No matter how you slice it, the Minnesota Vikings’ loss to the Atlanta Falcons last night was an ugly affair. Their high-powered offense couldn’t move the ball on the ground or through the air. Their banged-up defense missed multiple tackles and couldn’t stop the Falcons’ rushing attack that struggled last week. Minnesota coach Kevin O’Connell appeared powerless to turn the tide.
Some of it can be chalked up to a Vikings team that was missing several starters from the outset and had more fallen soldiers as the night progressed. And Minnesota quarterback J.J. McCarthy still has a thing or two to learn before he becomes a consistent, productive NFL quarterback. It’s no time to panic, but the Vikings have some specific areas of concern.
Vikings are a Banged-Up Team
Okay, this is overstating the obvious, but the number of missing Vikings against Atlanta was a significant factor in their defeat. On defense, they started the game without edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel, inside linebacker Blake Cashman, cornerback Jeff Okudah, and safety Harrison Smith. On offense, Pro-Bowl tackle Christian Darrisaw missed his second straight game, and although not injured, suspended wide receiver Jordan Addison was notable by his absence.
As the game wore on, center Ryan Kelly (concussion), running back Aaron Jones (hamstring), Darrisaw’s replacement at left tackle, Justin Skule (concussion), and edge rusher Jonathan Greenard (oblique) all went down with injuries. This not only took continuity away from the Vikings’ offensive and defensive units, but it left McCarthy wide open to additional pressure, as evidenced by the Falcons’ six sacks for the game.
Tackling was Horrible
Atlanta’s running attack ate up the Minnesota defense, but the Vikings hurt themselves with the high number of tackles they missed. The interior line was especially porous last night as defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave provided little resistance to the Falcons’ offensive line.
And Eric Wilson, subbing for Cashman, was out of position during several of Atlanta’s longer gains on the ground. Inside linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. missed five tackles, and it was clear that the Vikings sorely missed Cashman and Van Winkel.
Minnesota is Missing Jordan Addison
Wide receiver Jordan Addison missed his second of three games as he serves a league suspension for a 2024 DUI arrest. This factored into the outcome in two noticeable ways. First, without Addison in the lineup, Justin Jefferson was blanketed with coverage by the Falcons’ secondary. The other Vikings receivers could not consistently create space between themselves and their defenders to take the heat off of Jefferson.
Jalen Nailor did a serviceable job, but wideout Adam Thielen and tight end T.J. Hockenson could not break free often enough for McCarthy to find them consistently. With Addison suspended for another contest, they will need to up their game to help the Minnesota offense out of its lethargic start.
Michael Penix Jr. is Lights Years Ahead of Caleb Williams
To give credit where credit is due, second-year Atlanta quarterback Michael Penix Jr. had the Falcons offense running smoothly all night. Although the Falcons’ offense only punched one across the goal line, Penix did enough to put his kicker, Parker Romo, in close enough range to boot five field goals.
He certainly looked more poised than last week’s opposing quarterback, the Chicago Bears’ Caleb Williams. He threw crisper passes and looked nimbler in the pocket than the Chicago signal caller. And after a dismal game last week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Atlanta’s running back combo, Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgier, ran over the Vikings to the tune of 219 rushing yards.
J.J. McCarthy is a Young NFL Quarterback
Unfortunately, the Vikings announced today that McCarthy will be out of action for two to four weeks due to a high ankle sprain. He injured it last night on a third-quarter scramble near the sideline. The recently acquired, much-traveled Carson Wentz will take McCarthy’s place in the lineup.
And although J.J. had a rough go of it last night, throwing two interceptions and putting the ball on the carpet three times, it’s important to remember that he came into last night after sitting out all of last season with a knee injury and only starting for one full season at Michigan. And it didn’t help that his offensive line was springing leaks on pass protection all night. Trust that when he returns, coach O’Connell will prepare him properly for the road ahead.
Road Ahead
The Vikings stay at home next week to play the Joe Burrow-less Cincinnati Bengals. The hope is that Darrisaw, Smith, Van Ginkel, and Okudah will be healthy enough to return to action. Minnesota needs to get its ship pointed in the right direction, and perhaps the veteran Wentz can provide some stability to the offense. And if a few of their injured defenders return, the team should significantly improve on its ability to tackle the opposing ball carriers.
