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Thud--Minnesota Vikings Fall to Atlanta Falcons in NFL Week 2 on Sunday Night

Second-year quarterback JJ McCarthy pummeled in second primetime start
Minnesota Vikings quarterback JJ McCarthy had a rough night in his second NFL start behind a shaky offensive line, getting sacked a whopping 6 times.

Minnesota Vikings fans can be forgiven if the 4th quarter of the team’s Week 1 win gave us optimism for the Week 2 game at US Bank Stadium. That optimism was tested, tried, and trounced. There was no 4th quarter comeback, at US Bank Stadium the Vikings fell to the Atlanta Falcons 22-6.

The Minnesota Vikings lose to the Atlanta Falcons 6 to 22 on Sunday Night Football in Week 2.

The Vikings started slowly on both defense and offense, but the defense eventually began to get pressure on Falcons quarterback Michael Penix, Jr. and disrupt Atlanta’s offense—JJ McCarthy and the Vikings’ offense were not able to capitalize on those opportunities.


And then the injuries piled up.


Minnesota was already shorthanded going into Sunday night’s game with Harrison Smith, Christian Darrisaw, Jeff Okudah, and Andrew Van Ginkel ruled out and Blake Cashman on IR. But in the course of the game the Vikings lost starting center Ryan Kelly to concussion, Aaron Jones to a hamstring injury, Gabriel Murphy to a knee injury, and Justin Skule to a concussion.


JJ McCarthy struggled to get into a rhythm, getting sacked 6 times (including a strip sack), throwing 2 interceptions, and ending the night 11/21 and 158 yards. There were beautiful throws like the 50-yard bomb to Jefferson, but there was also an overthrown ball to a wide-open Jalen Nailor that would have been a touchdown.


Brian Flores’ defense also struggled. The Falcons’ offense battered the Vikings with a dominant run game from Bijan Robinson who ended the night with 143 yards on 22 attempts. Although the Minnesota defense kept Atlanta out of the end zone until the 4th quarter, the Falcons’ kicked 5 field goals thanks to our old friend Parker Romo.


Kevin O’Connel’s play calling was peculiar and his team looked unprepared. No, worse than unprepared, they looked bewildered and broken. If he’s going to right the listing longship, O’Connell needs to get the Vikings, and his young quarterback, back on track in Week 3 when Minnesota hosts the Cincinnati Bengals. Holding on for 4th-quarter magical comebacks didn’t work two games in a row.


 
 
 

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