12 Quick Takes from the Vikings Loss to the Falcons
The Minnesota Vikings displayed a festival of ineptitude — close to all around — on Sunday Night Football, failing to maintain the momentum from a memorable 4th Quarter comeback over the Chicago Bears six days prior.
Here are 12 quick reactions from the Vikings’ loss to Atlanta. From big plays to missed chances, a rapid-fire look at what stood out.
The Atlanta Falcons took care of business [and then some] over the purple team, prevailing in Week 2 by a score of 22-6.
Amid a comedy of lowlights, these are snap reactions to the event
Snap Reactions to Falcons at Vikings
Minnesota must flush Sunday Night Football on Monday.
1. Mama said there’ll be days like this. There’ll be days like this, Mama said.
This would always be the way it must go down for a 22-year-old quarterback — a bumpy ride with highs and lows, peaks and valleys. J.J. McCarthy is not the exception to the rule, and barring an instant and unlikely turnaround, Minnesota does not have “last year’s Jayden Daniels” on its hands. McCarthy’s development and maturation will take time — a lot of it.
Fans must soul-search and decide if they can be patient. Reacting to every game as the ultimate litmus test on his future trajectory just isn’t sensible or productive.
2. The Vikings must win two out of the next three games if they want to be considered a playoff contender. Without Joe Burrow next weekend, followed by winnable contests overseas against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns, that threesome is the easiest stretch Minnesota will see until 2026.
After those games and the bye, murderer’s row begins on the schedule and basically doesn’t relent. Win two out of the next three, and this season doesn’t have to be lost.
3. Dallas Turner played well with Andrew Van Ginkel not in the lineup, logging a sack and tackle for loss. He wasn’t a Pro Bowler on Sunday night, but he looked like he belonged, which is important for a 22-year-old outside linebacker.
4. We tend to write about this factoid after 75% of Vikings games: the rushing offense just wasn’t up to par. Jordan Mason led the way with 30 rushing yards on 9 carries. Minnesota will never — ever — be a serious Super Bowl contender if it can’t run the ball competently.
Eventually, it would be the one thing that could sink Kevin O’Connell as a head coach — never executing a worthwhile rushing offense.
5. The game was over when McCarthy missed Jalen Nailor on the sideline bomb. As a 22-year-old, he’ll connect sometimes on that throw; sometimes he won’t. That single transaction was the difference between a dreadful game and a would-be sweet comeback tale, as folks watched against the Bears on Monday Night Football.
Onlookers have to hope that McCarthy hits that throw about 60%-80% of the time in 2025. Otherwise, this will be a long season.
6. T.J. Hockenson isn’t really used in the Vikings’ gameplan. He fired up one garbage time reception. The man is the fourth-most expensive tight end in the world. O’Connell must factor him into the offense, or McCarthy must throw in his direction. There is no reason to pay him $16.5 million per season if he does nothing on a team that desperately needs able pass catchers.
7. Minnesota was flogged in the Time of Possession battle, underwater by holding the ball for just 23.5 minutes to Atlanta’s 36.5. When the split is that outrageous, the short-end-of-the-stick TOP team loses nearly every time, unless it’s hitting on monster plays, which Minnesota did not.
8. Everything was so damn sloppy. Almost-fumbles, real fumbles, botched … everything. Poor tackling. Refusing to run the ball on the 2-yardline.
9. The injuries are stacking faster than Vikings fans’ rage on social media.
Ordinarily, the outlook might be, “Get back on your horse and ride,” but with all the injuries mounting, Minnesota will continue to have a skeleton crew on gamedays. Last year’s relative good health is turning into a “pay the piper” situation in 2025.
10. Aaron Jones has a hamstring injury, and if that’s an injured reserve trip — too early to tell — Minnesota will likely sign Cam Akers and call it good. Doesn’t that feel like the most logical outcome?
11. Bijan Robinson gashed the Vikings for 143 rushing yards. His buddy, Tyler Allgeier, had 76. When that happens, the other team is almost guaranteed to lose. The key to winning on Sunday night was containing Robinson, and Brian Flores’ defense did the opposite. The statsheet suggests Minnesota should’ve lost by more, believe it or not.
12. The offensive line did McCarthy no favors, and it’s another roster spot rocked by injuries. In fact, it could look like this in Week 3:
Walter Rouse (LT)
Donovan Jackson (LG)
Michael Jurgens (C)
Will Fries (RG)
Brian O’Neill (RT)
If so, that group will need thoughts and prayers against Trey Hendrickson and friends.
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