Falcons run over Vikings, spoil home opener as J.J. McCarthy struggles

The Atlanta Falcons beat the Minnesota Vikings 22-6 on Sunday night at U.S. Bank Stadium, handing the Vikings a home-opener loss as rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy struggled under pressure.

McCarthy, making his second NFL start, completed 11 of 21 passes for 158 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions and was sacked six times. Atlanta relied on a balanced attack and steady kicking as Parker Romo, the team's new kicker after Younghoe Koo was benched following Week 1, converted all five of his field-goal attempts, including a 54-yarder.

The only touchdown of the game came on a five-yard rush by Tyler Allgeier late in the fourth quarter, and the contest otherwise was decided by field goals in a game both teams had trouble converting in the red zone. Atlanta's Michael Penix Jr., who started for the Falcons, completed 13 of 21 passes for 135 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions and missed opportunities that could have otherwise changed the game's trajectory.

Falcons running back Bijan Robinson carried the offense on the ground, rushing 22 times for 143 yards to lead both teams. Wide receiver Drake London led Atlanta's pass-catchers with 49 yards on three receptions.

For Minnesota, Justin Jefferson had 81 yards but was targeted sparingly, catching three passes. Jefferson was visibly frustrated on the sideline after McCarthy's second interception on the Vikings' final drive. The Vikings' offense struggled to find consistent rhythm after last week's late comeback in Chicago, which McCarthy engineered in his first start.

Atlanta's defense applied frequent pressure throughout the evening, and Minnesota's inability to establish a rushing attack forced McCarthy into difficult down-and-distance situations that contributed to sacks and turnovers. The Falcons' special teams provided steady scoring while Atlanta avoided mistakes in its own territory.

Romo's five field goals accounted for 15 of Atlanta's points, supplementing Allgeier's touchdown and the team's control of field position. The victory was Atlanta's first of the season; Minnesota dropped to 1-1 after winning in Chicago last Monday.

The teams now turn their attention to next week's matchups. The Vikings are scheduled to visit the Cincinnati Bengals, who are expected to be without quarterback Joe Burrow after he suffered a toe injury Sunday. The Falcons will face NFC South rival the Carolina Panthers on the road next Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.

The game underscored questions for Minnesota about offensive consistency and pass protection and highlighted Atlanta's ability to lean on its rushing attack and reliable kicking in a low-scoring affair.