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00:00So let's keep that theme going for a young man born in Tennessee, grew up in the Tampa area, had success in high school, was known around there, then went to Indiana for injury-plagued season, showed so much promise, energized that Hoosier program, then Washington for two years, and after taking the Huskies, the national championship game was the eighth overall pick, and a surprise pick, because the Falcons had just paid Kirk Cousins a whole lot of money to be their quarterback of now, and they drafted the quarterback of the future.
00:30Who is the quarterback now?
00:32Takes over at the 23, and B. John Robinson goes up to the 30-yard line, gave him about seven.
00:39You know, it was interesting talking, and there's Kirk Cousins over there, who's handled everything just beautifully.
00:44The transition has to be hard, and he's feeling better now, right, Mike, than he's felt.
00:49So whenever he gets an opportunity, expect a different-looking Kirk Cousins.
00:54But talking about Penix with Raheem, he was basically saying, we went out to Washington State to work him out on a freezing day.
01:03Almost anybody else would have opted out.
01:05Not only did he do it, he was brilliant, threw the heck out of the ball, and we knew we had something special.
01:12Second and three.
01:13It's run by Robinson for a couple of yards.
01:16It'll be third and one.
01:17Here's Melissa.
01:18Yeah, Mike, I asked left tackle Jake Matthews about Michael Penix this week, and the word he kept using to describe him was poise.
01:25Jake said Michael's confidence in the huddle and commanding the offense speaks to his ability as a football player, but also about his character.
01:32And Jake simply described him as a stud and said he can't wait to give him more opportunities to make plays.
01:37Almost everyone who's been around him has just walked away super impressed.
01:43And that veteran Matthews, in year 12 in the league, seen a bunch of quarterbacks, likes what they see so far.
01:50Third and inches, Algier, the inside for the first down.
01:54Tyler's got it at the 35-yard line.
01:58Chris, we saw one of the starts.
01:59So we had three starts at the end of last year.
02:01Penix took over.
02:03They lost the game at Washington.
02:04Then they lost the last game of the season, those two overtime games.
02:08And then last week when they lose to Tampa, a missed field goal keeps them from overtime.
02:12He's played well in his first four NFL starts.
02:14Well, he had the go-ahead touchdown last week.
02:16He had the go-ahead touchdown in Washington when we were watching him out there.
02:20And then they go down and score the other way.
02:22So he's done his job.
02:24It just hasn't worked out to win the games yet.
02:27But they all look at him as the guy now, no doubt.
02:30Play action.
02:32Pressure from pace is picked up by Robinson.
02:34But nobody opened downfield.
02:36And Penix taken down by Dallas Turner.
02:39That's the man they're hoping to get going.
02:42More time for the injured Andrew Van Ginkle.
02:44And a sack and a loss of nearly 10.
02:47Oh, this is going to make some people happy in Minnesota right here.
02:52It took a little while to get there.
02:54But as Penix was playing dodgeball with other people, ran right into Turner.
03:00And that's big time.
03:01If they can get that third-edge player out there when Van Ginkle comes back, it could be exciting.
03:08He was a first-round pick.
03:09They have high, high expectations.
03:11He can cover, too.
03:12He's a good dropper.
03:13Second and 20, and the throw underneath for Ray Ray McLeod.
03:22Nothing doing as Eric Wilson forced the fumble on the last drive.
03:27There to make it third and long.
03:28There to make it third-edge player out there for Ray McLeod.
03:58Субтитры сделал DimaTorzok.
04:28The exotics on one side we knew about the Minnesota Vikings and what they would be able to do but Atlanta has come back on the other side and sort of matched exotic for exotic so it's really turned into a really interesting defensive game against these young quarterbacks Bradley Pinion kicks to the rookie out of Indiana Miles Price 46 yards Price good tackle well covered his special teams units done a good job it's the second
04:58time we shout out Mike Ford Jr. for a special teams play a lot of folks kicking back and enjoying maybe one last summer ride on one of the beautiful lakes in Minnesota
05:2894% the highest for Atlanta since 2018 2018 this is a team that has forever chased sacks or people who can put pressure on the quarterback they've been the worst in the NFL over the last five or six years and they look a little different out here tonight.
05:47And they've got a new center in for Minnesota Michael Juergens no offensive snaps last year second year in the league didn't play in week one helping to block there for Aaron Jones who gets out to the 20.
05:59Why is Juergens in Melissa?
