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Since the previous Mailbag published one week ago, the Vikings have enjoyed the incredible high of a comeback victory on the road against a division foe and endured the low of a disappointing home loss to another NFC team.

Protecting home turf is one of the most important things a team can do, especially when the crowd is like it was Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium — if the squad has aspirations of a special season.

A home loss needs to be offset by a road win.

Minnesota allowed 42 rushing yards on the first two snaps of the game, but the defense found better footing in red zone opportunities, limiting Atlanta to a 1-for-5 showing in the red zone, with the only touchdown scored happening on a play where the Vikings allowed a score to get the ball back with more time on the clock, even though it meant falling behind by the game's final 22-6 tally.

The Week 2 game fell on Atlanta's terms and barely shifted. Each time it seemed like Minnesota was about to sway momentum, the Falcons were able to pull the tug-of-war rope back their way.

The Vikings offense and defense endured multiple injuries, but the team doesn't want that to be used as an excuse.

With tonight's doubleheader remaining in Week 2, the Vikings are one of 11 teams to open the season at 1-1 so far.

There is a lot of football left to be played, but there's also quite a bit to fix for Week 3 when Minnesota hosts Cincinnati (and beyond).

Before we get to the questions, I just want to credit the in-house design team (True North) for some fantastic visuals in executing the first of two Vikings Classic games scheduled for 2025. The other is Week 18 against Green Bay. The elements of the Playbook and supporting graphics are some of my all-time favorites.

Now, we have Legends Weekend on the horizon, and I'm excited about next week's Playbook, too, because it will offer a chance to honor Jim Marshall, the 14-time captain who passed away on June 3 at age 87.

Shifting to comments and questions, folks were understandably not digging how things shook out. I've tried to include multiple perspectives in an efficient way since we're on the heels of a night game for the second consecutive week. The good news is the team (and us staffers) won't be getting back from a road game at 4 a.m. on a Tuesday this week. The bad news is that the injury list significantly expanded on Sunday night.

I am a big J.J. McCarthy fan, but after watching for a couple of weeks, I have to question leaving him in to struggle like this. He needs to learn how to read NFL defenses pre-snap and get the ball out on time. Two weeks in a row that has been a problem. Carson Wentz has always been really good at that single aspect of playing QB in this league. Does it make sense to let J.J. watch and learn from the sidelines for a week or two before putting him back under fire again? Especially with the injuries to the O-line, it feels like asking for an injury to let him stay back there holding the ball for as long as he has been.

— Brian Fletcher

I have a gut feeling that the film study today will reveal some things that need to be reduced (pre-snap logistics and penalties) and some opportunities where the Vikings had great chances to change the flow of Sunday's game.

Whether it's not bobbling a snap, or not missing a protection assignment, or avoiding a drop, or not missing with an underthrow or overthrow.

There's no substitute for time-on-task, but the remedies need to be prescribed as time on the field and in the system increases.

The offensive line experienced significant overhaul in the offseason and also is a group that immensely benefits from time together. Christian Darrisaw was inactive as he continues working his way back from a knee injury suffered in Week 8 of 2024. Justin Skule started for Darrisaw for the second consecutive week but left the game in the concussion protocol. He was replaced by Walter Rouse. Sunday's 12 offensive snaps were career firsts for the 2024 sixth-round pick.

Minnesota also lost starting center Ryan Kelly via concussion protocol. He was replaced by 2024 seventh-round pick Michael Jurgens, who also logged offensive snaps (24) in a regular-season game for the first time.

While Wentz's career experience is a strength and could help offset the lack of experience at other important positions, it is important to develop McCarthy.

I'm sure you're overwhelmed with email. OK, you're missing your center and your left tackle but come on man, this is the NFL. If you can't protect your QB, then roll him out, throw some screens and not the bubble variety, maybe a draw play. I mean is the Falcons defense that good, or is the O'Connell playbook really limited...

I like McCarthy a lot, but it would appear that he could've used a season learning that play book behind another QB. I don't see nerves of steel in those typing eyes, I see panic.

Skol,

— Nicholas Balkou

It's hard to say how good the Falcons defense is at this point, but I think it is likely better than it was last year. Atlanta put forth a substantial effort this offseason to improve its pass rush of a year ago.

