Steelers shut down Bradford-less Vikings in 26-9 victory

 Ben Roethlisberger took a knee in prayer then sprinted to midfield holding the flag honoring the man who helped guide the Pittsburgh Steelers from irrelevance into a dynasty. Five months after longtime president and chairman Dan Rooney's death, the Steelers won a game like so many during his tenure.

Their 26-9 victory over short-handed Minnesota during an emotionally draining home opener on Sunday was an awful lot like Rooney himself. Workmanlike. Pragmatic. Decidedly unflashy. Relentlessly effective.

Afterward the players presented the game ball to current team president Art Rooney II, Dan's son, who promised it would find its way to his mother Patricia.

"It was special," Roethlisberger said.

Even if the current on-field product in Pittsburgh remains very much a work in progress. Wearing a patch featuring a black shamrock with the initials "DMR" on their jerseys, the Steelers (2-0) used a pair of first-half touchdown passes by Roethlisberger to take control, and its rapidly improving defense kept Vikings backup quarterback Case Keenum in check to improve to 10-1 in home openers under head coach Mike Tomlin.

The Steelers managed only 335 yards and converted only 3 of 13 third downs, hardly the kind of firepower expected out of its star-laden offense. Pittsburgh is unbeaten anyway. The style will come. For now, the substance of their play is fine.

"We're just winning football games," Roethlisberger said. "We're 2-0, we did what we had to do, we won the football game."

Roethlisberger finished 24 of 35 for 243 yards and the two scores, a 27-yard strike to Martavis Bryant in the first quarter and a 4-yard flip to JuJu Smith-Schuster in the second. Bryant caught three passes for 90 yards and drew a 51-yard pass interference penalty that set up Smith-Schuster's first NFL touchdown that put the Steelers up 14-0. Bryant feigned rolling dice during his end zone celebration, his first touchdown since returning from a year-long drug suspension.

"I came a long way," Bryant said. "My whole year I put a lot of work in. I'm just focused on getting better as a team and just going out and playing hard on Sunday."

Minnesota (1-1) played without quarterback Sam Bradford, who sat out with a left-knee injury. Case Keenumstruggled to get anything going in Bradford's absence, throwing for just 167 yards on 20 of 35 passing. Vikings rookie Dalvin Cook ran for 64 yards, but Minnesota failed to generate any sustained momentum.

Some of the Steelers didn't even realize it was Keenum behind center until the game was underway. It didn't occur to linebacker Bud Dupree until he found himself chasing after Keenum on Minnesota's second possession.

The offense that hummed at home with Bradford at the controls operated in only fits and starts, thanks in large part to 11 penalties for 131 yards.

"I thought we showed some good things but obviously didn't get off to a great start and kind of shot ourselves in foot quite a few times," Keenum said. "When other things aren't clicking, It's unfortunate."

Bradford was spectacular against the Saints but was slowed all week with an achy left knee. Enter Keenum, who went 9-15 as a starter with Houston and the Rams before signing on with Minnesota. The Vikings offensive line had trouble giving Keenum time in the pocket, and the results were often checkdowns that went nowhere.

Minnesota's only touchdown came on a 1-yard plunge by fullback C.J. Ham that drew the Vikings within 17-9 early in the third quarter. Kai Forbath missed the extra point and Pittsburgh responded with a 10-play, 74-yard drive that ended with the second of Chris Boswell's four field goals with 4:59 left in the third. The Vikings never threatened again.

BELL TOILS

Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell finished with 89 total yards on 30 touches (27 rushes, three receptions) in his second game since ending a summer-long sabbatical due to a contract dispute. Bell's longest play was an 11-yard run, though Minnesota's front seven did an excellent job of clogging rush lanes and making sure Bell didn't get loose in the passing game.

"I'm due for an explosion play," Bell said. "It hasn't happened yet. I think I had almost three today but those guys, they made a couple tackles on a screen or a run where I almost broke out."

PAYING TRIBUTE

Before kickoff, Steeler Hall of Famers Mel Blount and Rocky Bleier raised a flag honoring Rooney over the south end zone at Heinz Field. The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra played the national anthem while the capacity crowd, including NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, held a moment of silence as the Steelers began their first season in more than 50 years without Dan Rooney as part of the day-to-day operations.