06:00Yes that is because Viking center Ryan Kelly is being evaluated right now for a concussion he went into the medical tent with the independent concussion specialist who then came out looked at the monitor and sent him to the locker room where he remains now meanwhile J.J. McCarthy did take a couple of practice snaps on the sideline with Michael Juergens.
06:19So Kelly veteran four time pro bowler started 123 games out inexperienced Juergens there and that pressure came right through Juergens for the pass completed to Thielen for the first down at the 25 yard line.
06:34It's a really big deal Mike it is when you have a second year guy playing quarterback like McCarthy so many of the calls run through the veteran center they were so excited they thought Ryan Kelly was going to be a big player and a big contributor.
06:47He's been much more than that because he's been around the league and you've got a young quarterback and he can just rely on Ryan Kelly now I think McCarthy is taking a little different approach itself and trying to just get the ball out of his hands don't take those hits play action here protected for the moment and that throw is intercepted if inbounds by Billy Bowman Jr.
07:12He landed on the body comes down inbounds and Bowman comes up with the interception.
07:18He was a ball hawk in his college days at Oklahoma had 11 career picks on the field is an interception first down Atlanta.
07:27I think that's right in any way you want to look at it that looks right to me and the one thing that when you talk to Jeff Albrecht he was so excited about Billy Bowman he said you know what I might put him on Jefferson because he is so sticky when he gets connected to a receiver he is just on him he's not the fastest he's not the quickest he's not any of that.
07:52But when he gets connected to a receiver they don't get off of him and you saw it exactly right there Kevin O'Connell and J.J. McCarthy going back over every interception is its own story trying to get to what happened there what he saw now the great opportunity for Michael Penich Jr.
08:12and the Falcons have outplayed the Vikings in this first half only lead by three as this Robinson run to the 35 will take us to the two minute warning comes at 159.
08:26Falcons up three with the ball in great field position after the pick.
08:30Coming up on the Toyota Halftime a historic afternoon of scoring and the Eagles overpowered the Chiefs in a Super Bowl rematch coming up next Mike.
08:41All right Maria thank you also a whole bunch of close games as you look outside U.S. Bank Stadium another tight one here.
08:49It's been a first two weeks of tight games around the National Football League was one score games nineteen of the first twenty nine decided by eight or less every mistake amplified.
09:05J.J. McCarthy is just throwing a pick and now Michael Penich Jr. in the Falcons two timeouts have it at the thirty five second and seven.
09:14J.J. McCarthy got a great jump maybe too good a jump as a flag is thrown and then a second one after that two flags two separate fouls to figure out.
09:28First one certainly offside on Grenard who's feeling the worst of that.
09:33And they're coming to look at the veteran defensive lineman.
09:37That's a big deal because they already are without Andrew Van Genkel.
09:40There are two fouls on the play offside defense number fifty eight holding offense number seventy one.
09:48Those penalties offset replay second down.
09:53Athletic training staff out to look at Grenard.
09:59The hold was a result of the offsides.
10:02He was out of position so he felt like to keep his quarterback safe he had to do something.
10:07So flag thrown there they offset they look at Grenard and we'll step out for a moment.
10:20And Peacock we think St. Porphyum Theater here in Minnesota for the Sunday night welcome.
10:27And that's a welcome sight to the fans of Minnesota.
10:30Jonathan Grenard quickly checked in the tent and now back out with his helmet looking to get back out on the field.
10:38So the offsetting penalties get us back to second and seven.
10:43Here with a buck fifty six left in this first half.
10:48John Robinson cuts it upfield and gets very close to the first down.
10:54As Ivan Pace brings him down.
10:55That's twenty eight Grenard back in for the Vikings.
11:00Vikings kind of caught a break on that last one really wasn't much of a hold at all on Elijah Wilkinson.
11:06We got the benefit of the offset for the jumping offsides.
11:15Got a foot short of the first down.
11:18Tyler Algier the back.
11:23Caleb McGarry the right tackle who's been there the last six years was in.
11:27They run it right behind him with Algier to the right.
11:30Stands Algier to the left and it works.
11:33First down to the nineteen yard line for Algier.
11:36That time Ivan Pace took a chance tried to shoot the gap in there and make a play in the hole and they go opposite and created that space in there.
11:52So there was an opportunity but just good running on the other side.
11:56Vikings will try to come up with another red zone stop in terms of touchdowns.
12:01They've done it a couple of times in this first half.
12:04Penix out quick to the lefty finds Algier on the sideline.
12:08Fifteen yard line.
