In Week 2, the Atlanta Falcons and Minnesota Vikings will face off in primetime on Sunday Night Fight at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC.
Below, we'll break down our Falcons vs. Vikings Sunday Night Football predictions for NFL Week 2, plus NFL DFS picks and projections to target on PrizePicks.
The Falcons came up short against vs. the Buccaneers after a botched field goal attempt, while the Vikings erased an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter vs. the Bears to notch their first win of the season.
As these two teams head to U.S. Bank Stadium, all eyes will be on QBs J.J. McCarthy and Michael Penix Jr. — both 2024 first-round draft picks — as they go head-to-head once again. McCarthy has the leg up after beating Penix in the 2024 College Football Playoff.
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Falcons vs. Vikings Prediction, Preview for Sunday Night Football
This Week 2 matchup between the Falcons vs. Vikings on Sunday Night Football has the makings of a must-watch. Two young and promising QBs look to write another chapter in their rivalry against each other, and both teams looking to find their footing as full-time starters.
McCarthy, after being named NFC Offensive Player of the Week in Week 1, will make his home debut for the Vikings just days removed from orchestrating a wild fourth-quarter comeback against the Bears and welcoming his first child.
On the other side, Penix steps in with momentum from his near-300-yard Week 1 effort, aiming for his first win of 2025 after heartbreak on the Bucs game-winning drive in Week 1.
Both franchises spent first-round picks in 2024 to start a new era, and both young quarterbacks have unfinished business from their college days. Minnesota’s defense, helmed by Brian Flores, will test Penix with creative blitzes, while RB Bijan Robinson’s dynamic playmaking looms as Atlanta’s biggest x-factor.
Atlanta Falcons Preview
Atlanta enters Week 2 still stinging from a gut-wrenching 23-20 loss to Tampa Bay that slipped away in the final moments. Baker Mayfield’s dime to rookie WR Emeka Egbuka put the Bucs on top with less than a minute to go, which sealed the Falcons' fate after a missed FG by Younghoe Koo.
Penix showed he belongs on the big stage, with 298 yards passing and clutch fourth-down conversions that had Mercedes-Benz Stadium rocking as he put the Falcons in position to tie it in the final seconds.
Now comes the real test, can Atlanta channel that Week 1 heartbreak into fuel for a primetime statement game? The Falcons have all the pieces — explosive skill position talent with RB Bijan Robinson and WR Drake London, a defense hungry to prove doubters wrong, and a QB who's already shown he won't flinch under pressure.
Minnesota Vikings Preview
Minnesota takes the field in Week 2 with confidence surging after J.J. McCarthy electrified fans in his NFL debut, rallying the Vikings to a dramatic win over Chicago.
This Vikings offense was slow out of the gate; the jitters of an NFL debut in front of your friends and family, on the road against a divisional foe, showed early. McCarthy struggled, going 5-for-8 for 48 yards, 11 rushing yards, and taking 2 sacks, scoring just 6 points at halftime.
The Vikings' offense struggled through the 3rd quarter, but once the 4th quarter hit, it was McCarthy's speach in the huddle that really turned things around. According to RB Aaron Jones, McCarthy said in the huddle, "is there anywhere else you’d rather be?" — that seemingly lit a fire underneath the team as they battled back.
He then fired two passing touchdowns; one to Justin Jefferson (4 receptions, 44 yards, 1 TD) and a beautifully thrown ball to Jones (67 total yards, 1 TD) on a fade route, as well as rushing in a third score to commence the comeback and down the Bears 27-24.
This Vikings team will look to keep the momentum going as they welcome the Falcons to U.S. Bank Stadium for their home opener on Sunday Night Football.
Falcons vs. Vikings Picks for NFL DFS on PrizePicks
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Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy Projection: 16.5 Fantasy Score
Things were quite scary early for McCarthy fantasy managers, but in the end, he finished the night with 22.22 fantasy points (QB12) after his fourth-quarter comeback against Chicago.
McCarthy showcased his dual-threat abilities in Week 1, with 25 rushing yards on two rushes — a plus for his fantasy upside.McCarthy’s fantasy ceiling is high on a week-to-week basis with weapons like Justin Jefferson, WR Adam Thielen, TE T.J. Hockenson, and even RB Aaron Jones at his disposal in the backfield. Both Thielen and Hockenson had slow starts to the season in Week 1.
However, Thielen was productive in 2024 with 61.5 yards and 4.8 receptions per game with 5 TDs in a limited season due to injury. As for Hockenson, in his last injury-free season back in 2023, he finished the season with 95 receptions, 960 yards, and 5 TDs.
If these Vikings playmakers make that step forward in Week 2 and this revamped offensive line keeps McCarthy upright — allowing no sacks in the second half against Chicago — the potential is there for McCarthy on SNF.
Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr. Projection: 15 Fantasy Score
Michael Penix Jr. delivered a strong Week 1 fantasy outing, finishing as QB10 with nearly 300 passing yards, a TD through the air, and another on the ground.
He operated with precision, completing 27-of-42 passes, while spreading the ball to six different targets without a turnover.
Penix’s was impressive in extending plays with his legs, giving him an added floor — he had six rushes for 21 yards and a TD last week.
With both Drake London and WR Darnell Mooney expected to play in Week 2, Penix has the weapons at his disposal if he can handle the Flores' blitz packages.
If Atlanta’s fast-paced offense stays aggressive, Penix’s high passing volume and red zone mobility could keep the fantasy fireworks going even with Minnesota’s pressure-heavy defense looming.
Vikings WR Justin Jefferson Projection: 73.5 Receiving Yards
WR Justin Jefferson enters Week 2 as Minnesota’s premier playmaker, coming off a 44-yard, one-TD opener. In two prior games against Atlanta, he’s totaled 16 catches for 298 yards and 4 TDs — an average of 149 yards per game.
The Vikings’ passing attack flows through him — especially with WR2 Jordan Addison suspended, and McCarthy’s aggressive downfield tendencies (11.0 YPC) give Jefferson ample upside. With Jefferson’s ability to separate and win over the middle, another big performance is well within reach.
Make Sunday Night Football Picks on PrizePicks
The Falcons will look to shrug off their Week 1 misfortune and leave Minneapolis with their first win of the new era with Penix as the starter. Meanwhile, the Vikings' rookie sensation McCarthy will look to captivate the home crowd and build momentum in his second start.
This Week 2 Sunday Night Football matchup is shaping up to be a can't miss opportunity for NFL fans to finish Sunday's games.
No matter how you think this plays out, you can win real money with PrizePicks with your Sunday Night Football predictions; just pick 2 to 6 players, predict More or Less on their stats, and cash in when you're right.