INJURIES

Steelers: Rookie linebacker T.J. Watt left in the second quarter with a groin injury and did not return. Watt called the injury "minor." Left tackle Alejandro Villanueva exited in the third quarter with "heat-related issues" but returned in the fourth. Right tackle Marcus Gilbert sat out most of the fourth quarter with cramps.

UP NEXT

Vikings: Host Tampa Bay next Sunday.

Steelers: Travel to Chicago to face the winless Bears.

Bradford, Vikings cruise past Saints 29-19 in opener

 Sam Bradford set the NFL record for completion percentage for Minnesota last season, his accuracy aided by the volume of short passes under heavy pressure.

With protection from the rush, he showed Monday night he can throw the ball down the field with the best of them.

Bradford started his second year with Minnesota in style, passing for 346 yards and three touchdowns to help the Vikings beat New Orleans 29-19 and spoil Adrian Peterson's first game with the Saints.

"When I've got time to sit back there and kind of evaluate things, I've got all the confidence in the world that our guys outside are going to win," Bradford said.

Stefon Diggs had seven receptions for 93 yards, two for scores and all in the first half, and Adam Thielen racked up 157 yards on nine catches as Bradford carved up a Saints defense that looked again like one of the worst in the league despite a major renovation. Rookie Dalvin Cook rushed for 127 yards on 22 carries in the formal takeover from Peterson.

Peterson was limited to 18 yards on six carries, in a time share with Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara and an afterthought once the Saints fell behind. Drew Brees was quiet, too, with 291 yards on 27-for-37 passing padded by the late push to catch up.

"We didn't do anything different or try to out-trick them," Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr said. "You know, line up and play, do your job."

Coby Fleener caught the only touchdown toss, after the 2-minute warning. Will Lutz made four field goals, three under 25 yards.

"The bottom line," Brees said, "is you've got to score touchdowns."

Brees and Bradford are both in the final year of their contracts, with the same agent, Tom Condon, who is sure to cash in on both clients. Brees has by far the better resume, nine seasons further into his career, but Bradford stole the show on this prime-time stage.

Behind mostly clean pockets created by a remade offensive line, Bradford completed 27 of 32 passes without a turnover. With three rookies and three free agents in the starting lineup, the Saints tried hard to better a defense that has held Brees and company back since the Super Bowl title eight years ago. The first performance left a lot to be desired, with Diggs and Thielen consistently finding favorable matchups underneath and along the sideline.

"I just try to run a route, catch the pass, but Sam, you know, he's a slinger," Diggs said.

FLAGS FLY

The Saints had three unnecessary roughness calls in the first half. Two of the personal fouls extended a drive that ended with one of three field goals by Kai Forbath. The other 15-yarder was on safety Kenny Vaccaro for head-hunting Diggs during an acrobatic catch in the closing seconds of the first half. Diggs came right back with another highlight-reel grab to give the Vikings a 16-6 lead at the break after a 10-play, 95-yard drive.

Cameron Jordan and A.J. Klein each had their hands on a tipped pass in the end zone that fluttered off Cook's hands, missing a critical opportunity to thwart that drive and keep the deficit at four points.

DECENT DEBUT

Cook became the first Vikings rookie running back to start a season opener since Michael Bennett in 2001. Despite trouble hanging onto a couple of passes thrown his way, he helped salt away the game in the second half. Bradford and Cook were the primary beneficiaries of the work done by an offensive line with four new starters and plenty of old external skepticism after a lackluster 2016 performance.

"In the building, we felt great about those guys," Bradford said. "We've seen what we're capable of doing."

BACK AGAIN

Ten years and two days after Peterson made his NFL debut in purple with 103 yards rushing and a 60-yard touchdown reception on this same block of downtown Minneapolis, albeit in a different stadium, he returned in black, white and gold as a part-time player for the pass-first Saints.

The crowd was really fired up for the reunion with another former Vikings great. Former wide receiver Randy Moss, already on site as an analyst for ESPN, became the 22nd member of the team's Ring of Honor in a halftime ceremony punctuated by a passionate speech and shout-out to the fans.