12:10Still a couple of timeouts in thirty six seconds.
12:12Minnesota for bookkeeping did lose a timeout on that injury earlier.
12:16I really like watching Michael Penix get the ball out of his hands.
12:20Very very quick release.
12:22Big strong arm.
12:23He has one heck of a future in front of him.
12:25And now trying to pay this one off.
12:28Neither one of these offenses have been very good down here in the red zone.
12:32And you're also going to get some likely exotics now out of the Vikings.
12:40Lake London down at the bottom of your screen.
12:42The favorite target for Penix.
12:44Who's going left side to the end zone.
12:47Nothing cooking there.
12:48Good coverage.
12:49Isaiah Rogers came over to this team from the champion Eagles.
12:53Third down coming up.
12:54When we talk about exotics this is what we're talking about.
13:00They're going to cross the linebackers and rush everybody else.
13:03Now you've got to hold up and man coverage.
13:05When you do that on the back end of it.
13:07A lot of pressure now on these corners.
13:10And remember Jeff Recudo who was their third corner out of this one.
13:14Harrison Smith also out at safety.
13:16Kyle Pitts out left for the lefty Penix.
13:26Third and six.
13:29Penix scanning.
13:30Throws.
13:31Incomplete.
13:32Tried to get it to Ray Ray McLeod.
13:35And the coverage came from Dwight McLaughlin.
13:37Second year man out of Arkansas.
13:39Who did not play any defense a week ago.
13:42But he was there when needed.
13:43And another field goal attempt coming.
13:45Yeah McLaughlin was that guy that they felt like this was his week.
13:50Hey dude you've been around here for a year now.
13:52You got it.
13:53Show me something.
13:54And he did right there.
13:55That was the biggest play of the half.
13:58Parker Romo the kicker who's taking over at least this week for Young Way Koo.
14:02And it'll still be a battle going forward for the next few weeks.
14:05He's an Atlanta area kid.
14:06Born in Peachtree City.
14:08He's called that area home for 17 years of his life.
14:11And this 33 yard field goal by Romo is good.
14:17So he's made all three of his attempts in his Falcon debut.
14:219 3 Atlanta.
14:22We're back in 30 seconds.
14:23After this from AWS.
14:25Here's a great shot of what we were talking about before.
14:32The beautiful roof.
14:33The natural light that comes in here during the daytime.
14:36At U.S. Bank Stadium.
14:38Posted Super Bowl among other big events.
14:419 3 here.
14:41Chris.
14:4225 seconds for the Vikings who will get the ball to start the second half.
14:46Because Atlanta won the toss.
14:47And instead of deferring took the ball to start the game.
14:50Yeah.
14:52Hey.
14:53They gave Tom Brady a chance in the Super Bowl.
14:55He was young.
14:55Let's go.
14:56See what he's got.
14:58I mean it really is.
14:59It's like you want to put these guys in as many pressure situations as you can early in the year.
15:04Let's go.
15:05Let's find out.
15:06Miles Price.
15:07See what he does with his kickoff return.
15:08From the 5.
15:11Trying to work it to the wide side.
15:14That usually doesn't work out.
15:16So now not only 18 seconds.
15:18We're back at the 20 yard line.
15:21You refer back to Brady in that first Super Bowl when he just decided that we're going to go for it.
15:26And they end up getting the win.
15:27Won that Super Bowl on a game winning Vinatieri field goal.
15:29But also what you do is if you're going to do that you're going to check down a couple and do it.
15:33But that kick took a lot of time off the clock.
15:35So I don't know.
15:36And you didn't get it out past the 20 yard line.
15:38So now probably be a little more conservative.
15:41We're finding with these kick returns how a good kick return.
15:4435-40 yard changes everything you can do.
15:46Especially at the end of a half.
15:48No question.
15:50So McCarthy takes over at the 20.
15:52You see his numbers in this first half.
15:55High snap from the new center.
15:57McCarthy has to protect the ball as he has sacked again.
16:00It's 5 for the Falcons in this first half.
16:03And that is Brandon Dorlis.
16:06The guy who was giggling earlier comes up with a sack.
16:09But the Falcons have an injury in the secondary.
16:11This has not been a good half for the Minnesota Vikings.
16:19And you can tell it is just McCarthy's trying to get it figured out.
16:25They've thrown a lot of different looks at him.
16:27They've thrown a lot of different stunts and blitzes.
16:30And they're going to have to really simplify to start the second half.
16:37In time the Falcons have one member of their secondary.
