EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — Before the first snap of the season, the Minnesota Vikings settled into their usual spots before a slight shift by defensive tackles Linval Joseph and Shamar Stephen to their left.
The second after that, defensive end Everson Griffen shuffled out of his extra-wide alignment to move directly in front of Atlanta’s Jake Matthews. Linebacker Anthony Barr crept up to the line of scrimmage in Griffen’s vacated space and, once Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan dropped back, made a beeline for the pocket for an 8-yard sack off a free rush after a disrupted Matthews blocked Griffen instead.