MINNEAPOLIS — Teddy Bridgewater passed for 317 yards and rushed for a touchdown as the Minnesota Vikings defeated the Atlanta Falcons 41-28 Sunday at TCF Bank Stadium — although the rookie quarterback went to the locker room on a cart with 6:11 left in game for X-rays on his left ankle.

When the tests were negative, Bridgewater returned to the sideline to witness the end of the game, but did not return. He was smiling when he left the field at the end of the game but appeared to have a slight limp.

Making his first start in the National Football League, chants of “Ted-dy, Ted-dy” from the more than 52,000 in attendance came almost every time Bridgewater stepped onto the field. The rookie from Louisville handled it with the poise of a veteran, connecting on enough big plays to keep the Vikings’ offense moving — and move they did, to the tune of 558 total yards of offense.

When they got close to the goal line, it was running back Matt Asiata who did the dirty work, tying a career-high with three touchdowns, the longest of which came from six yards.

Away from the goal line, it was rookie running back Jerick McKinnon doing the damage, rushing 18 times for 135 yards — the first 100-yard game of his brief NFL career. Wide receiver Jarius Wright also set a career high with eight receptions for 132 yards, including a 52-yard reception on the Vikings’ opening drive to set up Asiata’s first score of the day.

Asiata’s third score of the day gave Minnesota a 33-28 lead with just over 10 minutes to play. On the play before, Bridgewater scrambled to the 1 and appeared to have his left ankle rolled up on. He finished the drive by handing off to Asiata and then was taken to the locker room for X-rays.

That meant giving way to much-maligned quarterback Christian Ponder, who after an Atlanta punt, promptly led Minnesota on a short scoring drive, going 18 yards on five plays for a 55-yard field goal by Blair Walsh that gave the Vikings a 38-28 lead.

Looking for points on their next drive, Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan was intercepted by Harrison Smith at the Falcons 30 with just over three minutes remaining. Walsh connected on his fourth field goal of the day to provide the final margin.

Minnesota took a 24-14 lead into halftime thanks to a pair of first-quarter scores by Asiata and a Bridgewater 13-yard run in the second. After a 41-yard field goal by Walsh made it 27-14 early in the third, Atlanta scored a pair of touchdowns less than six minutes apart. Ryan connected with wide receiver Devin Hester on a 36-yard score midway through the third before running back Antone Smith busted through the left side of the Vikings defense and down the sideline for a 48-yard touchdown, giving Atlanta a one-point lead heading to the final quarter.

Asiata’s third score came with 10:50 remaining and a hobbled Bridgewater connected with tight end Rhett Ellison on the two-point conversion to make it a seven-point game.

Ryan finished the game 25-for-41 throwing for 298 yards and three scores. Wide receiver Julio Jones had six catches for 82 yards. Smith led the Falcons’ ground attack with 62 yards on four carries.

NOTES: Falcons DB William Moore left the game in the first quarter with a shoulder injury and did not return. … Falcons LG Justin Blalock left the game in the second quarter with a back injury and did not return. … Falcons RT Lamar Homes left the game in the third quarter with a right foot injury and did not return. … Falcons C Joe Hawley left the game on a cart on the final play of the third quarter with an apparent leg injury. … Vikings QB Teddy Bridgewater left the game in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury and did not return.