16:42Down.
16:44I think I know who it is.
16:45Just don't want to do an identification by being sure of it.
16:49AJ Terrell.
16:50Yes it is.
16:50Okay.
16:50I saw the four.
16:51Couldn't see the two.
16:52Couldn't see AJ sitting up with the athletic training staff.
16:55And a hand up from his coach Raheem Morris as well.
17:03Yeah.
17:04He's the best they've got back there.
17:10Back to grab.
17:11Back behind his leg there.
17:16And walks off.
17:17So J.J. McCarthy's 7 of 10.
17:19But only two targets to Justin Jefferson.
17:22One catcher nine yards.
17:23And Chris it was one of the things that when asked during the week.
17:26Kevin O'Connell about what was going on on the sideline.
17:29During those first three quarters in Chicago.
17:31When things were going bad.
17:32Justin Jefferson stayed with it.
17:34You know sometimes a receiver who's a superstar like he is.
17:38Can get hot.
17:38Can get frustrated.
17:40He stayed the course with him.
17:41And it paid off in the fourth quarter.
17:43Well and what you just saw is significant.
17:45A.J. Terrell is their top one-on-one cover guy.
17:48So even if they're going to double Jefferson with somebody else.
17:52Terrell would have to cover one-on-one one of the other receivers.
17:55Now you take him out of the mix.
17:57And now you might have to do more zone.
17:59And not bring the kind of pressure they brought here in the first half.
18:02That's paid off.
18:02Although here we go again.
18:04With Caden Ellis down on the end of the line of scrimmage.
18:07Falcons charge a timeout with that injury.
18:09In the final two minutes.
18:1012 seconds remaining.
18:13Atlanta bringing five.
18:15McCarthy trying to load up and throw down the middle.
18:17There's Jefferson.
18:19J.J. to the 33-yard line with time.
18:23They get the timeout with two seconds left.
18:25Almost a mirror image of what they did last Monday night in Chicago to get a field goal before halftime.
18:31Top of route moves is what makes this guy so special.
18:35Watch the little wiggle at the top here.
18:37And right past the safety.
18:39He got up on his safety so fast he's going to try and jump it.
18:43And you can see just wrong foots him and gets all the green grass.
18:48There is the get.
18:49Woo!
18:50What a big play to end this half.
18:55It was McCarthy to nail her for 28 yards and set up Reichert for a 59-yard field goal at the end of the half.
19:02And the Vikings have hit the repeat button on the end of the half again this week.
19:19Wow.
19:20Like you said Chris you know put him in the situation give him a shot.
19:26The half feels completely different to me now.
19:29Right?
19:29They're going in here and everything you're going to go oh my gosh that was a disaster.
19:34We're terrible.
19:35Hit one play hit kick the field goal.
19:38Now you feel good going in at the half.
19:40Melissa.
19:40Raheem you give up a big play to end the half.
19:43What's your message to the defense?
19:45Oh we just got to go out there and we got to score in red zone on offense.
19:47Our defense just got to hold up.
19:49Obviously we can't give it that big play.
19:50A little emotional letdown right there with a guy going out.
19:53But the next man got to step and be ready to deal.
19:55Yeah and you've got three field goals.
19:56You mentioned that on offense.
19:57How do you turn those into touchdowns?
19:59We just got to execute and go out there and do what we need to do.
20:01We can't let the crowd get in the way and be a part of this game.
20:03Our edge.
20:04Our energy.
20:04Our execution.
20:05Raheem thanks.
20:06Thank you guys.
20:07Thank you Melissa.
20:08That is what happened in the red zone.
20:09That's the story of the half.
20:11Vikings get the ball.
20:12They trail by three.
20:13You get Maria and company right now at the Toyota halftime.
20:16Maria.
20:17Thanks Mike.
20:18Points, points and more points.
20:19No shortage of scoring earlier today.
20:21Except for the Chiefs who fell flat against Philly.
20:24Plus the latest on Joe Burrow's toe injury.
20:26That's all coming up next.
20:35Tonight's first half coverage is presented by Progressive.
20:39The future of the NFL is center stage tonight.
20:46Minnesota and Atlanta on Sunday Night Football.
20:51And it's throw is caught.
20:52London.
20:53Lost the football.
20:54Vikings have it.
20:55Beautiful punch.
20:57Oh my gosh.
20:58Both of these defenses are feeding off of each other.
21:01Progressive insurance for coverage you can count on.
21:11Time for the third quarter here in Minnesota.
