3 Biggest Risks for Vikings vs. Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons will waltz into U.S. Bank Stadium as 3.5-point underdogs on Sunday Night Football, hoping to erase the memories of a beatdown orchestrated by the Minnesota Vikings at the same building last season.
The Vikings may face dangerous pitfalls in their matchup with the Falcons. Here are three of the biggest risks that could affect SNF.
The Vikings got 2025 to a winning start in Week 1, finagling a 4th Quarter comeback, led by 22-year-old quarterback J.J. McCarthy. Atlanta, on the other hand, failed to convert a game-tying field goal and lost to the rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Minnesota, indeed, is forecasted to win on Sunday night, but these are the three main risks that might prevent that.
What’s Standing in the Way of a Vikings Dub on Sunday Night?
Risks for the Vikings against Raheem Morris’ Falcons.
1. Kyle Pitts Exposing Minnesota’s Depleted LB Corps
The Vikings won’t have Blake Cashman on Sunday after his injured reserve fate this week. Cashman hurt his hamstring in the win over the Bears, and he’s out for at least a month. Then, his teammate, starting linebacker Ivan Pace Jr., didn’t play very well in Week 1, scoring a 30.0 from Pro Football Focus.
Therefore, the middle of Brian Flores’ defense will feature a linebacker who struggled in Week 1 and a backup in Eric Wilson, who actually performed wonderfully in his return to the Vikings.
If a tight end were ever going to feast on Flores’ group, it would be when Cashman is out of the lineup. And while Pitts isn’t a superstellar tight end, he’s always a threat. A big game from him would be a nuisance for Minnesota.
Blogging Dirty‘s Jeffery Robinson noted on Pitts this week: “Pitts was second on the team in targets (8) and produced a solid first week. Seven catches, 59 yards, and 12.9 fantasy points. Unfortunately, Pitts has performed best against the Bucs throughout his career, and won’t face them again until week 15.”
“His usage is exciting, but Darnell Mooney is expected back this Sunday, so keep a close eye on Pitts’ usage against the Vikings. He hasn’t pushed himself into TE1 talks yet, but 12.9 points is a solid start to the final season of hope for Pitts.”
2. J.J. McCarthy Rookie Outing — the Bad Version
Remember from 7:20 PM to 9:15 PM Central Time on Monday night when Minnesota’s offense and McCarthy personally played woefully and looked afraid to attempt big plays?
Yeah, they can’t do that again.
Chicago let Minnesota off the hook for its early-game offensive sins, but most other NFL teams will not. Kevin O’Connell must pretend that Sam Darnold or Kirk Cousins is his quarterback when calling plays, and just let it fly with McCarthy. O’Connell’s “underneath” offense is feckless and counterproductive.
There’s also the possibility that McCarthy doesn’t play like a killer every game, as he did in the 4th Quarter on Monday night. If he fires up a standard rookie outing, well, Minnesota could lose.
McCarthy told reporters this week about facing Falcons signal-caller Michael Penix Jr., whom he played in the National Championship two years ago: “I’m extremely excited to see him again and compete against him. He’s a great player, and it’s going to be a good test for our defense.”
“I love Michael. Just being able to be with him during the pre-draft process, and really understanding his process and who he is as a man and his personality. It’s no surprise he’s in the position he’s in right now.”
McCarthy also said about Week 1: “That’s the best feeling in the world, when you grind out a win and you celebrate with your teammates and your coaches and all the guys that put in the work to have that outcome come to fruition. Definitely looking forward to a lot of things, but seeing all the purple in the stands at the end of the day. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”
3. Explosion by Bijan Robinson
The Buccaneers couldn’t slow Robinson through the air — he tabulated 100 receiving yards — but they did apply the brakes on the ground, allowing the prolific tailback to accrue just 24 rushing yards in Week 1. It’s probably why Tampa Bay narrowly won the damn thing.
Robinson is habitually a threat to wreck a game, and although Minnesota’s run defense is not a weakness, it doesn’t have huge run stuffers that many defenses employ.
Therefore, Robinson could explode against Minnesota, reducing the chances of a Week 2 dub.
In fact, this is Robinson’s third game against the Vikings in his young career, believe it or not, and he’s never totally tormented Kevin O’Connell’s squad. One could argue that he’s due.
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