MINNEAPOLIS _ The Vikings unveiled their new home and their new quarterback on Sunday night in a nationally televised prime-time showdown against the rival Green Bay Packers.
U.S. Bank Stadium sparkled with the Minneapolis skyline peeking through the large glass windows on the north side of the stadium, and the cheers were nearly deafening when Sam Bradford completed his first touchdown pass with the Vikings on their way to a 17-14 victory before an announced crowd of 66,813.
Bradford threw for two scores, and ended up combining with second-year receiver Stefon Diggs nine times for 182 yards.
But the Vikings, who have already lost quarterback Teddy Bridgewater for the season because of a knee injury, appeared to suffer another key injury. Running back Adrian Peterson left in the third quarter because of a right knee injury after twisting his leg while being tackled. He was carried into the locker room.
Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was intercepted by Trae Waynes with 1:50 remaining to seal the victory for the Vikings (2-0). Rodgers had a career-high three fumbles, two of which were recovered by his own team, and passed for 213 yards.
The past couple of weeks were a whirlwind for Bradford, who was expected to be the starting quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1 before the Vikings, who on Aug. 30 lost Bridgewater, dealt a pair of premium picks to acquire the 28-year-old in a stunning trade.
Only 15 days and eight practices with the team later, Bradford was under center when the Vikings hosted their first regular-season game at their state-of-the-art new home. And he would have to go throw-for-throw with former league MVP Rodgers.
Bradford, the 13th quarterback to start for the Vikings since 2007, did just that in the first half, completing some impressive throws, none more so than his 44-yard bomb to wide receiver Diggs late in the second quarter that set up a field goal.
He also hit Diggs with a 25-yard strike to put the Vikings up 17-7. Rodgers answered with a 10-yard run early in the fourth quarter to make it 17-14.
Bradford was 22-for-30 for 286 yards. Diggs' yards were eighth most by a Vikings receiver in a game.
With Peterson again having trouble finding running room, the Vikings asked Bradford to throw 23 times in the first half. He completed 16 of those attempts for 175 yards and a touchdown. He averaged 7.6 yards per attempt, nearly twice as many as Rodgers, who had just 59 passing yards on 15 first-half throws.
The biggest plays for the Packers in that first half were a blocked punt and a penalty.
Packers wide receiver Ty Montgomery rushed up the gut to get a piece of Jeff Locke's punt and give the visitors the ball at their 48-yard line. A 40-yard defensive pass interference penalty on cornerback Terence Newman put the Packers at first-and-goal at the Vikings 4-yard line. Three plays and another Newman penalty later, Rodgers tossed a 1-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jordy Nelson for the game's first score.
The Vikings tied it at 7 in the second quarter when Bradford threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to tight end Kyle Rudolph. The touchdown, which was the team's first on offense this season, came after the Vikings left kicker Blair Walsh on the sideline on fourth-and-2 inside the red zone and Bradford connected with Diggs to move the chains.
Bradford, who appeared to injure his non-throwing hand on that drive, headed to the locker room after Walsh's extra point but quickly returned and did not miss a snap.
Late in the second quarter, Bradford showed the strong arm and deep-ball placement that had been sporadic the past couple of seasons when he launched a play-action pass deep down the middle of the field to Diggs, who made a diving 44-yard catch.
Walsh was good from 46 yards out to send the Vikings heading into halftime up 10-7.
Their lead might have been bigger had they been able to recover three fumbles by the Packers. But all three times the ball somehow squirted under a Packers player.
On the Packers' first drive of the game, Randall Cobb fumbled after catching a short Rodgers past and Vikings safety Andrew Sendejo recovered _ but only for an instant. Cobb stole the ball back before the players hit the ground.
Packers tight end Jared Cook recovered a Rodgers fumble late in the third quarter to keep a Packers drive alive, but Green Bay was stopped on fourth-and-2 from the Vikings 14 when James Starks was halted after a 1-yard gain by Linval Joseph.