TACKLE TROUBLE

With Terron Armstead still recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, rookie Ryan Ramczyk started at left tackle for the Saints. Then right tackle Zach Strief injured his left leg in the second quarter, forcing Senio Kelemete into action. Vikings defensive ends Everson Griffen and Danielle Hunter caused havoc.

UP NEXT

The Saints play Sunday against New England, their only home game in the season's first five weeks.

The Vikings visit Pittsburgh on Sunday, their only road game over the first four weeks of the schedule.

Eagles beat up Bradford, hand Vikings first loss 21-10

Josh Huff returned a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown, Carson Wentz outplayed Sam Bradford and the Philadelphia Eagles beat Minnesota 21-10 on Sunday, handing the Vikings their first loss of the season.

The Eagles (4-2) snapped a two-game losing streak while the rested Vikings (5-1) hardly looked like an unbeaten team after having a bye.

"I thought we played embarrassing in two phases," Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said. "I'm very disappointed in the performance.

Bradford returned to Philadelphia for the first time since his trade to Minnesota eight days before the season opener paved the way for Wentz to start. Bradford was 7-7 in his only season with the Eagles and won his first four starts for the Vikings.

But the Eagles pressured and harassed their former quarterback all game, sacked him six times, and forced his first three turnovers this season.

"I thought he missed some throws that he normally makes, but he got hit a lot," Zimmer said. "It's probably hard to evaluate his performance when (the line) looks like a sieve."

Wentz also struggled early, tossing two interceptions. But he recovered to lead the Eagles on a couple of scoring drives, including a 5-yard TD pass to Dorial Green-Beckham in the third quarter for an 18-3 lead.

"That's a great defense we played," Wentz said. "I have to be smarter with the football. We found a way to win. That's huge for us."

Both teams had a sloppy start.

After combining for only three turnovers in 10 games, the teams traded giveaways on five consecutive series in the first quarter and totaled eight turnovers. The Vikings started two straight drives inside the red zone, but squandered both chances.

Blair Walsh hit a 48-yard field goal to give the Vikings a 3-0 lead before Huff broke loose for his second career touchdown return. Huff sprinted up the right side, ran through Walsh's attempted arm tackle at the 40, raced untouched to the end zone and capped it with a somersault. Wentz ran in from the 1 for the 2-point conversion to give the Eagles an 8-3 lead.

QUOTABLE

Vikings: T Jeremiah Sirles: "If Sam doesn't feel comfortable back there, it's our fault. It's not one guy's fault. It's five guys' fault."

Eagles: Huff said: "He's a kicker. I couldn't let a kicker tackle me or I'd be mad at myself."

FANTASY STATS

Vikings: Bradford was 24-41, 224 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT. Matt Asiata had 55 yards rushing. Cordarrelle Pattersonhad seven catches for 67 yards and a TD.

Eagles: Wentz was 16-28, 138 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs. Ryan Mathews had 56 yards rushing. Huff caught four passes for 39 yards.

MISSED OPPORTUNITIES

The Vikings had the ball at the Eagles 2 after Andrew Sendejo intercepted Wentz's pass and returned it 16 yards. But Bradford tossed his first pick when Rodney McLeod caught a lofted pass in the end zone.

The Eagles gave it right back when Darren Sproles fumbled Wentz's handoff. But on the first play from the Philadelphia 17, Connor Barwin stripped Bradford and Malcolm Jenkins recovered. Jenkins returned it 76 yards for a score, but he was ruled down by contact after a video review.

Wentz threw another interception on the next series, a diving play by Xavier Rhodes. But Minnesota's offense didn't do anything again.

Down 18-3, the Vikings couldn't get a yard on third and fourth down from the Eagles 6 early in the fourth quarter.

GOING FOR IT

Doug Pederson took a point off the board after a roughing penalty on the Vikings against Caleb Sturgis and went for the 2-point conversion. Wentz ran it in up the middle on a draw.

Pederson went for fourth-and-2 from the Vikings 44 with 1:21 left in the first half. Wentz gained 6 yards on a keeper and the drive ended with Sturgis making a 35-yard field goal for an 11-3 lead.