21:149-6 Falcons.
21:15Tonight's SNF storylines powered by AWS.
21:19If it feels like it, it is.
21:21You've seen touchdowns in every other first half except this one in 2025.
21:26How are the young quarterbacks doing?
21:27Completion percentage better for McCarthy.
21:29More yards.
21:30The one pick thrown by McCarthy.
21:33Red zone has been an issue for both as we've gotten going.
21:36And in part because of the Atlanta defense.
21:38Look at the five sacks.
21:39Most and a half for the Falcons in a decade and a half.
21:43And a very high pressure rate as well for the defenses.
21:48A little story here in the first half.
21:50Second half has its own skull chant as well here in Minnesota.
21:54Kendall Point Schofield.
21:55Three-time Olympic medalist in ice hockey.
21:58The women's ice hockey team.
21:59So good for Team USA.
22:01And the first round pick.
22:02Number one overall for the Twins.
22:05Royce Lewis, their third baseman.
22:07Played today over at Target Field.
22:08Comes over to be a part of the scene here tonight.
22:12It's been a great sports day in Minneapolis.
22:15The Lynx of the WNBA won their opening playoff game.
22:20The return to start this second half by Miles Price.
22:24He gets to the outside.
22:25Brought down at the 23D Alford.
22:27Special teams stop.
22:29To the first half for J.J. Chris.
22:30All right, J.J.
22:31Let's see what you have here.
22:32Of course, we had the fumble on the short yardage play fourth and inches.
22:36And just could not convert that because of it.
22:39Then the old flick.
22:40I've been there before.
22:41And that didn't work out so great.
22:44Got sacked a lot, too.
22:45And five times in that first half.
22:48So, some questions along that offensive line.
22:50Especially now without Ryan Kelly.
22:52And Justin School still in the left tackle position.
22:55So, there's only one choice for J.J. McCarthy now.
22:58You run it or you get the ball out of your hand very quickly.
23:01But also, they're going to a four-man rush look here now because of the injury.
23:06The 22.
23:07A little flip to the edge.
23:09Jones turning the corner.
23:11Aaron Jones, the 30-yard line.
23:13Again, to make two big injury updates.
23:16Ryan Kelly, we mentioned, the center for the Vikings out for the remainder of the game as he was getting checked for a concussion.
23:22And same true for A.J.
23:23Terrell, the corner for the Falcons.
23:25He's out for the remainder of the game.
23:26Then a hamstring injury.
23:28So, two starters out corner and center.
23:32It's huge.
23:33And what it's probably going to do is force them into zones, which means fewer opportunities to blitz.
23:40Now, let's see.
23:41They didn't blitz the first one.
23:42Let's see what they do here.
23:44Nope.
23:46Two.
23:47Protected.
23:48Now fires downfield for Thielen.
23:51Incomplete.
23:52D. Alford back there in coverage.
23:55We had so much fun talking to Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen.
23:59Thielen, the trade, coming back here from Carolina after a couple years.
24:03Chris, the oldest receiver in the league by a year and a half at age 35, comes back to the place where he's from, Minnesota.
24:10Yeah, third most catches in Minnesota history.
24:12A couple of guys everybody knows.
24:15Chris Carter, Randy Moss.
24:17The only ones ahead of him to give you some idea of what he's done in purple.
24:22A new story from Division II, Minnesota State.
24:25Grew up in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota.
24:28150 miles from here.
24:30Third and two.
24:32McCarthy.
24:33Laces it in there and it's taken away again by Bowman.
24:38Bowman having a night.
24:39Two picks and on his way.
24:42First and goal as he's at the 10-yard line.
24:46And taken out by the tackle just in school.
24:48Now is it an interception or not?
24:50Let's go look at that first.
24:52Because it felt live like it bounced.
24:56And it did.
24:57After replay.
24:57After replay assistance, it is an incomplete pass.
25:05Fourth down.
25:06It's a replay assist on it.
25:09Good news is it's an incompletion.
25:11Bad news for the Vikings.
25:12It is three and out.
25:13They'll have to punt it away.
25:14Kevin O'Connell's never been so happy to punt in his whole life, though.
25:18I mean, it is becoming a problem.
25:21And, Mike, even when they're not blitzing, they are faking blitzes all the time.
25:26And I think in a young quarterback's mind, that becomes an issue, too.
25:30The other part of this is neither one of these quarterbacks have done well in the red zone.
25:35The red zone in the NFL is a completely different scheme, completely different offense and defense.
