The Minnesota Vikings' plans to move to 2-0 in the 2025 season came to a crashing halt on Sunday Night Football, as J.J. McCarthy was unable to replicate his National Championship victory when Michael Penix Jr. and the Atlanta Falcons pulled off a dominant 22-6 win.
Even though the Vikings are 1-1 after a late comeback against the rival Chicago Bears, alarm bells are starting to go off in Minnesota. The Vikings have played eight quarters this season, and they have been a thoroughly below-average team in seven of them.
Should fans who expected Minnesota to once again challenge for a postseason spot after a 14-3 campaign last year be up in arms after the sluggish start, or is patience warranted?
Minnesota Vikings panic meter after tough loss to Atlanta Falcons in Week 2
Quarterback Room
6/10
On one hand, McCarthy is essentially a rookie making his first few starts behind a beat-up offensive line. On the other hand, he's in one of the most explosive offenses in football one year after milking 35 touchdowns out of Sam Darnold. McCarthy will likely be fine long-term, but he can't afford too many more games like this.
McCarthy's injury has opened a path for Carson Wentz to start for the next few weeks. As maligned as he has been, he is a high end backup with a history of production in the NFL.
Head Coach Kevin O'Connell
2/10
While O'Connell deserves some criticism for calling many long-developing pass plays with a neophyte quarterback that lacks protection, anyone who is using these two games as a reason to take shots at one of the best coaches in the league is being overly dramatic.
Defensive Line
6/10
This certainly looks like a defensive line that is still adjusting after trading Harrison Phillips away to the New York Jets. While Javon Hargrave made some big plays in the Bears game, a unit led by him, Jonathan Greenard, and Jonathan Allen shouldn't get the stuffing knocked out of them in the way Bijan Robinson did on Sunday.
Offensive Line
9/10
McCarthy defenders have one very firm ground for complaint, as his has been playing behind a beat-up offensive line that will likely be down to their second center and third left tackle this early into the season. Things won't pick up until all the starters are back to full health.
Aaron Jones
7/10
Jones looked nothing like the player who had a career resurgence last season, so much so that it is fair to wonder if Jordan Mason may have earned even more attention at the tip of the hypothetical Minnesota spear.