Defense shows up, Bijan shows out, and Romo delivers.
Sep 15, 2025
The Atlanta Falcons went into Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings with a few questions nagging at them: Will the Falcons use their much-talked-about offensive line and run the ball? Will new kicker Parker Romo renew faith in the Falcons’ kicking game? Will anything resembling a pass rush finally show up?
A few hours after Carrie Underwood led viewers through her usual pre-taped performance of “Waiting All Day For Sunday Night,” Falcons fans didn’t have to wait too long for an answer to those questions.
The offensive line, though not picture perfect, got them enough points to stay ahead of the Vikings, Romo proved himself to be more than proficient in getting the ball through the goal posts, and the Falcons can now say they have a bona-fide defensive game.
As a result, the Falcons, for the first time since three days before Christmas last year, finally got some gridiron “Satisfaction”, beating the Vikings in their house 22-6. Fans didn’t need another “Emotional Rescue” from another Dirty Birds loss. (Shoutout to the Stones!)
Bijan Robinson is the Baller of the Game. He got 143 rushing yards out of 22 carries. Plus, 3 catches, with 25 receiving yards. The Vikings only got 198 total yards.
Romo was perfect, and that’s not just a statement. He was 5 of 5 in his field goal kicks. 6 of 6 if you count the point after attempt he successfully made. His breakout performance last night likely bought incumbent kicker Younghoe Koo a seat next to backup QB Kirk Cousins for the rest of the year. (His contract is up in 2026.)
And then there’s the reappearance of something we haven’t seen a lot of from these Falcons, mojo sacks. 5 of them! All in the first half. Two from Leonard Floyd, one from Jalon Walker, half credit sacks for James Pearce Jr. Ruke Orhorhoro, Brandon Dorlus, and Billy Bowman Jr. All rookies. Add Bowman’s 2nd quarter interception of a JJ McCarthy throw, and you have a huge defensive showing by these rookie young guns.
In fact, Falcons senior reporter Tori McElhaney pointed out that the first half’s output of sacks is the most in ANY half of a road game since the 5 sacks the Falcons got in the first half of their November 24, 2002, where they shut out the Carolina Panthers 41-0, when Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” was the top song in the U.S.
And to further underscore the Falcons’ defensive line triumph, NextGenStats said that at one point, the defense had a 60% pressure rate, the peak of the Falcons’ defensive output since NGS started ten years ago.
For these Falcons, coming off a week where the low-hanging clouds of defeat hung over Flowery Branch after the Bucs’ loss, a convincing victory Sunday night against a tough opponent was like a day with blue skies and sunshine.
“It’s absolutely a great Monday,” said Coach Raheem Morris.
Great Sunday nights tend to do that for you.
Notes:
-QB Michael Penix Jr. went 13 of 21 pass attempts for 135 yards. No touchdowns. He did better than his Vikings counterpart JJ McCarthy, who got 158 yards but threw two interceptions. No turnovers for Penix Jr.
-Kyle Pitts, Jr., who couldn’t buy any action in previous seasons, has been getting quite a workout lately. On Sunday, he got four touches for 37 receiving yards.
-A.J. Terrell suffered a hamstring injury and had to leave the game. No word yet on his status.
-The Falcons can take these good vibes from this win with them to Charlotte when they take on the NFC South cellar-dwelling Panthers.
