After losing the home opener last week, the Falcons (0-1) hit the road to take on the Minnesota Vikings (1-0), who tamed the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football.
Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy had a busy week, following the birth of his first child with his fiancee. He was one of the heroes in Minnesota’s win, bouncing back from a shaky first half to lead the offense.
The Falcons’ defense will have a challenge, with All-Pro receiver Justin Jefferson leading the charge.
The Falcons were driving again, with a couple of good plays by tight end Kyle Pitts, and were in position to add some more points to the scoreboard.
But after a nice throw and catch from Michael Penix Jr. to Drake London was complete, but London fumbled when the ball was punched out of his grasp at the Vikings' 30.
Pitts has played well, with three catches tonight, but the Falcons will have to capitalize and build on the momentum they're creating with good field position.
Make it two for kicker Parker Romo, who made a 28-yard field goal to make it a 6-0 advantage for the Falcons.
The Falcons' defense had a big stop on a 4th-and-short against the Vikings, and with the turnover on downs, the offense again drove into the red zone, getting to the Vikings' 10 before a pair of incompletions left them with another field-goal try.
It feels like the Falcons are letting opportunities slip away, with a couple of golden chances inside the 15 and only coming out with six points.
Then again, making both field goals is a step forward too.
It didn't take long for new Falcons kicker Parker Romo to get his first field-goal try. After the Falcons drove to the Vikings' red zone and got to 4th-and-2 from the 15, a penalty for delay of game pushed them out of position to go for it.
Romo's 38-yard field goal put the Falcons in front, 3-0, at the 11:12 mark.
It's always special to see the home team on primetime TV — well, most of the time.
When they play well, it's an opportunity for them to shine and for fans to tell their friends around the league, "Hey, look at us!" Then, there are those other times, when they don't show up, when it's an embarrassment.
I've been there many times watching my hometown Detroit Lions, especially on Thanksgiving Day every year. It could be the same with the Falcons, who will have five primetime games this season, beginning tonight against the Vikings.
Wondering who the Falcons' new kicker is? Here's a primer on Parker Romo, who is succeeding Younghoe Koo after last week's miss:
10 things you need to know about new Falcons kicker Parker Romo
After losing the home opener last week, the Falcons (0-1) hit the road to take on the Minnesota Vikings (1-0), who tamed the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football.
The Falcons had a chance to send the game to overtime, but a missed field goal in the final minute sealed their fate, falling behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to start the season.
Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy had a busy week, following the birth of his first child with his fiancee. He was one of the heroes in Minnesota's win, bouncing back from a shaky first half to lead the offense.
The Falcons' defense will have a challenge, with All-Pro receiver Justin Jefferson leading the charge.
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