5 Takeaways from the Minnesota Vikings’ Brutal Loss Against the Atlanta Falcons
After a thrilling victory in Week 1 against the Chicago Bears, the Minnesota Vikings fell flat on their faces in Week 2 against the Atlanta Falcons.
The Vikings lost the Sunday Night Football matchup by a score of 22-6, and the offense has now looked lifeless for seven of its first eight quarters this season. Following the loss, here are five things Vikings fans should take away from this game.
The Vikings Miss Christian Darrisaw
It’s an obvious thing, but the Vikings severely miss one of the best left tackles in football right now. Christian Darrisaw has now missed back-to-back games due to his continued recovery from the torn ACL/MCL he suffered last season.
Justin Skule got the start for the second week in a row, but then, he also got hurt, which resulted in Walter Rouse stepping into the game. Neither player was able to hold up against a talented Atlanta defensive front. J.J. McCarthy was sacked six times, and a faster clock in the pocket made him commit mistakes, throwing two interceptions and only totaling 158 yards through the air.
Do note, Darrisaw was kept on the 53-man roster to begin the season rather than placed on injured reserve. The Vikings clearly think he is close to coming back, and maybe that happens in Week 3.
What Happened to Jordan Mason?
Jordan Mason was a key factor in Week 1 as Minnesota mounted their comeback win against the Chicago Bears. That made it seem like he was going to be a focal point in the offense moving forward, but instead, Mason did not get a single touch until the final minute of the first quarter.
By that time, the Vikings were playing from behind, and they were needing to throw the ball to try and move downfield to get back into the contest. As a result, Mason totaled just nine carries for 30 yards. Hopefully, this is a lesson for the Vikings, and they put together a more earnest effort to get their new running back involved early on.
With Aaron Jones suffering a hamstring injury during the game, Minnesota may not have another choice.
Eric Wilson Was Impressive
With Blake Cashman on injured reserve and set to miss at least four games, Eric Wilson got the start at linebacker for the Vikings on Sunday night. Ultimately, it was an impressive showing for the veteran backup, totaling five tackles and forcing a fumble that led to a field goal drive for the Vikings.
Last season, Cashman missed three games for the Vikings, and the defense looked completely discombobulated without him in the lineup. That seemed to be a wakeup call for Minnesota to get more proven depth in their linebacker room, and Wilson should be able to hold down the position for the next few weeks.
Minnesota’s Run Defense Needs Work
Despite an impressive showing from Wilson, Minnesota’s defense as a whole did not seem ready to take on Atlanta’s talented offensive line and explosive rushing attack. Atlanta grinded the Vikings’ defense to a pulp on the ground, running the ball 39 times for 218 yards.
Not only did Atlanta’s rushing attack open things up by giving them great field position, but it limited the Vikings’ offense’s ability to get into a rhythm and control the clock. The Falcons won the time of possession battle by over 13 minutes. That’s not a winning recipe for the Vikings moving forward, and they will need to be much better against Chase Brown and the Cincinnati Bengals next weekend.
Too Early to Panic
It’s been a pretty ugly start to the season for the Vikings, and they are a play or two away from being 0-2 to begin the year.
However, while some may have woken up on Monday doubting J.J. McCarthy’s ability to lead an offense, Kevin O’Connell’s playcalling, and Minnesota’s talent on defense, we just need to wait and see what things look like in a couple of weeks.
Hopefully, the aforementioned Darrisaw is back in the lineup to buoy the offensive line, and Jordan Addison will return after Week 3 to give McCarthy another weapon to throw to. The Vikings have also been without Harrison Smith in each of the first two games.
Yes, the Vikings may have used the only loss they can afford before their bye, and the schedule gets harder very soon. However, if they can bounce back against a Joe Burrow-less Bengals and get through the Browns and Steelers in Europe without any hiccups or injuries, they will still be in a good place.
Editor’s Note: Statistics for this article were found via Pro Football Reference.
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