"For me, it was an easy situation and I had trust in our guys," Pederson said about the risky calls.

INJURIES

Eagles: CB Ron Brooks was carted off the field after injuring his right ankle trying to make a tackle in the first quarter. Brooks was immediately ruled out and the injury appeared serious. ... LT Jason Peters didn't finish the game after injuring his biceps. ... LB Kamu Grugier-Hill came out with a hamstring injury.

Vikings: Sendejo didn't return after injuring his ankle in the first quarter.

FRANCHISE FIRST

The Eagles have returned kickoffs for touchdowns in consecutive games for the first time in team history.Wendell Smallwood returned one 86 yards for a TD in last week's 27-20 loss at Washington. Huff had a 107-yard TD return as a rookie in 2014.

Vikings stay unbeaten with easy 31-13 victory over Texans

 The Minnesota Vikings followed their winning formula again to precision and maintained the NFC's only perfect record.

Adam Thielen caught a touchdown pass to cap Minnesota's opening drive and finished with a career-high 127 yards, and the Vikings defense flustered Brock Osweiler and the Houston Texans on their way to a 31-13 victory on Sunday.

"When your offense comes out on all cylinders like that, it just juices us up even more and wants us to play harder," defensive end Everson Griffen said. "We've just got to keep doing that."

Marcus Sherels returned a punt 79 yards for a touchdown and Cordarelle Patterson scored on another sharp throw bySam Bradford, who deftly guided the offense to a fifth straight turnover-free game in his fourth start for the Vikings (5-0).

"You play from ahead and give our defense a chance to get after the passer," Bradford said, "I think it's pretty tough on the other team."

Brock Osweiler was overmatched by Minnesota's relentless pass rush and coverage, finishing 19 for 42 for 184 yards, one interception and a late touchdown pass toDeAndre Hopkins while taking four sacks. The Texans (3-2) were denied on 12 of 13 third downs, unable or unwilling to do much other than dump off short passes. Lamar Miller only had eight carries for 20 yards during a dud of a performance by the Texans that felt a lot like the 27-0 loss at New England two weeks ago.

"It was bad. It was bad," coach Bill O'Brien said. "It starts and ends with me. I've got to do a much better job with this football team."

With leading receiver Stefon Diggs out for the game with a groin injury, Thielen (career-high seven catches),Jarius Wright and Patterson capably stepped up for the Vikings. Whitney Mercilus had 1 1/2 sacks as Houston took advantage of a banged-up offensive line to apply plenty of pressure on Bradford, but with touchdowns on their first two drives the Vikings were in cruise control as they eagerly unleashed their defense again on another out-of-sync quarterback.

"I knew we had a great challenge ahead of us, but I felt confident in what we could do," Osweiler said. "So I'm very disappointed."

LESS OF FULLER

Texans rookie Will Fuller wasn't targeted until the first play of the second half and had only one catch, a head-scratching fourth-and-16 call in the third quarter at the Vikings 39 that netted 4 yards on a screen play. Fuller had seven catches for 81 yards and a touchdown last week in the win over Tennessee.

SHERELS' SHOW

Like Thielen in 2013, Sherels went undrafted in 2010 and had to make the team through the rookie tryout camp. This was his fifth career punt return touchdown.

"Everybody loves Marcus," coach Mike Zimmer said, "because he does anything you ask him to do."

RHODES (MOSTLY) CLOSED

After stifling Odell Beckham Jr. on Monday night in the win over the New York Giants, Minnesota cornerbackXavier Rhodes hounded Hopkins. Rhodes was called for pass interference (34 yards) and holding (5 yards) to give the Texans their first two first downs during a second quarter drive that yielded a field goal, but Hopkins was held without a catch in the decisive first half. Hopkins finished with 56 yards on five receptions after the Texans went into catch-up mode.

INJURY REPORT

Texans: SS Quinitin Demps (calf) and CB Johnathan Joseph (concussion) both left with injuries in the second quarter, removing two more starters from a secondary already without CB Kareem Jackson (hamstring). ... In the third quarter, LG Jeff Allen left with a concussion and backup TE Ryan Griffin hurt his neck making an awkward tackle following Andrew Sendejo's interception. Backup LB Brian Peters (quadriceps) was also hurt. He surprisingly handled kickoffs rather than Nick Novak, who made two of three field goals.

