The Atlanta Falcons kicked their way to a 22-6 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night. The team failed to score a touchdown until the final minutes, and settled for field goals on four out of five red-zone trips.
However, aided by rookies and young players, the Falcons defense didn’t fold and never allowed the Vikings to claim a lead at any point. In the end, the defense had six sacks and forced a total of four turnovers. We haven’t seen an effort like this on defense in years, and the team used it to secure a much-needed win in a tough road environment.
Here are this week’s defense-heavy studs and duds from the Falcons’ Week 2 win over Vikings.
Stud: James Pearce Jr.
A week after leading all rookies with the most quarterback pressures, James Pearce Jr. recorded his first career sack, combining with Brandon Dorlus to bring down J.J. McCarthy. For a selection that was heavily criticized, Pearce sure seems to be working out in Atlanta’s favor. The former Volunteers edge rusher has helped change the mindset of the team’s pass rush.
Stud: Bijan Robinson
If the Falcons didn’t have Bijan Robinson, they wouldn’t have had anything on Sunday night. It’s hard to find a player who does more for an offense than Robinson. He rushed for 143 yards on 22 carries and added another 25 receiving yards against Minnesota. He’s the Falcons’ workhorse, and will continue to be. Last week, he did it through the air. In Week 2, he showed why he’s arguably the most elusive running back in the NFL.
Dud: Red-zone offense
You can’t win games in the NFL without having an offense that knows how to score when in the red zone. This gap in the offensive structure is what allowed the Vikings to stay close to Atlanta. The Falcons got lucky that their defense played as good as it did in the end, but this needs to be corrected immediately. You can’t kick your way to wins every week.
Stud: Brandon Dorlus
Dorlus and a handful of others are worthy after Sunday night’s performance. The second-year defensive lineman was a problem for the Vikings all night long. Dorlus had 1.5 sacks, which was tied for the team lead with Falcons defensive lineman Zach Harrison in Week 2. Kaden Elliss, David Oneymata, Divine Deablo and Ruke Orhorhoro each deserve a mention as well.
Stud: Jalon Walker
Walker also got his first career sack on Sunday night. While the first-round pick out of Georgia didn’t have the debut he wanted, his performance against Minnesota showed that upside that scouts once raved about. Walker’s third-down sack in the red zone was one of the key moments in the game, and kept the Vikings from scoring a touchdown in Week 2.
Stud: Billy Bowman Jr.
Billy Bowman Jr. was another Falcons rookie who played a big part in the road win over the Vikings. Bowman recorded his first career NFL interception and was so close to getting his second as well. We may be two weeks into the season, but this 2025 draft class is already paying dividends. Hopefully it’s a trend that contuses as the season progresses.
Dud: Drake London
Drake London, while making an incredible catch, had a fumble that could’ve cost the team. Luckily, nothing really came from the fumble but London needs to be better about securing the ball. After the fumble, it also took London a while to get back into the game as he didn’t record another reception until the fourth quarter. It wasn’t his week, but it also didn’t need to be.
Practice Squad Stud: Parker Romo
Romo was a perfect five-for-five on field goals for the day, and all five of them mattered. The game was close until the Falcons secured a nine-point lead after Romo’s fifth field goal. You don’t want to rely on a practice squad kicker to score the majority of your points, but Romo will likely be on the 53-man roster soon enough.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Falcons defeat Vikings: Studs and Duds from Week 2