"This is a team sick of being great in the regular season and bounced in the playoffs. The Vikings now have a 13 and 14 win season to boast about in just three years with Kevin O'Connell at the helm, but no postseason wins; any team worth their salt is not going to take regular season success with no prospect of advancing further. Minnesota didn't."
"The most obvious changes are on offense. The Vikings replaced Sam Darnold, who revived his career with O'Connell's smooth play calling magic, with functional-rookie J.J. McCarthy. McCarthy was drafted in the vaunted quarterback class of 2024, but missed all of last year with an injury. The hope is very much that he's a long-term answer at a position that demands one."
"Atlanta showed improved defensive discipline and plenty to like on offense, but piss poor run blocking, multiple costly penalties, drops, and an ugly missed field goal made it clear how much work needs to be done before they can start really calling themselves a quality team. The Vikings, meanwhile, were a bit sluggish out of the gate defensively and had to fight through three quarters of ugly quarterback play from J.J. McCarthy before he turned it on."
Both teams enter primetime coming off last-second finishes with Minnesota favored but vulnerable. Atlanta showed improved defensive discipline and offensive promise but suffered poor run blocking, costly penalties, drops, and a missed field goal that revealed lingering weaknesses. Minnesota has posted 13- and 14-win regular seasons under Kevin O'Connell but still lacks postseason victories and has adjusted its offense, replacing Sam Darnold with rookie J.J. McCarthy. McCarthy missed last year with an injury but represents a potential long-term solution. The game could hinge on each team correcting early flaws and executing under pressure.
Read at The Falcoholic
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