Vikes cruise past Falcons

ATLANTA (AP) -- Gus Frerotte erased a very bad memory in his return to the Georgia Dome.

A year ago, Frerotte started for the hapless Cincinnati Bengals, was benched after he failed to complete his first seven passes and watched the rest of a 30-3 loss from the bench.

On Sunday, he got some payback against Atlanta. Starting his second straight game for Minnesota, Frerotte threw two touchdown passes and helped keep the Vikings unbeaten with a 39-26 victory over the Falcons.

"It was a rough day back when I was with the Bengals," Frerotte remembered. "I got hit hard a lot that day. Things weren't as positive there as they are here."

Moe Williams ran for a pair of second-half touchdowns as the Vikings (5-0) outscored Atlanta 27-6 over the final two quarters.

The Falcons (1-4) lost their fourth in a row, suffering the further indignity of being called for two penalties that resulted in safeties.

Vikings 39, Falcons 26

The key: Gus Frerotte threw two TD passes and Moe Williams ran for two TDs as the Vikings stayed unbeaten.

Next: Bye week

Doug Johnson was flagged for intentionally grounding the ball to avoid being tackled in the end zone. Then, left tackle Bob Whitfield capped a miserable game by literally tackling Lance Johnstone as he was closing in on a sack of Johnson in the end zone.

"I don't think they're as good as we are," Johnson said. "When you're playing at home, you're supposed to beat teams you're better than. It's very frustrating."

Johnson, who is starting in place of Michael Vick, hasn't been able to match the success of Minnesota's backup. The Vikings haven't missed a beat with Frerotte filling in for Daunte Culpepper, winning the last two games by a combined score of 74-33.

Frerotte completed 14 of 24 passes for 239 yards against the Falcons, including two throws that picked up more than 50 yards.

"I grew up in Pittsburgh in the '70s, with all that 'We Are Family' stuff with the Pirates," Frerotte said. "It's kind of like that here."

It wasn't that way in Cincinnati. He never threw another pass for the Bengals after his woeful day in Atlanta.

Frerotte wound up in Minnesota as a backup, only to get pressed into duty when Culpepper broke several small bones in his back Sept. 21 against Detroit.

For one half, at least, it looked as if Atlanta coach Dan Reeves would finally get his 200th victory. The Falcons led 20-12 at halftime, Johnson was playing well at quarterback and the defense was containing the high-powered Vikings.

It didn't last. Reeves fell to 0-for-4 in his pursuit of No. 200.

Frerotte connected with Randy Moss on a 17-yard touchdown, and the Vikings made a 2-point conversion to tie it at 20. Moss' catch was a thing of beauty -- he leaped over cornerback Kevin Mathis to grab the ball, then somehow got both feet down before tumbling out of bounds.

Moss also had a 32-yard touchdown in the second quarter, beating Mathis on a post route.

Minnesota 0 12 15 12 -- 39

Atlanta 6 14 0 6 -- 26

First Quarter

Atl--FG Feely 34, 11:57.

Atl--FG Feely 33, 7:40.

Second Quarter

Min--Moss 32 pass from Frerotte (Elling kick), 13:35.

Min--Safety, D.Johnson penalty for intentional grounding from end zone, 10:23.

Min--FG Elling 32, 8:06.

Atl--Dunn 8 run (Feely kick), 6:56.

Atl--Price 6 pass from D.Johnson (Feely kick), :10.

Third Quarter

Min--Moss 17 pass from Frerotte (O.Smith pass from Frerotte), 7:34.

Min--M.Williams 11 run (Elling kick), 2:39.

Fourth Quarter

Min--M.Williams 5 run (Elling kick), 18:05.

Min--Safety, Whitfield offensive holding penalty in end zone, 11:38.

Min--FG Elling 24, 2:52.

Atl--Farris 8 pass from D.Johnson, 1:43.

A--70,427.

Min Atl

First downs 16 21

Total Net Yards 399 440

Rushes-yards 38-166 17-104

Passing 233 336

Punt Returns 3-10 4-51

Kickoff Returns 7-112 7-168

Interceptions Ret. 2-81 1-14

Comp-Att-Int 14-24-1 28-41-2

Sacked-Yards Lost 2-6 2-16

Punts 7-40.3 5-35.0

Fumbles-Lost 2-0 4-1

Penalties-Yards 8-58 7-56

Time of Possession 33:28 26:32

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING--Minnesota, M.Williams 11-71, O.Smith 13-63, Chapman 10-22, Campbell 1-7, Frerotte 3-3. Atlanta, Duckett 11-69, D.Johnson 2-20, Dunn 3-15, Dantzler 1-0.

PASSING--Minnesota, Frerotte 14-24-1-239. Atlanta, D.Johnson 28-40-2-352. Dantzler 0-1-0-0.

RECEIVING--Minnesota, Moss 5-81, Burleson 3-71, Campbell 2-49, O.Smith 2-23, M.Williams 2-15. Atlanta, Price 12-168, Dunn 6-83, Crumpler 4-31, McCord 2-42, Duckett 2-10, Kozlowski 1-10, Farris 1-8.

MISSED FIELD GOALS--None.