Almost any NFL team is talented and capable enough to make another team pay if said opponent does not lock down the details and execute.

For the second consecutive week, Kevin O'Connell lamented the team not having more offensive plays. The best way to get more offensive plays is to move the chains on third down.

The Vikings lack of execution on the fourth-and-1 early and miscues that showed up to vanquish a first-and-goal at the 2 dramatically impacted the game.

The Vikings did dial up at least one screen, but the pass was dropped. There were a couple of other throws that could have kept things going.

Lastly, I'll mention that Falcons Head Coach Raheem Morris overlapped with O'Connell and multiple Vikings assistants at the Rams, so he has a great deal of familiarity with the system.

A great game for the Falcons; the Vikings not so much. [Michael Penix, Jr.] and the Falcons and their defense have some game. It was disappointing for us to start slowly on offense again and to not convert a TD from the 2-yard line. J.J. has to do better than getting sacked 5 times in the first half and giving up three turnovers during the game? Below are my 3 Ups and 3 Downs for the game:

UPS:

1. Very nice 60-yard punt by Ryan Wright in the first quarter. Nice, high 50-yard punt that was fair caught for no return right after halftime. A great job on both of those.

2. Wow. That fastball pass to Justin Jefferson with 2 seconds left in the half. That ball had some serious mustard on it. And it ended up being worth 3 points. Beautiful.

3. The Atlanta receiver strip by Eric Wilson and the fumble recovery. Very nicely done.

DOWNS:

1. The offense starting slowly yet again. First, the botched/fumbled QB sneak on fourth-and-1 from our own 35 and thereby gifting the Falcons a FG. Followed by a quick three-and-out. And then we end up not getting a first down at all until the last play of the first quarter? Our opening scripts don't appear to be as effective this year.

2. More low red zone issues for the offense. First-and-goal at the 2: two handoffs to Mason and we score? But no, instead we get a delay of game penalty, followed by a mishandled ball and then a sack. The Vikings have to be better than that. I expect so much more.

3. The defense gave up too many rushing yards and could not get off the field when it mattered most in the fourth quarter. Atlanta won the game on that long fourth-quarter drive that our defense allowed to happen.

A very disappointing performance overall. Our offense is not what it could or should be. If you can't score with a first-and-goal from the 2-yard line, something is wrong with your schemes, your red zone play calls, and your execution. Looking for much improvement next week against the Bengals.

Respectfully,

— Jeff L.

Wright had a wonderful and consistent game. He totaled (and netted) 204 yards on four punts for an average of 51.0 yards and with a long of 59. Atlanta's returners fair caught all four punts by Wright.

The pass from McCarthy to Jefferson just before the half was execution the team can build from. Jefferson ran a beautiful route to get the DB to bite on an outbreaking path before cutting back inside, and McCarthy uncorked a laser beam that hit Jefferson in stride, allowing him to rack up some yards after catch to move the ball within range of a 51-yard field goal by Will Reichard.

Wilson continued the positive marks he's been making since returning to Minnesota.

Given the investments made by the Vikings to try and help short-yardage rushes, I thought we might see a straightforward run by Mason.

This is the WORST offensive line I've ever seen. I don't understand the hype all summer. A rookie quarterback needs time to throw.

Atlanta had the worst sack numbers last year.

Once again Flores' defense holds us in the game until the fourth quarter. Unfortunately zero adjustments on O'Connell's side of the ball.

Simply put. O'Connell had no game plan. Flores great with 4 missing starters.

Long season coming!

— Kevin Flynn

I don't know that I'd go with "WORST," but I do believe the group is working toward better football than the results yielded on Sunday. It's a construction project that's still in progress.

Watching the game was difficult! But it was a team loss. Poor execution by head coach, by QB, by OL, by receivers, by DC, by defense as a whole! Back to the drawing board. What do the coaches need to do to slow things down for J.J.?

— Unsigned by emailer

I think "execution" is a good choice of words. The focus likely will be placed on O'Connell and McCarthy because of the nature of their positions and how often the quarterback touches the football. The game is the ultimate team sport, and Sunday's outcome reinforced the importance of every player doing his 1/11^th on every play.

