking with the usual three-wide receiver combination of Nelson, Randall Cobb and Adams, with Eddie Lacy in the backfield.

HEY ROOKIES

Two rookies teamed up for a turnover late in the first half for the Packers that set up a field goal. LinebackerKyler Fackrell, a third-round draft pick, forced a fumble after sacking Eli Manning on second-and-10 from the Giants 39. Defensive tackle Kenny Clark, the Packers' first-round pick this year recovered the fumble at the 31 with 1:15 left. Crosby kicked a 44-yard field goal with 3 seconds left to give Green Bay a 17-6 lead.

ON THE CORNER

Giants cornerback Janoris Jenkins had two interceptions in the first half, one coming on third-and-6 at the Giants 21 after a pass deflected off Nelson's hands . It was Jenkins' first two-interception game since his rookie season with St. Louis, when he had two against Arizona on Nov. 25, 2012.

INJURY REPORT

Giants: The battered secondary lost CB Eli Apple to a groin injury in the second quarter. The rookie missed New York's 24-10 loss last week at Minnesota because of a hamstring injury, and had been listed as questionable for the Packers game. ... Dwayne Harris was taken to the locker room two separate times in the second half, for X-rays on his jaw and toe. ... DT Damon Harrison was in the locker room for an unknown injury for much of the Packers' game-opening touchdown drive. He returned for the Giants' second defensive series.

Packers: Backup S Chris Banjo (hamstring) limped off after the opening kickoff of the second half. ... Lacy left late in the third quarter with a left ankle injury. He had 81 yards on 11 carries, including 77 yards on nine carriers in the first half.

Offense hums early before Packers hold off Lions 34-27

The timing is back for quarterback Aaron Rodgersand the rest of Green Bay's offense.

The Packers' pass defense might need a little work, though.

Rodgers threw for 205 yards and four touchdowns, including two in the first half to Jordy Nelson, and the Packers snapped out of their offensive funk before holding off the Detroit Lions for a 34-27 win Sunday.

Rodgers was 15 of 24, leading the Packers to touchdowns on their first three series. Nelson had 101 yards on six catches, returning to the form that made him one of the NFL's best receivers before missing the 2015 season with a knee injury.

"Just got on the same page. Hitting Jordy for some big plays helps," Rodgers said. "Jordy and I connected. Whenever we're doing that, it kind of opens other things up for the offense."

They moved the ball on the Lions' short-handed defense with ease in the first half. The Packers (2-1) led 31-10 at halftime before the Lions slowly chipped away.

Marvin Jones' 35-yard touchdown catch with 3:34 left got Detroit (1-2) within seven. But Rodgers had a critical 11-yard run on third-and-8 from the Packers 27 with 3:22 left to effectively seal the win.

Jones had a career-high 205 yards on six receptions. Matthew Stafford passed for 385 yards and three scores with one interception for the Lions, who held advantages in total yardage (418-324) and time of possession, holding the ball for 35 minutes.

But the Packers burned the secondary with big plays to build a big lead, and Eddie Lacy ran for 103 yards on 17 carries.

"Obviously it was a difficult situation. We put ourselves in that situation. On offense, we didn't score enough points in the in the first half," Stafford said. "I'm proud of the guys for fighting back."

PACK IS BACK

So much for the fuss over the Packers' struggling offense.

Coach Mike McCarthy and Rodgers heard questions about the out-of-sync passing game following the 17-14 loss last week to Minnesota.

Now the Packers head into an early bye week with renewed confidence after a successful opener at Lambeau Field.

"Offensively the focus was to be a good, healthy mix of run and pass, so we accomplished that today," McCarthy said.

SECOND-HALF SPURT

The Lions gained chunks of yardage in the second half after being forced to play catch-up following Green Bay's big early lead. The Packers' defense was also missing four starters, including linebacker Clay Matthews.

Stafford found holes over the middle of the field. He connected with Jones for a 23-yard completion on the first play from scrimmage in the second half to the Detroit 46.

GET DEFENSIVE

The Packers allowed Detroit to convert on eight of 14 third-down tries, a problem that McCarthy planned to focus on during the bye week.

But Green Bay's staunch run defense had another big day, albeit against a Lions offense playing without injured tailback Ameer Abdullah. Detroit managed just 50 yards on 23 carries, with a team-high 38 yards on 10 carries byDwayne Washington.

The Packers also played without nose tackle Letroy Guion, safety Morgan Burnett and defensive lineman-linebackerDatone Jones, who were all out with injuries.

JUST JONES

Jones gave the Lions a boost going into halftime with a 73-yard touchdown pass from Stafford to get Detroit within 31-10. He stiff-armed cornerback Josh Hawkins before sprinting untouched 45 yards into the end zone.

