The Atlanta Falcons defeated the Minnesota Vikings 22-6 on an evening the place their new kicker, John Parker Romo, was profitable on all 5 of his discipline purpose makes an attempt.
The Vikings shot themselves within the foot a number of occasions all through the sport attributable to quite a lot of errors. They have been penalized eight occasions for 50 yards. The Vikes additionally allowed six sacks and turned the ball over 4 occasions.
Atlanta’s offense additionally seemed significantly better than Minnesota’s. The Vikings have been held to simply 198 yards whereas the Falcons had 326 yards of offense.
Minnesota had a tough time containing Falcons working again Bijan Robinson, who ran for 47 yards on Atlanta’s opening drive. Nevertheless, a handsome sequence for the Soiled Birds was derailed by penalties, and the Falcons settled for a 38-yard discipline purpose to go up 3-0. Atlanta virtually burned two timeouts on that possession as they handled the loud Minnesota crowd. Robinson completed the sport with 168 scrimmage yards and 135 yards on the bottom.
The Vikings made a dangerous determination early on, trying a quarterback sneak on a 4th and inches from their very own 36 yard line. Nevertheless, the Falcons have been ready and stopped the run play, which gave Atlanta possession of the ball in Minnesota territory.
The Falcons took benefit of the great beginning discipline place. They hit one other discipline purpose to enhance their result in 6-0.
Just like his first begin, J.J. McCarthy seemed overwhelmed on the Vikings’ first few possessions. On the primary drive, he virtually fumbled the snap on Minnesota’s fourth-down try. He additionally took a third-down sack on their subsequent sequence. Although it was solely a half-sack, it was the primary quarterback takedown of rookie James Pearce Jr.’s profession.
Minnesota’s protection was in a position to make up for the offense’s poor begin. Linebacker Eric Wilson punched the ball out of wideout Drake London’s arms. That dwell ball was picked up by cornerback Theo Jackson for his second profession fumble restoration and his first since Week 11 of the 2022 season.
Justin Jefferson recorded his first catch of the night time in direction of the top of the primary quarter. With that reception, he tied Larry Fitzgerald because the quickest participant to file 500 profession catches, reaching that milestone on the age of 26 years and 90 days.
After that, the Vikes lastly acquired right into a groove on third down. After beginning the sport 0/2, they transformed their subsequent 4 third-down makes an attempt. Nevertheless, rookies Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. recorded sacks on back-to-back performs, forcing Minnesota to take a discipline purpose and accept a 6-3 deficit within the second quarter.
Atlanta’s first punt didn’t come till there have been lower than 3:30 left within the second quarter. It wouldn’t make a lot of a distinction, although, as a result of J.J. McCarthy threw an interception to provide the Falcons the ball on Minnesota’s facet of the sphere simply earlier than the two-minute warning.
The Falcons took benefit of that mistake and moved the ball 23 yards in 1:38. Although their drive stalled out, they hit their third discipline purpose of the night to take a 9-3 lead. Within the first half, these two groups have been 0/4 within the purple zone.
Justin Jefferson had a 50-yard catch-and-run proper earlier than halftime. That allowed the Vikes to hit a discipline purpose as time expired within the second quarter, making it 9-6 on the break.
After forcing a fast three-and-out, Bijan Robinson crossed the century mark by choosing up 43 speeding yards on Atlanta’s first drive of the second half. That led to a different Falcons discipline purpose to go up 12-6, which might convey this recreation to the fourth quarter. Atlanta completed the night time by going 1/5 within the purple zone.
J.J. McCarthy’s night went from dangerous to worse to start out the ultimate body. He was sacked and misplaced a fumble, which was picked up by new Falcons defensive lineman Divine Deablo, giving Atlanta beginning discipline place. McCarthy went 11 for 21 passing on the night time with 158 passing yards, 30 speeding yards, six sacks, two interceptions, and a fumble.
A poorly-timed sack gave Atlanta a third and 21 at Minnesota’s 39 yard line. The Falcons solely picked up three yards on the following play, which led to a 54-yard discipline purpose by John Parker Romo to provide Atlanta a 15-6 lead with 11:16 to go within the recreation.
The Vikings acquired the ball again and had an opportunity to make this one shut once more. On a third and 1, J.J. McCarthy overthrew a wide-open receiver that may have had a simple walk-in landing. As a substitute of getting the TD, the Vikes needed to accept a punt.
Huge receiver Drake London lastly made up for his fumble earlier. He had 31 yards on Atlanta’s second possession of the fourth quarter, together with a 21-yarder on a 1st and 20. On prime of that, backup working again Tyler Allgeier picked up 17 and 13 yards on back-to-back performs to get the Soiled Birds into the purple zone. From there, they’d a troublesome determination and ended up going for it on a 4th and 1 at Minnesota’s 11 with 4:08 to go within the recreation. Michael Penix Jr. managed to get the Vikings’ protection to leap offside, preserving the drive alive. That led to a five-yard landing run by Tyler Allgeier, who had 76 speeding yards and the sport’s solely TD.
The Vikings tried to make a comeback, however that try fell flat when J.J. McCarthy threw his second interception of the night time. That cross was snagged by Falcons rookie Xavier Watts for his first profession INT.
Each of those groups can be taking part in at 1:00 p.m. EDT subsequent week. The Falcons can be on the highway in opposition to the Carolina Panthers, whereas the Vikings can be at dwelling in opposition to the Cincinnati Bengals.
*Writer’s observe: all info and statistics are tracked in actual time and are offered by the sport’s broadcaster, NFL.com, and ESPN.com*
