Minnesota Vikings (7-3) at Atlanta Falcons (6-4)

The Vikings will have to wait for another chance until January 3, 2016 when they play the Packers in the regular-season finale.

Considering that Minnesota has also been forced to defend Calvin Johnson (twice), Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, Randall Cobb, Amari Cooper, Michael Crabtree and Jeremy Maclin, the Vikings could do a lot worse than Rhodes as their No. 1 cornerback.

This season, the Falcons defense has slowed down Philadelphia’s DeMarco Murray (eight carries for 9 yards), Houston’s Arian Foster (8 for 10), Washington’s Alfred Morris (8 for 15), New Orleans’ Mark Ingram (20 for 46) and Tampa Bay’s Doug Martin (23 for 71).

In this Thanksgiving weekend’s matchup with the Falcons, the Vikings will visit a team that’s given footballs to other teams frequently of late.

Vikings LT Matt Kalil vs. Falcons OLB O’Brien Schofield: Just as Kalil was starting to earn raves this season after struggling through 2014 on a bad knee, he attempted to play through a toe injury last week and was flagged three times.

This week’s game begins an 18-day, three-game series against the Falcons (6-4), Seahawks (5-5) and Cardinals (8-2) – all teams that the Vikings are throwing elbows with in the NFC playoff race. The Packers are have now played every NFC North team once, and will face two more divisional opponents in the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions, the next two weeks.

Vikings WR Stefon Diggs: It’s approaching broken-record status, but Diggs continues to defy his fifth-round rookie status.

ABOUT THE VIKINGS (7-3): Minnesota’s return to prominence has come on the strength of Adrian Peterson, who leads the NFL in rushing (1,006 yards) a year after playing only one game due to a suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.

“He stood in there (Sunday) and made some huge throws, taking hits and getting out and scrambling for first downs”, tight end Kyle Rudolph said after the game.

In addition to having dynamic offensive weapons, the Vikings don’t hurt themselves. The Vikings are 6-7 in Atlanta but lost the last time they played there, 24-14 in 2011. All of the “Beat Green Bay” t-shirts and all the hyperbole leading up to the game was out of character for him, and we all paid the price for his arrogance. Minnesota hasn’t beaten a winning team this season, the Falcons have dropped four of five, and we don’t quite know what to make of either team yet. Overall, he’s got 89 receptions for 1,189 yards, topping National Football League in both categories…. Smith was injured during Sunday’s game but returned to play. Rhodes has filled that role with success against Calvin Johnson of Detroit the last three meetings.

Vikings FB Zach Line vs. Falcons MLB Paul Worrilow. The stats will look better than they were, thanks in large part to Bridgewater, who ran the ball four times for 43 yards.

The Vikings need to run the ball to win.

The Falcons defense has improved dramatically during Year 1 of the Dan Quinn regime.

He was asked about Adrian Peterson and how he’s doing.

The Vikings’ offensive line gave up six sacks, eight tackles for a loss and 10 quarterback hits.