Falcons vs. Vikings 2025: SNF Preview, Key Matchups, Fantasy Football Insights (2025)

The Atlanta Falcons dominated the Minnesota Vikings 22-6 in a game that didn’t see a touchdown scored until there was only 3:22 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Parker Romo, making his Falcons debut after replacing Younghoe Koo, was a perfect 5-for-5 on field goals while Bijan Robinson racked up a total of 168 yards from scrimmage.

Atlanta’s defense recorded six sacks, tied for its most in a game since 2018, and forced J.J. McCarthy into turning the ball over three times.

There are still two games remaining on the Week 2 slate and The Athletic will have live coverage of both the "Monday Night Football" matchups.

At 7 p.m. ET the Houston Texans will host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, followed by the Los Angeles Chargers vs. the Las Vegas Raiders at 10 p.m. ET.

From hours before kickoff through the final whistle and beyond, we'll have you covered with the latest news, play-by-play, reactions, analysis and more!

See you then ...

After earning their first win of the season, the Falcons will travel to Carolina to face the Panthers next Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.

Minnesota will stay home and prepare to face the Cincinnati Bengals, who are likely to be without Joe Burrow, on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.

Parker Romo was 5-for-5 on field goals just five days after the Falcons signed him off the street.

With veteran Younghoe Koo struggling, Atlanta tried out several kickers Tuesday and signed Romo, a Georgia native who was 11-of-12 for the Vikings last year in his only previous NFL action. Romo then won a kicking competition against Koo in practice during the week and was elevated from the practice squad to the active roster yesterday. Koo did not make the trip to Minnesota for the game, and his future with the team seems in doubt after Romo’s perfect effort against the Vikings.

Romo’s first four kicks were all from between 29 and 38 yards, but his fifth kick was a 54-yarder that gave Atlanta a two-possession lead with 11:16 left in the game. Koo had been the Falcons primary place-kicker since 2019.

The best news of the night for Atlanta was the play of its young defenders. Rookie edge rushers Jalon Walker (1) and James Pearce Jr. (0.5) and second-year defensive linemen Brandon Dorlus (1.5) and Ruke Orhorhoro (0.5) all had their first career NFL sack or share of a sack. Veteran free-agent addition Leonard Floyd (1) added his first sack as a Falcon and Zach Harrison (1.5) had a strip-sack of J.J. McCarthy in the fourth quarter to give the Falcons six as a group.

Rookie defensive backs Billy Bowman and Xavier Watts each added their first career interception on top of that. Bowman’s was a diving grab that gave Atlanta possession at the Vikings’ 38-yard line in the second quarter, and Watts sealed the win with one in the fourth quarter.

Tom W.: Looks to me like Sam Darnold was a coach whisperer. Kevin O'Connell's team looks pathetic.

Michael M.: Vikings turned a win-now 14-win team over to a rookie quarterback that barely threw the ball in college. A lot of people have confidence in Kevin O'Connell but it’s gonna be a rough year. Through two games, the offense has only looked good for seven minutes.

Harpreet S.: Don’t let Kirk Cousins leave Minnesota tonight!

Vince G.: This was one of the roughest games (for both teams) I can remember watching over recent history…

Matthew R.: If McCarthy was elite he would have been throwing way more in college. Harbaugh loves the run but he wouldn’t hide a true talent. He wasn’t throwing cause he wasn’t good enough.

According to Next Gen Stats, the Falcons defense pressured J.J. McCarthy 16 times tonight, including six sacks. They generated pressure on 53.3 percent of his dropbacks, the highest rate by Atlanta in a game since Week 15 of 2018.

Six different pass rushers recorded at least three pressures.

In the absence of Jordan Addison, Jalen Nailor has filled in admirably as the Vikings WR2.

Tonight he was targeted five times, catching three passes for 31 yards. He caught a 17-yard pass from J.J. McCarthy that gave Minnesota first-and-goal but they were unable to punch in the touchdown on that possession.

Nailor could have also had a long touchdown tonight but he was overthrown badly after torching a Falcons defensive back on a vertical route.

Justin Jefferson has done a pretty good job keeping his cool over the first two weeks of the season, getting used to life with the youngest starting quarterback in the NFL.

Today, "Jettas" was targeted six times, catching three passes for 81 yards. A major chunk of this yardage came on one play as he reeled in a 50-yard pass to help set the Vikings up for a field goal right before halftime.

For you fantasy owners out there, have some patience. Jefferson surely wants to produce as badly as you need him to. It's only a matter of time before J.J. McCarthy settles in a bit and one of the best receivers in the league gets back to producing like it.

Jordan Mason was the featured running back in the Vikings offense in their Week 1 and that was the case again today, although Minnesota did not run the ball much. The 26-year-old received nine carries, running for 30 yards compared to just five carries for 23 yards from Aaron Jones.

It feels like Kevin O'Connell wants to get Mason involved more often but game script has not allowed that to happen just yet.

Even though it was a muted performance for the Falcons passing attack, it's clear that Kyle Pitts will continue to be a focal point for this team and Michael Penix specifically.

The tight end tied for a team-high five targets, catching four passes for 37 yards in the process.

After receiving 15 targets in Week 1, Drake London only saw four targets against Minnesota tonight.

His first catch of the game was an 18-yard gain but he fumbled, giving possession to the Vikings.

London would not record another reception until the fourth quarter, making two timely catches to help the Falcons seal their win. He finished the night with three catches for 49 yards.

It wasn't just Bijan Robinson who cooked on the ground for Atlanta. Tyler Allgeier had a heck of a night himself.

The 25-year-old rushed for 76 yards on 16 carries, scoring the only touchdown of the game for either side. He is a powerful, physical runner who provides a strong complement to Robinson, giving this team two quality backs.

Bijan Robinson is one of the most special runners of the football I have ever seen. His speed, agility and balance at his size is truly generational and tonight, he shouldered a majority of the Falcons offense.

In fact, he had more rushing yards (143) than Michael Penix had passing yards (135). Robinson set the tone on the Falcons' first possession, breaking off consecutive big runs to help Atlanta take an early lead, which they never surrendered.

Against a strong Minnesota defense, he averaged 6.5 yards per attempt on 22 carries.

J.J. McCarthy was the hero in his NFL debut. Week 2 against the Falcons was a different story ...

He completed 11-of-21 passes for 158 yards, throwing two interceptions and losing a fumble. He was under duress all night, getting sacked six times in total. McCarthy missed way too many throws tonight, including overthrowing Jalen Nailor on a play that could have swung the game in the second half.

The comeback he led last week was exhilarating but maybe expectations got too high, too quickly for the youngest quarterback in the NFL.

The offense was abysmal. That's 7-of-8 quarters with just no rhythm or fluidity.

The defense fought. A lot of searching probably after this one, especially for the O.