J.J. McCarthy and Michael Penix, Jr., preparing for another prime-time meeting.

Their first encounter occurred more than 600 days ago, when McCarthy's Michigan Wolverines defeated Penix's Washington Huskies 34-13 in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game (Jan. 8, 2024). The next one was just over 100 days later at the NFL Draft stage in Detroit, with Atlanta selecting Penix eighth overall and Minnesota taking McCarthy two picks later.

The third meetup between the second-year NFL quarterbacks will occur under the bright lights of U.S. Bank Stadium, as the Vikings (1-0) host the Falcons (0-1) on Sunday Night Football. The prime-time matchup on NBC (7:20 p.m. CT) will be the first-ever meeting on SNF between the two teams.

Although McCarthy and Penix haven't spent much time as the designated starters for their respective franchises, it hasn't stopped either QB from making an early impact for their teams and setting some history along the way.

McCarthy earned NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors after leading the Vikings to a dramatic 27-24 comeback victory in Chicago on Monday Night Football in his NFL debut. The 22-year-old set multiple league and team records with three fourth-quarter touchdowns, as Minnesota overcame an 11-point deficit in the final 15 minutes.

Penix nearly rallied the Falcons to victory last Sunday at home against the Buccaneers – leading an 18-play, 91-yard drive in the game's final minutes capped by a Space Jam-like go-ahead touchdown run by the 25-year-old quarterback – but Atlanta ultimately fell 23-20.

Let's see who the experts are picking to win the game:

Vikings 23, Falcons 21 – Pete Prisco, CBS Sports

The Falcons lost a tough one at home to the Bucs, while the Vikings rallied to beat the Bears. J.J. McCarthy played well in the fourth quarter to lead the Vikings back. The Falcons did some good things on offense, and I think that will keep them in this one with another solid showing. Vikings will win a close one, but Michael Penix, Jr., will keep his team in it.

Vikings 21, Falcons 20 – Bill Bender, Sporting News

The Falcons lost a heart-breaker in Week 1, and now Michael Penix, Jr., and J.J. McCarthy will meet for the first time since the 2024 CFP championship game. McCarthy is making his first home start, and that is an advantage knowing the Falcons are 1-3 as a road underdog since last season.

Vikings 30, Falcons 20 – Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News

Michael Penix, Jr., and J.J. McCarthy get a good chance to test their Year 2 skills against each other in similar offensive schemes. Penix was meh in connecting with his top targets in Week 1, while McCarthy will be more locked in at home with Justin Jefferson and with his defense creating some short fields.

5 of 5 experts pick the Vikings, NFL.com

Analysis from NFL.com's Dan Parr:

Michael Penix, Jr., has had some tough luck in the early going of his NFL career, losing his last three starts — two in overtime — despite leading drives to put the Falcons in position to tie the game in the last two minutes of regulation in all three contests. I'm just not sure his luck will change against Brian Flores' defense in Minnesota.

If J.J. McCarthy has indeed put his shaky start to Week 1 completely behind him, the game could boil down to how Penix handles the blitz. No team brings extra rushers at a higher rate than the Vikings since Flores was hired before the start of the 2023 season (45.7%). Penix fared well against the Buccaneers blitz in last week's loss, but his performance in those situations since entering the league (yes, it's a small sample size) has left something to be desired (1:1 TD-INT ratio, 58.3% completions, 79.8 rating on 48 dropbacks).

Now, if big-time disruptor Andrew Van Ginkel (concussion protocol) doesn't play, that would be a help to Atlanta's cause. Flores is about as good as it gets when it comes to scheming up pressure, though.

2 of 7 experts pick the Vikings, Bleacher Report

Bleacher Report analysis by Gary Davenport:

The Vikings and Falcons are polar opposites when it comes to pressuring opposing quarterbacks, and that's going to matter a lot in Week 2.

Add in watching J.J. McCarthy go from totally overmatched to record-setter on the road in his hometown in his NFL debut, and the Vikings are just better.

Bleacher Report analysis by Brent Sobleski:

A missed field goal cost the Falcons dearly in Week 1. However, the offense moved the ball with 358 yards against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Michael Penix Jr. is a far more decisive thrower than Caleb Williams, which will make the Vikings job far more difficult on defense in Week 2, because the Bears QB had multiple throws and plays he outright missed during Monday Night Football.

Penix is more likely to take advantage of those situations, especially against a suspect secondary versus Atlanta's talented group of skill-position performers.

5 of 6 experts pick the Vikings, The MMQB

10 of 11 experts pick the Vikings, ESPN

6 of 8 experts pick the Vikings, The Athletic

Thought from The Athletic's J.J. Bailey:

J.J. McCarthy just finished cramming one of the best quarterback debuts ever into just 15 minutes. Who doesn't want to watch the follow-up act?

5 of 6 experts pick the Vikings, USA Today

Series Notes

Minnesota leads the all-time series between the two teams 22-12, including a 13-5 record at home. The Vikings are 21-25 all-time on SNF (13-11 at home) and have lost six of their past seven in the late Sunday window.

Sunday's game is he third SNF home opener in Vikings history, and the first against a non-NFC North opponent (previous games were 2003 vs. Chicago and 2016 vs. Green Bay in the debut of U.S. Bank Stadium).

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