NFL
By Steve Rogers
The Minnesota Vikings are fresh off a stunning 4th quarter comeback on the road in primetime. They did so in dramatic fashion on the strength and leadership of their young star in the making as the franchise already a team captain quarterback JJ McCarthy. Yes, in the first half and even the first series of the third quarter, his first career touchdown went to the other team via a pick-six interception. So the Vikings escaped the as usual suspect sod conditions of Soldier Field with a much-needed win. The Vikings are now 1-0 in the NFC North.
Wow is it week two already? Oh right, the Vikings are losing a day to go from one primetime Monday night road game to a Sunday night primetime home opener. The Vikings are welcoming the visiting Atlanta Falcons. This game highlights some interesting intertwined historical story lines.
Let’s run through some of the history between the Vikings and Falcons. In 1998 the Falcons again came to Minnesota in the NFC championship game. The Vikings were 15-1 with one of the greatest offenses EVER. The game is known as ” The Kick” as Morten Anderson hit a 38-yard field goal in overtime to send the Falcons to their first Super Bowl appearance. However, in Minnesota, it’s known as “The Miss” as Mr. Automatic Gary Anderson who hadn’t missed a field goal ALL year missed a shocking identical 38-yard attempt.
Just three short years later and the Falcons are back in Minnesota this time with a number one draft pick making his first full year as the starting quarterback. Who was this guy oh just one of the most electric and dynamic dual-threat quarterbacks the NFL has ever seen in Michael Vick. On December 1 2002 Vick made history by setting the record for rushing yards by a quarterback in a single game with 173. He set that record due to his overtime game-winning 46-yard touchdown run.
Speaking of quarterbacks there are some more juicy nuggets of nuance. Former six-year starting quarterback for the Vikings Kirk Cousins is returning to Minnesota as a member of the Falcons but he’s their backup so he’s unlikely to play. The guy he’s backing up is yet another first-round draft pick with dynamic talent in his second year making his first full year as the starting quarterback and is also named Michael. Michael Penix Jr is now the Falcons’ starting quarterback. Penix Jr was drafted eighth overall and the fourth quarterback taken in the 2024 draft. Two spots ahead of the Vikings’ own top 10 first-round pick quarterback JJ McCarthy.
These two young talented quarterbacks McCarthy and Penix Jr also have a history together and will be facing each other for a second time. Back in college these two met in the college national championship game. Yes, McCarthy and his Michigan Wolverines won over Penix Jr and the Washington Huskies.
The Vikings’ first home game of the 2025 season is their second primetime game. This is McCarthy’s second career start. This is the second time in the last three games McCarthy will be going up against Penix Jr. This is the second time the Vikings and Falcons have faced each other since Cousins went to the Falcons and the Vikings moved on to McCarthy.
This is a winnable game again for the Vikings. Offensively they might have a slight edge. The Vikings should have a slight edge on defense as well. However this week the offense of the Falcons presents a different set of challenges than last week against the Bears.
The difference between Bijan Robinson and DeAndre Swift is a lot. Robinson is a difference maker on both the run and passing game from the running back position. He is going to have to be a focal point for Brian Flores and his defense to try to slow down.
This should be another good test for the Vikings team. The offensive line might get a boost from the return of LT Christian Darrisaw from a knee injury suffered last year. That should help give McCarthy cleaner pockets to pass from. The totality of the balanced running attack the Vikings present with Aaron Jones Jordan Mason and the sneaky athletic mobility of McCarthy will be a key factor in the win for the Vikings. Final score 31-24
