The Minnesota Vikings are on course to return to winning ways having taken a 7-3 lead into the halfway stage of their NFL clash with the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome this evening.

It was the visitors who were first on the board in the opening quarter when Adrian Peterson powered over from a yard out for his seventh touchdown of the season, and fourth in consecutive games.

They were soon handed another chance to attack when Tevin Coleman, in for the concussed Devonta Freeman, fumbled the ball, but they were unable to take advantage as Teddy Bridgewater was picked off inside the endzone for the third time this season.

That allowed the Falcons to work their way downfield and finally get themselves on the board in the second quarter, with Shayne Graham making a 31-yard field goal having only been signed a few days ago to replace the injured Matt Bryant.

Matt Ryan threw an interception to gift possession back to the Vikings, but they couldn't restore their seven-point advantage as Blair Walsh fired a field goal wide left of the posts from 51 yards.

That gave the Falcons the final possession of the half, but they couldn't make any serious headway as they went into the break trailing by four.