The Atlanta Falcons and Minnesota Vikings clash in Week 2 at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday night, setting the stage for a rookie quarterback showdown.
It’ll be the first meeting between 2024 first-rounders Michael Penix Jr. (No. 8 pick) and J.J. McCarthy (No. 10 pick) under the primetime spotlight of Sunday Night Football.
Atlanta enters looking to bounce back after a heartbreaking Week 1 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where kicker Younghoe Koo missed a potential game-tying field goal on the final snap. Minnesota, on the other hand, rides momentum after erasing a deficit to topple the Chicago Bears on Monday night, now gearing up for its second consecutive primetime test.
| Date | Sunday, September 14, 2025 |
| Time | 8:20 pm ET / 5:20 pm PT / 7:20 pm CT |
| Venue | U.S. Bank Stadium (Minneapolis, Minnesota) |
| TV Channel | NBC |
| Streaming | Fubo, Peacock |
| Buy Tickets | Stubhub |
| Odds | Falcons +185 | Vikings -225 |
Minnesota Vikings vs Atlanta Falcons roster & injury news
Minnesota Vikings team news
J.J. McCarthy put together a well-rounded outing in prime time, completing 13 of 20 throws for 143 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception while also flashing his legs with a rushing score and 25 yards on the ground. Jordan Mason handled the bulk of the work in the backfield, tallying 68 yards on 15 carries. Through the air, Aaron Jones Sr. and Justin Jefferson each found the end zone, with Jefferson leading the team in catches (4) and yards (44).
On the defensive side, Joshua Metellus paced the unit with six total tackles, four of them solo, while Javon Hargrave made his presence felt in the trenches with two big sacks.
As for the injury front, Minnesota has several key names to monitor ahead of Week 2. Defensive end Elijah Williams, safety Harrison Smith, running back Zavier Scott, linebacker Blake Cashman, and corner Jeff Okudah are all listed as questionable, which could leave the Vikings shorthanded in some crucial spots.
| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| Offense | QB: Max Brosmer, J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz; RB: Ty Chandler, Aaron Jones Sr., Jordan Mason, Zavier Scott; WR: Jordan Addison, Tai Felton, Justin Jefferson, Jalen Nailor, Myles Price, Adam Thielen; TE: T.J. Hockenson, Josh Oliver, Ben Yurosek; C: Ryan Kelly; G: Blake Brandel, Will Fries, Joe Huber, Donovan Jackson, Michael Jurgens; OT: Christian Darrisaw, Brian O'Neill, Walter Rouse, Justin Skule |
| Defense | DE: Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, Elijah Williams; DT: Jonathan Allen, Javon Hargrave, Jalen Redmond, Levi Drake Rodriguez; LB: Blake Cashman, Chaz Chambliss, Jonathan Greenard, Austin Keys, Kobe King, Ivan Pace Jr., Bo Richter, Dallas Turner, Andrew Van Ginkel, Eric Wilson; CB: Dwight McGlothern, Byron Murphy Jr., Jeff Okudah, Isaiah Rodgers; S: Theo Jackson, Joshua Metellus, Harrison Smith, Tavierre Thomas, Jay Ward |
| Special Teams | PK: Will Reichard; P: Ryan Wright; LS: Andrew DePaola |
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Atlanta Falcons team news
Michael Penix Jr. turned in a strong performance in just his fourth career start, throwing for 298 yards and hitting Bijan Robinson on a 50-yard screen pass for an early touchdown. Penix also showcased his mobility, tucking it in for a late rushing score that gave Atlanta a 20-17 edge with just over two minutes to play. But the Falcons couldn’t hold on—Tampa Bay answered with a touchdown drive of their own, though a missed PAT kept the door open.
With six ticks left, kicker Younghoe Koo had a chance to force overtime from 44 yards, but his attempt sailed wide right. In the aftermath, Atlanta brought in former Vikings kicker Parker Romo to the practice squad to push Koo and possibly shake things up.
Robinson remains the engine of this offense, even on a day where the ground game sputtered. The young star finished with 100 receiving yards, making him the go-to threat. Penix’s top target, Drake London, picked up a shoulder injury in Week 1 and is listed as day-to-day, while Darnell Mooney—sidelined with a similar issue—could return this week. If either pass-catcher can't go, it tilts things in Minnesota’s favor. Kyle Pitts and Ray-Ray McCloud both chipped in with over 50 yards, giving Penix other outlets in the passing game.
Up front, Atlanta's line has some question marks. With longtime center Drew Dalman gone, Ryan Neuzil has stepped in, while the absence of right tackle Kaleb McGary (leg injury) forced Elijah Wilkinson into the starting role. That patchwork unit gives the Vikings’ defensive front some prime matchups to target heading into Sunday night.
| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| Offense | Kirk Cousins, Michael Penix Jr. (QB); Tyler Allgeier, Nathan Carter, Bijan Robinson (RB); Jamal Agnew, KhaDarel Hodge, Drake London, Ray-Ray McCloud III, Darnell Mooney, David Sills V, Casey Washington (WR); Feleipe Franks, Kyle Pitts Sr., Teagan Quitoriano, Charlie Woerner (TE); Matthew Bergeron, Jovaughn Gwyn, Kyle Hinton, Chris Lindstrom, Ryan Neuzil (G); Michael Jerrell, Jake Matthews, Jack Nelson, Elijah Wilkinson (OT) |
| Defense | Leonard Floyd, Zach Harrison, LaCale London (DE); Brandon Dorlus, David Onyemata, Ruke Orhorhoro (DT); JD Bertrand, Divine Deablo, Arnold Ebiketie, Kaden Elliss, DeAngelo Malone, James Pearce Jr., Jalon Walker, Josh Woods (LB); Dee Alford, Natrone Brooks, Mike Ford Jr., Mike Hughes, Clark Phillips III, A.J. Terrell Jr. (CB); Jessie Bates III, Billy Bowman Jr., Jordan Fuller, DeMarcco Hellams, Xavier Watts (S) |
| Special Teams | Younghoe Koo (PK), Bradley Pinion (P), Liam McCullough (LS) |
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Minnesota Vikings vs Atlanta Falcons head-to-head record
The history between the Vikings and Falcons has stretched across 34 meetings, including a pair of postseason clashes. Minnesota holds the upper hand in the rivalry, coming out on top 22 times, while Atlanta has managed 12 victories of its own.
Watch and live stream Vikings vs Falcons in the USA
The Vikings vs Falcons game in Week 2 of the 2025 NFL season will be broadcast live nationally on NBC. Fans will be able to catch the coverage onFubo (In-market only) and Peacock.
More details on where to watch the game in the United States, including streaming options, will be released soon, so keep an eye out for our dedicated coverage.
Watch and live stream Vikings vs Falcons worldwide
For fans outside the U.S. looking to stay plugged into the action,NFL Game Pass on DAZN is the ultimate ticket. It serves up more than 200 regular-season and playoff matchups, complete Super Bowl coverage, plus access to NFL Network, NFL RedZone, and plenty more to keep you locked in all year long.
To bypass regional restrictions or to access the game if you are travelling abroad, you can watch the action using a Virtual Private Network like ExpressVPN.
How to buy Vikings vs Falcons tickets
The showdown between the Vikings and the Falcons is set for U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, a venue that packs in up to 66,860 fans and promises a fiery atmosphere on game day.
Tickets are already up for grabs on StubHub, with entry starting at $386. From there, prices climb through the tiers — $300, $400, $500, $600, $700, $800, $900, $1,000, and stretching all the way into the premium ranges of $2,000, $3,000, $4,000, $5,000, $6,000, and topping out at $10,406 for the best seats in the house.
Check the link below for the full breakdown of how to purchase tickets to NFL games.
READ MORE: NFL 2025 Tickets: Prices, deals, season tickets & membership information
Vikings vs Falcons Fantasy Football
The outlook for Michael Penix coming into the year was simple: Atlanta would need to air it out, and his legs could add extra fantasy value. In Week 1, that script played out.
Penix wrapped up the opener as QB10 with 24.0 fantasy points. He ranked QB15 in passing points per attempt (0.379), but his volume — 42 throws, fifth-most in the league — boosted the final tally. While he didn’t lean heavily on his mobility, he still chipped in 21 rushing yards and notched his first career rushing score. The big worry for Atlanta’s passing attack remains the offensive line shuffle.
Rookie J.J. McCarthy had the expected growing pains in his first career start. He opened slowly, hitting just 5 of 8 passes for 48 yards with one passing first down before halftime. Things got worse after the break when he tossed a pick-six on his first attempt of the third quarter, leaving Minnesota down 17-6. From there, though, he responded impressively, going 8 of 11 for 95 yards, firing two touchdown passes, and adding a 14-yard rushing score. By the final whistle, McCarthy landed as QB12 with 20.1 fantasy points and showed enough spark to be viewed as a matchup-dependent QB2 in Week 2.
Fantasy Takeaways:
- Bijan Robinson remains a strong RB1, with Atlanta’s short passing game maximizing his explosiveness despite offensive line concerns.
- Jordan Mason and Aaron Jones Sr. split work as expected for Minnesota, with Mason touchdown-dependent and Jones offering PPR upside.
- Drake London should return from his shoulder issue, and with Darnell Mooney back, London looks like a volume-driven WR1.
- Justin Jefferson reaffirmed his WR1 status with a touchdown, while T.J. Hockenson is a touchdown-or-bust TE1 in the new offense.
- Younghoe Koo has been unreliable, failing to top nine fantasy points in nine straight games and now faces a kicker-stingy Vikings defense.
- Will Reichard is a safer bet, with the Falcons giving up nearly nine fantasy points per game to kickers — making him a potential top-10 play.
Vikings vs Falcons Game Predictions
Two young quarterbacks from the 2024 NFL Draft headline the spotlight in prime time. Michael Penix Jr. is already being groomed as Atlanta’s present and future under center, though the Falcons are still searching for answers after another stumble against Tampa Bay. Their defense, meanwhile, has plenty left to prove. On the other side, J.J. McCarthy is finally getting his rookie season underway after last year’s training camp injury kept him sidelined.
Backed by Brian Flores’ aggressive defense, Minnesota looks to tilt the balance in their favor at home. According to ESPN’s projections, the Falcons carry just a 36.5% chance of victory in this Week 2 showdown, with the remainder chalked up to the slim possibility of a draw.
Vikings vs Falcons Betting Odds
Spread
Falcons +4.5 (-110)
Vikings -4.5 (-110)
Moneyline
Falcons +185
Vikings -225
Total
OVER 44.5 (-110)
UNDER 44.5 (-110)
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