By Garin Turner
The Atlanta Falcons evened their record at 1-1 after a 22-6 road win over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night. It wasn’t pretty, but it was physical. Both defenses controlled the pace for most of the game, with Atlanta finally pulling away late.
Defense sets the tone
Atlanta’s defense dominated the line of scrimmage, sacking J.J. McCarthy six times. The Falcons also intercepted him twice and forced three fumbles, recovering one. Minnesota never found consistency, managing just 198 total yards of offense and going 4-for-11 on third down.
Penix stays clean but struggles
Michael Penix Jr. protected the football but faced constant pressure. He finished 13-of-21 for 135 yards and was sacked three times. While the Vikings made it difficult to get into rhythm, Penix avoided costly mistakes that could have swung momentum.
Run game finally comes alive
One week after a disappointing showing, the Falcons’ ground attack made its presence felt. Bijan Robinson ripped off 143 yards on 22 carries, surpassing his Week 1 total in the first quarter alone. Tyler Allgeier chipped in 76 yards on 16 carries, including the game’s lone touchdown. Atlanta rushed 39 times for 218 yards, wearing down Minnesota’s front in the second half.
Romo makes the difference
Atlanta’s switch at kicker paid immediate dividends. After Younghoe Koo’s missed 44-yarder in Week 1, Parker Romo stepped into the starting role and delivered a flawless performance. Romo went 5-for-5 on field goals, including a 54-yard strike, providing the Falcons with all but one of their points.
By the numbers
Falcons Passing
- Michael Penix Jr.: 13/21, 135 yards
Vikings Passing
- J.J. McCarthy: 11/21, 158 yards, 2 INT
Falcons Rushing
- Bijan Robinson: 22 carries, 143 yards
- Tyler Allgeier: 16 carries, 76 yards, 1 TD
Vikings Rushing
- Jordan Mason: 9 carries, 30 yards
- J.J. McCarthy: 5 carries, 25 yards
- Aaron Jones Sr.: 5 carries, 23 yards
Falcons Receiving
- Drake London: 3 catches, 49 yards
- Kyle Pitts Sr.: 4 catches, 37 yards
Vikings Receiving
- Justin Jefferson: 3 catches, 81 yards
- Jalen Nailor: 3 catches, 31 yards
Falcons Defense
- Zach Harrison: 5 tackles, 1.5 sacks
- Brandon Dorlus: 3 tackles, 1.5 sacks
- Jalon Walker: 2 tackles, 1 sack
- James Pearce Jr.: 2 tackles, 0.5 sack
Vikings Defense
- Jalen Redmond: 6 tackles, 1 sack
- Dallas Turner: 5 tackles, 1 sack
- Jonathan Greenard: 4 tackles, 1 sack
Looking ahead
The Falcons stay on the road in Week 3, heading to Charlotte for a divisional showdown with the Carolina Panthers (0-2). With the defense showing teeth and the run game finding momentum, Atlanta has a chance to stack wins early in the NFC South race.