Vikings: RG Brandon Fusco (concussion) was forced out on the first drive of the game, replaced by Zac Kerinand leaving the OL without three starters. With Rhett Ellison and David Morgan already inactive with knee injuries, a third TE went down when MyCole Pruitt hurt his knee in the third quarter. ... Patterson hurt his hip in the second quarter and stopped returning kickoffs but was back on offense for the TD, his first from scrimmage since Oct. 19, 2014.

UP NEXT

Texans: Host Indianapolis next Sunday night.

Vikings: Take a well-timed bye week, before playing at Philadelphia on Oct. 23.

Vikings deny Beckham, mystify Manning in 24-10 win vs. NYG

Minnesota's defense denied Odell Beckham Jr. all night and forced two turnovers that led to 10 points, and the Vikings mystified Eli Manning yet again during a 24-10 victory Monday over the New York Giants.

Sam Bradford threw a touchdown pass to tight end Kyle Rudolph for the third straight game and kept his turnover-free streak since joining Minnesota intact, helping the Vikings (4-0) lead from start to finish after falling behind in each of their first three wins and record their first 4-0 start since 2009. The Vikings, Eagles and Broncos are the only remaining unbeatens.

"I think they like to compete. I think they like to go out there and prove to everybody that they can be talked about with other good teams in this league," Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said.

Beckham, who has yet to score this season, was smothered by cornerback Xavier Rhodes and had a career-low 23 yards on three catches.

"It's not a one-on-one game. It's 11-on-11, and we got beat 11-on-11 today," Beckham said.

Victor Cruz and Sterling Shepard were quiet, too, and Manning was erratic as ever while finishing 25 for 45 for just 261 yards. Rhodes picked him off in the third quarter , the 15th interception for Manning in eight career starts against the Vikings. He's 2-6 with only five touchdown passes.

Matt Asiata and Jerick McKinnon each ran for a touchdown as the Vikings rushed for a season-high 104 yards to strike their best balance of the season as they continue to craft a post-Adrian Peterson strategy without their injured veteran running back. Bradford went 26 for 36 for 262 yards, thriving with quick-release throws behind an offensive line that protected better than it had in any of the previous three games.

"I didn't get hit, hardly at all," Bradford said. "The game ball should go to those guys."

The Vikings, who have allowed only 50 points in four games and rank second in the league in that category, have an NFL-best turnover margin of plus-10. The Giants (2-2) dropped to minus-8 for the season, including a muffed punt in the first quarter by Dwayne Harris that was forced by Vikings wide receiver Cordarelle Patterson in his new role on the coverage team.

"A good team on the road, especially this team, you can't give them two possessions," Giants coach Ben McAdoo said. "The message is getting through. I just think we need to take care of the ball."

RUDOLPH

Rudolph's wife, Jordan, was scheduled to give birth to twins by induction on Tuesday morning. He joked he wanted a second touchdown catch, one for each of his soon-arriving children. Bradford might as well be their godfather with the way he's connected with his sure-handed tight end.

"We kind of had a bond early," Bradford said, adding: "He's just such a big target."

MONDAYS WITH MOSS

Former Vikings wide receiver Randy Moss, at the game as an analyst for ESPN, blew the ceremonial Gjallarhorn prior to kickoff to get the crowd going early. Fifteen years ago, Moss caught three touchdown passes on a Monday night game as the Vikings beat the Giants 28-16.

"This is a beautiful, beautiful, beautiful place," Beckham said. "The atmosphere they created, I love it. You live for it, you thrive in it, and tonight we didn't have that opportunity."

STRUGGLING SECONDARY

The Giants defensive backs are so depleted by injuries that wide receivers were playing safety in practice this week. Andrew Adams, promoted from the practice squad last week, started at safety for Nat Berhe. Trevin Wade had trouble all game, starting at cornerback for Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. Wade was beaten byCharles Johnson for receptions of 30 and 40 yards, had a pass interference penalty on Rudolph and got away with one on an early incompletion to Adam Thielen.