Adam Thielen, who ran through the tunnel during intros for the first time since the 2022 season, mentioned that after the game.

"It's kind of one person here, one person there. So it's kind of a collective effort," Thielen said. "Everybody's looking themselves in the mirror at how you can get better. There wasn't from a lack of effort or a lack of preparation. It's just a lack of execution. So that is something that everyone really, truly has to go look inward and just continue to find a way to get better."

The defense gave up some chunk runs against a talented group but did bow up in the red zone to keep things close. There just wasn't enough complementary football. I thought the Falcons special teams groups played exceptionally well in preventing any momentum changers by the Vikings third phase.

One thing we've seen in the past two weeks is clean execution within the 2-minute drills and without much time. McCarthy hit the 28-yarder to Nailor to set up Will Reichard's 59-yard field goal at Chicago and connected with Jefferson for 50 to set up Reichard's 51-yarder on Sunday just before halftime. The 2-minute drill shrinks the playbook and terminology out of necessity. Sometimes you see a team stuck in neutral pivot to a 2-minute drill to get things going. Doing so for a full game isn't likely sustainable because it could create a discrepancy in time of possession, but maybe the Vikings could have worked in that scenario at another point in the game to try to generate more rhythm.

Total domination on both sides of the ball by Atlanta. K.O. needs to learn to adjust and call plays where J.J. can get the ball out quickly. With the pressure they were bringing and K.O. didn't adjust, what did we expect? Too many sacks because J.J. is holding the ball too long. Same thing in our losses last year. A team brings pressure, and we don't adjust. Calling plays that take too long to develop. K.O. has to improve. Penix was getting the ball out quickly. Is J.J. incapable of that, so K.O. has no options? One quarter of good football so far doesn't bode well for the rest of the year. I blame K.O.

The injuries to our O-line only increased the need for KO to make adjustments to protect J.J. And K.O. did not.

— J.B. Brunet

There were a couple of instances where Atlanta thrived with free rushers. The most significant was when Zach Harrison capitalized on a miscue, zoomed untouched and forced a fumble. According to Next Gen Stats, Harrison's sack was recorded in 2.54 seconds, which is the fourth fastest of 2025 (not including anything that happens in Monday's doubleheader).

Penix's average time to throw was 2.82 seconds, compared to 3.35 for McCarthy. Interestingly, Detroit's Jared Goff (3.11), Green Bay's Jordan Love (3.14), Chicago's Caleb Williams (3.16) and McCarthy were the only four starters in Week 2 with an average time to throw above 2.95.

The fastest by a QB (2.42) was by Jake Browning, a former Viking who relieved Joe Burrow in Cincinnati. With Browning potentially starting in Week 3, the Vikings need to have answers if the ball comes out that fast.

Too much pressure. Too many sacks and QB hits. Our defense played a valiant game, but our offense could not generate any sustained drives. We were missing a lot of important players on our team. I really miss Darrisaw. He will make a difference when he returns. We have had a lot of concussions. What can we do to minimize the impact of losing players to concussions?

— Gerald Goblirsch

And…

Darrisaw, Addison, Kelly. Sure. Van Ginkel, Hitman, Cashman. Ouch. But come on. This should have been one of the easier games on the schedule. It was No. 1 in my rankings for ease of victory. No teams are push-overs, but this game should have been a comfortable win with ANY offense. Also, when the Vikings let Harrison Phillips go, my first concern was run defense. Here we are, 1-1, but concerns are much stronger than reasons for excitement right now. Let's get healthy and see what we can do. But the offense simply MUST improve.

Skol!

— Jeff K. in Sacramento, California

The injury list is what it is.

Through just two weeks, the Vikings have had four players enter concussion protocol (Andrew Van Ginkel and Jeff Okudah in Week 1; Ryan Kelly and Justin Skule entered protocol on Sunday night.

Minnesota's defense struggled to establish dominance with so many starters sidelined.

The Vikings are being cautious with Darrisaw, understanding how long an NFL season is and doing their best to see the big picture of what one of the best left tackles in the league will be able to do when ready to return.

McCarthy has the most time-on-task with Addison among Minnesota's receiving options. He must sit out this week but then will be able to return in Week 4.

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