Robinson, Falcons Defense Power First Win of Season vs. Vikings

The Atlanta Falcons leaned on their run game and defense to earn their first win of the season, defeating the Minnesota Vikings 22-6 on Sunday night.

Bijan Robinson carried 21 times for 143 yards, while Tyler Allgeier added 67 yards and a late touchdown. The duo powered Atlanta to 219 rushing yards on 38 carries, keeping pressure off rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who finished 13-of-21 for 135 yards without a turnover.

Kicker Parker Romo, making his debut, connected on all five of his field-goal attempts, giving the Falcons a steady scoring presence while the defense dominated.

Falcons’ Defense Overwhelms McCarthy

Atlanta’s defense smothered Minnesota rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy, sacking him six times and forcing three turnovers. McCarthy fumbled three times — including two unforced drops — and threw two interceptions, one week after leading a dramatic fourth-quarter comeback in Chicago.

The Vikings’ offense crossed midfield just three times and managed only one trip inside the red zone. As a result, they were held without a touchdown for the first time this season.

“This is going to be a process for our team,” Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said afterward. “Our young quarterback is going to make some unbelievable throws, but he’s also going to make mistakes. We need better execution across the board to give ourselves a chance to win.”

McCarthy’s Early Growing Pains

The No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, McCarthy is still finding his footing after missing his rookie year with a knee injury. Through two games, he has completed 24 of 41 passes for 301 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions. His QBR of 20.4 ranks 32nd out of 33 qualified quarterbacks.

Against Atlanta, his off-target rate of 28.6% was the second-worst among NFL starters in Week 2. He also held onto the ball too long, averaging 3.35 seconds before throwing — the highest mark of the week.

McCarthy played behind a patchwork offensive line after center Ryan Kelly and left tackle Justin Skule exited with concussions. The Falcons pressured him on 36.7% of his dropbacks, capitalizing on Minnesota’s lack of protection.

Vikings Stay Confident in Rookie QB

Despite the struggles, McCarthy still carries confidence — and so does his team.

“I’ve got a lot to do personally,” McCarthy admitted. “But I know we’re going to grow together, learn together. This is a journey, and I believe in that wholeheartedly.”

Veteran receiver Adam Thielen echoed that support: “He’s built for this. That’s why they fell in love with him in the draft. We’re nowhere close to losing confidence.”

Looking Ahead

For the Falcons (1-1), the win provides momentum heading into a road matchup with the Carolina Panthers next Sunday.

The Vikings (1-1), meanwhile, must clean up turnovers and third-down execution after converting just 30.4% of attempts through two weeks. McCarthy’s resilience will be tested again as he looks to rebound behind an injury-depleted offensive line.