WALSH, WIDE LEFT

Blair Walsh's 46-yard field goal attempt failed early in the third quarter, already his fifth miss (three field goals, two extra points) of the season. The interception by Rhodes gave him the chance to make a 44-yarder less than 3 1/2 minutes later.

INJURY UPDATE

Giants TE Larry Donnell (concussion) was blown off his feet in the second quarter by blitzing Vikings LBAnthony Barr and quickly ruled out for the rest of the game. Donnell was obviously woozy as he walked slowly to the sideline.

Vikings RT Andre Smith (right elbow) was hurt in the first quarter and was replaced by Jeremiah Sirles.

UP NEXT

The Giants play at Green Bay (2-1) on Sunday night.

The Vikings host Houston (3-1) on Sunday afternoon.

Vikings stop Newton, snap Panthers' home win streak 22-10

The Minnesota Vikings keep finding ways to overcome injuries -and keep finding ways to win football games.

Sam Bradford threw a touchdown pass to Kyle Rudolph, Marcus Sherelsreturned a punt for a score and the Vikings snapped the Carolina Panthers' 14-game home winning streak 22-10 on Sunday.

The Vikings put the clamps on Cam Newton, intercepting the league's reigning MVP three times and getting eight sacks, one of those resulting in a safety by Danielle Hunter. The eight sacks were the second-most ever against Newton.

"We have a great team - the best team I have been a part of," said Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen, who had three sacks. "We come from every area on the field and we get sacks."

Said Newton: "They were dictating to us after they got the momentum."

The Vikings improved 3-0 despite losing running back Adrian Peterson and offensive tackle Matt Kalil to injuries last week. They lost starting quarterback Teddy Bridgewater in the preseason.

The Panthers were averaging 42 points per game in their last three home games, but could do little after bolting to a 10-0 lead. The Vikings held Carolina wide receivers Kelvin Benjamin and Devin Funchess without a catch.

"For him not to have any touches is baffling," Newton said of Benjamin. "We have to find ways" to get him the ball.

Cornerback Captain Munnerlyn said the Vikings focus was on shutting down Benjamin.

"We just knew where Benjamin was the whole time," Munnerlyn said. "Funchess, we weren't worried about him. It wasKelvin Benjamin. Me personally, I think No. 17 (Funchess) is not that good, so we weren't really worried about him."

Benjamin said the Vikings' pressure on Newton helped take him out of the game.

Bradford improved to 2-0 as the Vikings starter, completing 18 of 28 passes for 171 yards. With Peterson injured, Matt Asiata and Jerick McKinnon combined for 70 yards rushing on 22 carries. Rudolph had seven catches for 70 yards, including a 15-yard TD catch to put the Vikings ahead for good in the early in the third quarter.

HOME LOSS: It was Carolina's first home loss since Nov. 16, 2014.

"If you want to be a playoff team you have to win at home," Panthers offensive tackle Michael Oher said.

Carolina only led 10-8 at halftime despite outgaining the Vikings 205-34 in the first half and limiting Minnesota to two first downs.

PROTESTS OUTSIDE: Outside the stadium about 100 people gathered before the game to stage a peaceful protest over the police shooting of a 43-year-old black man last week.

Panthers coach Ron Rivera said the events didn't affect the team's play.

"When we are here, we practice, we do the things we are supposed to do. We got out and we answered the questions," Rivera said. "What happened here was very tragic, and what we were hoping to do was be able to come out and put that aside. We just didn't play very well. I am not looking for excuses."

BY THE NUMBERS:

Vikings: Asiata got the start at running back but McKinnon was more productive back with 45 yards on 16 carries.

Panthers: Cameron Artis-Payne started over Fozzy Whittaker with Jonathan Stewart (hamstring) out of the lineup and ran for 47 yards on 12 carries. Whittaker only got five carries and had 22 yards rushing after running for 100 yards last week against San Francisco.

SAFETY FIRST: Hunter beat Michael Oher to sack Newton in the end zone in the first quarter for Minnesota's first safety since Jared Allen had one on Dec. 4, 2011. Hunter has 6 1/2 sacks in his last seven games.

