Minnesota Vikings: Week 12 stock risers

Nov 29, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons during the fourth quarter at the Georgia Dome. The Vikings defeated the Falcons 20-10. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

The Minnesota Vikings beat the Atlanta Falcons in Week 12 to move into first place in the NFC North and march closer to the playoffs.

Beating the Atlanta Falcons (6-5) in Week 12 was a big step forward for the Minnesota Vikings (8-3). It may not seem like much to beat a slumping playoff contender, but every win counts in the NFL and wins against teams with potent weapons and the ability to string together victories are crucial.

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Still, the Falcons were a team the Vikings were expected to beat. And that is also incredibly important. Beating the teams you are supposed to come out on top of is important to ensuring you can be a contender and keep marching into the postseason.

With eight wins, it’s now tough to envision a 2015 postseason without the Vikings. They are cementing themselves as a contender, arriving at the right time to show that they can play with the best of them.

Sunday’s win was full of players willing to step up and help take control. The Vikings won 20-10 but it seemed that the game was in control for almost the entire time and timely turnovers with Atlanta driving seemed the norm rather than the exception.

Here are five players who saw their stock rise in Week 12.

Next: The focus of the offense rebounds