NFL Overreactions Week 1
Sports Seriously’s Mackenzie Salmon overreacts to some of the best games of NFL Week 1.
Sports Seriously
The Atlanta Falcons and Minnesota Vikings play on Sunday, Sept. 14, at the Vikings’ U.S. Bank Stadium in a game on the NFL Week 2 schedule.
Which team will win the NFL Week 2 Sunday Night Football game?
Check out these NFL Week 2 picks and NFL Week 2 predictions for the game, which can be seen at 5:20 p.m. MST on NBC (stream on Peacock).
The Vikings are a 4.5-point favorite over the Falcons in NFL Week 2 odds for the game, courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook.
Minnesota is -210 on the moneyline, while Atlanta is +170. The over/under (point total) is set at 45.5 points.
Watch Falcons at Vikings live on Peacock
Jeremy Cluff writes: “J.J. McCarthy and Michael Penix Jr. faced off for Michigan and Washington in the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship. This game doesn’t have quite the same stakes, but it will have the same result. McCarthy’s team wins, but just barely.”
Bookies.com: Bet the Vikings to cover vs Falcons
Bill Speros writes: “Two QBs taken in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft take center stage in prime time. Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr. continues his first season as QB of the present and future. But the Falcons still can’t beat Tampa Bay. The Falcons’ defense has even more to prove. J.J. McCarthy’s rookie campaign ended before it began in training camp last season. The Vikings defense behind Brian Flores tips the scales for the home team.”
Bet MGM: Take the Vikings to cover vs Falcons in NFL Week 2
Nick Hennion writes: “Based on the Vikings’ matchup edges and Michael Penix’s lack of experience against good defenses, my lookahead Vikings vs Falcons prediction is the Vikings Spread (-4.5, -110). Initially, my interest here sided with Atlanta. After all, it’s a brutal spot for the Vikings on the heels of a road Monday night spot. History reinforces the notion. Since 2005, road teams with a spread of +2.5 to +6.5 and a rest edge of +1 are 53-22-2 ATS (70.7%), assuming the favorite played on the road the previous week.”
ESPN: Vikings have a 63.2% chance to beat Falcons on Sunday Night Football
The site gives the Falcons a 36.5% shot at winning the NFL Week 2 game, with the remaining percentage accounting for a tie.
Dimers: Vikings 25, Falcons 21
It writes: “After extensive simulations, our model gives the Falcons a win probability of 33%, while the Vikings have a win probability of 67%.”
Sportsnaut: Vikings 28, Falcons 24
Matt Johnson writes: “If the Atlanta Falcons are going to beat the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday Night Football, it will be thanks to Bijan Robinson. Minnesota did a good job limiting him in their matchup last season (101 scrimmage yards on 24 touches); however, the Vikings’ run defense (127.7 rush yards per game allowed, 4.7 yards per carry) was a major liability from Weeks 13-18 last season. Unfortunately for Atlanta, it still lacks the pass rush to make J.J. McCarthy uncomfortable, and Justin Jefferson (7-132-2) should feast on the Falcons’ secondary once again.”
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Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
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