NFL 2025 Week 2: Vikings Will Fight Falcons for 2-0 start
What’s better than a win? Another one (insert DJ Khaled voice here).
That’s what the Vikings will be seeking in their second primetime game in a row as they face the Atlanta Falcons in a Sunday Night Football fight in Week 2. After scraping together an improbable comeback last week at Chicago, they’ll have the chance to move to 2-0 and kickstart their 2025 season. Here’s what to watch for in Week 2 when the Vikings hope to flatten the Falcons.
Keys to the Game for KOC’s crew:
Will McCarthy step up or falter?
After three quarters of the Week 1 game against the Chicago Bears, it looked like quarterback J.J. McCarthy wasn’t ready for the moment. He ate three sacks, he couldn’t convert a third down, and he threw an ugly pick-six to Nahshon Wright at the start of the third quarter that gave the Bears a two-score lead.
The fourth quarter changed all that. McCarthy looked like a man possessed as he led the Vikings to 21 unanswered points. He scored on three drives in a row via two passing TDs and a 14-yard rushing TD. He finished with 13 completions on 20 pass attempts for 143 yards, a respectable stat line to go with his TDs, but his slow start didn’t inspire complete confidence that he’s the QB who can lead this team to its first franchise Super Bowl win. McCarthy’s performance under primetime pressure will undoubtedly be the main one to watch on Sunday night. If he steps up and shines, Vikings fans will give him their trust. If he stumbles along again, concerns could rise about how far the Vikings can go with McCarthy steering the ship.
Is Jordan Mason the main man?
Running back Jordan Mason didn’t disappoint in his Vikings debut. He was reliable for the inconsistent Vikings offense. He started the game behind Aaron Jones but quickly took over the lion’s share of rushes, ending with seven more carries than Jones. His production backed up that decision, as he finished with 68 yards and picked up some crucial first downs on the Vikings’ scoring drives.
This sits in stark contrast to Aaron Jones’ opening performance. The 30-year-old had just 23 yards on eight carries and struggled to find running lanes. He did have three receptions for 44 yards and scored the go-ahead 27-yard receiving TD for the Vikings, but his rush attempts were subpar. J.J. McCarthy had more rushing yards than Jones and scored a rushing TD. Unless you’re playing with Lamar Jackson, your QB outrushing your lead RB usually isn’t a recipe for success.
Will Mason be the main man in the backfield come Sunday? It’s certainly something to keep an eye on, whether you’re a Vikings fan or a fantasy football manager.
Prediction
A 24-17 De-Feathering of the Falcons
The Vikings' defense only gave up 17 points last week, and even if the offense struggles to start, the home-field advantage will give McCarthy a boost. The Falcons had an impressive showing against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 1, but their run game struggled to take any pressure off QB Michael Penix Jr. If he has to throw a lot, I think Brian Flores’ scheme will force him into a silly mistake that will cost the Falcons the game.
Vegas has the spread at -4.5 in favor of the Vikings, but they win by seven. Expect the Vikings to head into Week 3 with another tally in the win column, but I wouldn’t brace for a blowout.
Vikings 24, Falcons 17