Falcons trample J.J. McCarthy and
the Vikings 22-6 behind Bijan Robinson's running, dominant defense
[September 15, 2025]
By DAVE CAMPBELL
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Bijan Robinson got back to work on the ground,
and the Atlanta Falcons were back in business.
Robinson ran 22 times for 143 yards, Georgia native Parker Romo made
five field goals without a miss in his Falcons debut, and Atlanta
smothered J.J. McCarthy for six sacks and three turnovers in a 22-6
victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.
Tyler Allgeier added 13 carries for 67 yards with a late touchdown
run against a Vikings defense that admirably kept the game close all
night while the offense crossed midfield just three times and only
once got inside the 20.
“For us to be balling like that throughout the whole game, it was
pretty cool to see,” said Robinson, who helped the Falcons (1-1)
keep the pressure off quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and keep the
crowd noise from being a factor after the first quarter.
Penix was 13 for 21 for 135 yards and has yet to commit a turnover
this season.
“He’s selfless. He’ll do whatever it takes to win, which is exactly
what he did tonight,” coach Raheem Morris said.
Robinson and Allgeier thrived all night behind a fired-up offensive
line, culminating in a 12-play, 83-yard drive that took 6:17 off the
clock down the stretch. In an opening loss to Tampa Bay, Robinson
had only 24 yards on 12 rushes, though he caught six passes for 100
yards.
McCarthy, the first-time starter taken two picks after Penix in the
2024 draft whose rookie year was lost to a knee injury, overcame an
interception return for a score in his debut at Chicago by leading
the team to three fourth-quarter touchdowns. There was no late magic
for McCarthy or Minnesota this time in his first game as a father.
“We’ve got a lot to do, and I’ve got a lot to do personally," said
McCarthy, who threw two interceptions and lost a fumble on a sack.
With all of the home-opener hype in the background, highlighted by
another prime-time kickoff and a halftime ceremony for newly minted
Hall of Fame member Jared Allen, the fans were roaring for McCarthy
after his remarkable start.
This time, Penix more got the better of him after McCarthy led
Michigan to the national championship over Penix and Washington two
seasons ago.
Instead of playing it safe and heading into halftime, Vikings coach
Kevin O’Connell showed his faith in McCarthy by calling a dropback
that created a 50-yard pass to Justin Jefferson off a slick double
move toward the middle of the field. That set up Wil Reichard’s
second field goal with a second left and cut it to 9-6 at the break.
But the Vikings kept getting banged up, and the offense just
spiraled further after that.
“We’ve got to find a way to stay on the field longer, because it’s
an important part of how we need to play as a team, especially
against a team like that,” O'Connell said.
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Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Brandon Dorlus (54) sacks Minnesota
Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) during the first half of an
NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP
Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
Falcons draft class dominates
First-round draft picks Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. each
contributed to the five first-half sacks, as an offseason priority
to ramp up the pass rush came into prime-time focus. Atlanta hadn’t
had that many sacks in a half in any game since 2009 against
Washington.
Both interceptions came from rookies defensive backs, too.
Third-rounder Billy Bowman Jr. had a diving grab late in the second
quarter to set up a field goal, and fourth-rounder Xavier Watts made
up for getting burned on Jefferson's long reception by running down
an overthrow by McCarthy on the desperation final drive.
“We’re hungry,” Watts said. “We’re just doing our thing.”
Strong first impression
Romo, who had a four-game stint with the Vikings last year while
Reichard was injured, stepped in for Younghoe Koo after being signed
to the practice squad on Wednesday.
“It’s crazy that I know more of their guys than I do our guys, but
that’s my homework,” said Romo, who's from the Atlanta suburb of
Peachtree City.
Jefferson joins another club
With his 9-yard reception in the first quarter, Jefferson matched
Larry Fitzgerald Jr., the Minneapolis native who played 17 seasons
for Arizona, as the youngest players in NFL history (26 years, 90
days) to reach 500 career catches.
Injury report
Falcons: CB A.J. Terrell Jr. limped off with a left hamstring injury
late in the second quarter and didn’t return.
Vikings: C Ryan Kelly (second quarter) and LT Justin Skule (third
quarter) each left with concussions. Skule started his second
straight game for recovering standout Christian Darrisaw (knee). ...
RB Aaron Jones (hamstring) was injured in the third quarter and
didn’t return. ... With S Harrison Smith held out again, three key
starters were missing on defense. Backup OLB Gabe Murphy (knee) was
hurt in the fourth quarter and was being evaluated for an MCL
injury.
Up next
Atlanta is at Carolina next Sunday, and Minnesota hosts Cincinnati.
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