Minnesota Vikings free safety Harrison Smith looks back as he runs with an intercepted pass 81-yards for a touchdown during the fourth quarter an NFL football game against the St. Louis Rams Sunday, Sept. 7, 2014, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam) (The Associated Press)
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. – One touchdown. Two interceptions. Five sacks. Six forced punts. Six points allowed.
The revamped Minnesota Vikings defense could hardly have made a better 2014 debut.
Mike Zimmer's first game as a head coach was a 34-6 victory by the Vikings at St. Louis.
It featured plenty of positive signs from a team that stumbled to a 1-7 start last year and finished in last place in the NFC North at 5-10-1.
The defense that allowed an NFL-most average of 30 points per game was downright dominant. But a difficult schedule looms, with Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Matt Ryan, Aaron Rodgers and Matthew Stafford on the schedule in consecutive weeks.
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