The Falcons loss in Week 1 is one fans have been experiencing on repeat for the last several decades. Michael Penix Jr. was able to come up clutch on multiple occasions in the fourth quarter, only for his defense, coaches, and special teams to let him down.

Atlanta was beat on the margins. Zac Robinson’s play-calling in critical situations was abysmal. The Falcons had way too many penalties, and gave up several large returns on special teams. For the icing on the cake, Younghoe Koo missed a game-tying 44-yard field goal as time expired.

The Falcons out-gained the Bucs by 100 yards, didn’t turn the ball over, and lost at home. That’s not something that happens to well-coached football teams aspiring for the playoffs, and things don’t get any easier with Atlanta traveling to Minnesota for Sunday Night Football.

Keys To Victory

• The Falcons will once again be at a severe coaching disadvantage. Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores had his way with Zac Robinson and the Falcons offense last season. Flores is one of the best DCs in football, and he’s well aware the Falcons are short-handed across the offensive line. Expect a ton of creative pressure looks to make Penix’s life difficult, something Atlanta’s quarterback did handle quite well against the Bucs. On the other side, Kevin O’Connell is the most underrated head coach in the game. He’s a true quarterback whisperer and is going to make life so much easier on quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who experienced highs and lows in his first NFL start on Monday night.
• Nobody should have much faith that Raheem Morris and Zac Robinson are going to do anything positive come Sunday, but perhaps Jeff Ulbrich can muster up some magic. The Falcons defense was much faster and more aggressive than they’ve been in a long time against the Bucs, and now they get an opportunity to face essentially a rookie quarterback. If the Falcons are going to lose the coaching battle, they need to win the turnover battle.
• Offensively, the Falcons have to establish the run. Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier had just 48 combined rushing yards on 22 attempts last week. Penix was able to consistently save the team with his arm and legs, but that’s not a recipe for success, especially against a defense like Minnesota’s.

X-Factor: Xavier Watts

Falcons third-round pick Xavier Watts was outstanding in his debut. He had several critical stops, but he was also just a couple of inches away from an interception on multiple occasions. Watts had a nose for the football in college, and that was evident in Week 1. With an inexperienced quarterback under center for the Vikings, it might be time for Watts to get that first career interception under his belt.

Prediction

Last season, the Falcons started the season with a disappointing home loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. They then turned back around and won in Philadelphia against the eventual Super Bowl champions, a game that also took place on Sunday Night Football.

Michael Penix Jr. is going to give the Falcons a chance to win every single week, and the defense also played some really inspiring football in Week 1. There’s a path to victory here for Atlanta in what will likely be another tight game decided in the final few minutes. Unfortunately, it’s hard to give the Falcons the nod in any close game right now, especially in a hostile environment on the road. Coaching and kicking fail Atlanta again, as they move to 0-2.

Falcons 20, Vikings 21

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Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire

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