SHERELS RETURN: Sherels accounted for the Vikings only touchdown of the first half, taking an Andy Lee punt near midfield and cutting across the grain for a 54-yard touchdown return.

BENJAMIN'S BLUNDERS: Benjamin was called for two penalties in the first half, including a block in the back that nullified a 56-yard TD reception by Whittaker.

INJURIES: Panthers first-round draft pick Vernon Butler left the game with a right ankle sprain in the third quarter and did not return.

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.

Vikings score 2 TDs off turnovers in beating Titans 25-16

The Tennessee Titans made sure Adrian Petersonwouldn't hurt them.

So the Minnesota defense took control.

Eric Kendricks returned an interception 77 yards for a touchdown late in the third quarter and Danielle Hunter scored a 24-yard TD off a fumble return and the Vikings beat Tennessee 25-16 in their season opener Sunday.

The Vikings forced three turnovers in the span of just under seven minutes and also had two sacks.

"The defense came through for us and made some big plays," Peterson said. "They pretty much bailed us out today."

The defending NFC North champs needed the help from their defense in scoring 25 straight points after being shut out in the first half with the NFL's 2015 rushing leader smothered.

Minnesota coach Mike Zimmer did his best to hide his starter at quarterback after the Vikings lost Teddy Bridgewaterto a major knee injury Aug. 30, and after they traded their 2017 first-round draft pick to Philadelphia for Sam Bradford .

The mystery finally ended when Shaun Hill, 36, took the field for the Vikings' first series for his first start since 2014 when he was with the St. Louis Rams.

Zimmer said Hill did well.

"We'll take it one week at a time and see where it takes us," Zimmer said.

Tennessee focused on stopping Peterson, who had 1,485 yards rushing last season, and the Titans did just that.

Peterson had 31 yards on 19 carries.

The Titans had a revamped roster from a new general manager for coach Mike Mularkey in his first game since having the interim tag removed in January.

They also opened at home for the first time since 2012 and jumped out to a 10-0 halftime lead looking for a rare home win after going 1-7 in Nashville each of the past two seasons.

Their highlight came on the first of two TD catches by DeMarco Murray, the 2014 Offensive Player of the Year, when he vaulted himself over a defender for a 6-yard TD catch just before halftime.

TURNOVER MELTDOWN

The Titans were driving trailing 12-10 when Marcus Mariota tried to force a quick throw under pressure only to be picked off by Kendricks who returned it for the TD with 1:24 left in the third quarter. The Titans then went three-and-out before turnovers on the next two drives. Mariota lost the ball after faking a handoff to Murray, which Hunter picked up for his own TD return. Then Murray lost a fumble.

"The turnovers obviously were catastrophic," Mularkey said.

WALSH'S WOES

Vikings kicker Blair Walsh kicked four field goals, including a 50-yarder. But the kicker who missed a 27-yard field goal in the playoffs, costing Minnesota in a 10-9 loss to Seattle in January, had a rough start. His first field goal from 37 hooked wide left. Zimmer sent Walsh out to attempt a 56-yarder at the end of the first half, and the kicker was well short despite being lined up in the middle of the field. The Titans missed a chance to return the kick by taking a timeout. With a second chance, Walsh still missed badly with the ball going way left out of the end zone.

The kicker connected on field goals of 50 and 33 yards in the third quarter, and he added two more in the fourth. But he missed an extra point right after Kendricks' interception return.

MARIOTA'S STRUGGLES

Mariota had a perfect passer rating in his NFL debut as a rookie, and his second season couldn't have started much differently. The Vikings pressured Mariota repeatedly, and he threw into coverage while being pressured on the interception. He also lost a fumble and had another turnover wiped out by a roughing the passer call.

INJURIES

Vikings CB Xavier Rhodes was scratched after aggravating an injury in warmups. ... Titans linebacker Derrick Morganwent down grabbing the back of his left leg, and he did not return with an injured left hamstring.

FANTASY IMPACT

Stefon Diggs caught seven passes for 103 yards for the Vikings. Titans rookie Tajae Sharpe caught seven passes for 76 yards.