"I feel like what we did in the second half was to be commended, but obviously we didn't get it done," Jones said. "The first half, we didn't play up to our standards and we came back and we fought, but we ran out of time and it wasn't enough."

WORKING THE MIDDLE

The Packers' offense accomplished two of McCarthy's bigger goals for this week: Receivers worked the middle of the field, and Lacy got more carries in the running game.

Nelson was lined up in the slot on his 8-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter, when Rodgers pump-faked, then stepped up in the pocket to find Nelson.

Lacy looked rejuvenated as he bounced off defenders for a 23-yard run in the second quarter.

INJURY REPORT

Lions: S Tavon Wilson left in the first quarter with a neck injury. It was another blow for a defense already without lineman Ezekiel Ansah and linebacker DeAndre Levy.

Packers: TE Jared Cook went to the locker room with a right ankle injury after getting tangled up with a defender at 11:35 of the second quarter. ... FB Aaron Ripkowski did not return after going to the locker room near the end of the second quarter with a back injury.

Bradford leads Vikings over Packers 17-14 in Minnesota debut

 Sam Bradford had a Minnesota debut almost as dazzling as the new $1.1 billion building itself, completing 22 of 31 passes for 286 yards, two touchdowns and no turnovers to lead the Vikings to a 17-14 victory over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night just 15 days after he arrived in a trade.

"He can throw the ball," Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said. "He's got some toughness about him, and this isn't his first rodeo."

The defense did the rest, harassing Aaron Rodgers for five sacks and two fourth-quarter turnovers that quashed the comeback and sent the crowd of 66,813 into a deafening frenzy in celebration of the first regular season game at U.S. Bank Stadium.

"I don't think this is anything to get super crazy about," Rodgers said. "It's a tough opponent, a division opponent. They're a good football team. They've still got to come to our place later in the season. Hopefully we're in a position to play for something then."

Adrian Peterson limped off in the third quarter with a right knee injury, and only 19 yards on 12 carries, but the Vikings (2-0) proved they still have a lot of options. Stefon Diggs caught nine passes for 182 yards and a touchdown. They held the Packers (1-1) to 65 total yards in the first half, withstanding an early touchdown pass by Rodgers to Jordy Nelson on a drive aided by two penalties by cornerback Terence Newman.

"They didn't win the division last year by accident. You do have to give them their credit," said Mike Daniels, who had one of Green Bay's four sacks.

Trae Waynes, who had two penalties himself, intercepted Rodgers' pass in Vikings territory with 1:50 left to seal the victory. The previous drive was killed with a strip sack by Brian Robison, when Shamar Stephen recovered at the Minnesota 44 with 6:53 remaining.

Rodgers, who ran for 29 yards and a touchdown, began to find a groove throwing the ball down the stretch. He finished 12 for 21 for 154 yards in the second half, but Bradford was the better quarterback on this night.

The Vikings, who aggressively traded two premium draft picks including next year's first-rounder to Philadelphia to fetch Bradford after Teddy Bridgewater went down with a massive left knee injury, boldly eschewed a field goal try early in the second quarter.

Bradford found Diggs for a 4-yard completion on fourth-and-1 from the 18. Then he hit Kyle Rudolph for an 8-yard touchdown pass three plays later.

"When quarterbacks and receivers are on time, they're very tough to stop," said Packers cornerback Damarious Randall, who was matched up with Diggs for most of the game.

Bradford was hit hard on his non-throwing hand by Packers outside linebacker Clay Matthews while following through on a pass at one point during the drive. He visited the locker room briefly for further examination but never missed a snap, despite significant swelling beneath his left pinky.

There were only a couple of instances that even hinted of newness for Bradford and the offense, when one throw on the first drive sailed well past where Rudolph's route ended and another later in the first quarter was in the air too quickly for Rudolph to turn around.

"These guys have had my back from day one," Bradford said.

PETERSON UPDATE

Peterson, who was on crutches after the game and wearing a brace on his right leg, will have an MRI exam on Monday. Zimmer said he was told the injury had already "calmed down" afterward.

"He might miss a week. I don't know if he will or not," Zimmer said.

TURNOVER TRADE

Davante Adams fumbled at his own 13 on Green Bay's first play, a short completed pass, when Eric Kendricks punched the ball out and Andrew Sendejo picked it up with an eye toward the end zone. Packers wide receiver Randall Cobbwrestled him down and stripped the ball in the process, recovering it himself. Each team was charged with a turnover because of the change of possession.

ROAD TRIPPING

The Packers played their first two regular season games on the road for the first time since - wait for it - 1924. They played at the Duluth Kelleys and Chicago Cardinals that year before returning home.

INJURY UPDATE

Packers: DT Letroy Guion hurt his knee in the second quarter and didn't return.

Vikings: DE Danielle Hunter hurt his knee in the fourth quarter and didn't return.