25:41And it just takes time to get there.
25:44You have to remind everyone that this is start number five in Pennick's career.
25:49Start number two for McCarthy.
25:53You get the feeling some kick return or interception return.
25:56Something is going to end up winning this game.
25:58So, Ryan Wright.
26:02Kicking away.
26:04Good hang time on this.
26:05Forcing the fair catch by Natron Books.
26:08Brooks, the kick is 50.
26:09No return.
26:11So, McCarthy, sitting next to Carson Wentz, his backup will go over what he saw.
26:16And it'll be Michael Pettix Jr.'s turn now for the Falcons.
26:23Well, they started off hot with Bijan Robinson.
26:26One, two, right off the bat.
26:28A couple of big runs.
26:29And then the Vikings started to respond with pressure of their own, I think, almost to stop the run as much as anything else.
26:39Those big guys up front really making a difference.
26:42Jonathan Allen, Javon Hargrave, Jalen Redwood.
26:45Completely different D-line right now for the Vikings.
26:50From 21, here is Bijan running inside, staying up, not down with a body part as he spun on a body and makes it a nine-yard gain to the 30-yard line.
27:02Good balance by Bijan Robinson.
27:06And any time you see these guys blitzing from the back side, and that time it was pace, and he just thought the play was over, you could see he was standing up, getting ready to go back to the huddle.
27:18Oh, man.
27:24Robinson had a very good first quarter.
27:25And most yards he's had in the first quarter out of the gate, and he's rushed for 81 yards thus far tonight.
27:33And trying to add to it here with a first down at the 32-yard line.
27:37So Bijan Robinson, right, and his name is one we talk about a lot, Chris, right, because he's done all these things.
27:45100-yard scrimmage games, add another one to it.
27:48You wouldn't think that he has more than Saquon Barkley and King Henry, but he does now with 20.
27:53But when you hear Saquon Barkley talking about Bijan Robinson, you understand that he understands who Bijan is.
28:07First and 10, and a flag, killing this play with a false start.
28:19False start, offense, number 71, five-yard penalty, main first down.
28:26You mentioned Barkley.
28:27Here's what Saquon said.
28:29I think Bijan's the next great one.
28:31There's nobody who's able to cut like Bijan in the NFL.
28:34Trust me.
28:34I love myself, and I think I have great cuts, and there's nobody the way he's able to.
28:39His vision, his agility, and he can catch the ball, too.
28:45So it's going to get scary for a lot of people as he continues to figure it out.
28:50There's high praise, and then there's that.
28:52Yeah.
28:52Right?
28:53Coming from him with what he did last year.
28:57Penalty makes it first and 15.
28:59Out quick on that slant.
29:02Incomplete.
29:02And here's what Robinson's been doing on this night.
29:06Yeah, Bijan Robinson.
29:08We saw him come right off the bat and create some big, big plays down the field.
29:13And we have been talking about it for a while, but these defensive players talk about it.
29:18One guy very, very rarely gets him on the ground.
29:21Then that explosive speed, and he weighs about 220 pounds.
29:24Just that complete package, and one of the better receiving backs in the league.
29:34Getting loud, second and 15.
29:37And they use Robinson with that cut, and the deep, and the move.
29:40Collision at the 27, 37-yard line.
29:44Thank your pardon.
29:45So he gets a lot of that penalty yardage plus back.
29:48These two guys had no idea where the ball was.
29:50Watch them.
29:51They're going to run right by Bijan.
29:53They're blitzing.
29:54They're overpowering the center.
29:57They're doing it, and all of a sudden, Bijan's running the other way.
30:12Penix throws with his own defense sitting in that zone for the first down.
30:18Darnell Moody.
30:19I don't know if Penix has a quarterback guru that he works with all the time,
30:25but that is one of the quickest releases that you will see.
30:29I mean, he has the ability to, as soon as he sees that that thing is gone,
30:35and that ability gives you as a receiver that extra tick of a second to be open
30:41and to accept the football.
30:43It is, I think Penix is extremely talented.
30:46And first downs on the ninth.
30:50Robinson rests Algier with the carry.
30:53Can he stop Jalen Redman, who Chris mentioned earlier,
30:55second-year guy out of Oklahoma.
30:57He was undrafted, and as these big-name veterans like Javon Hargrave
31:01and Jonathan Allen have come around the Vikings,
31:03they're like, hey, wait a minute.
31:0561 Redman is really good.
31:07Yeah, we were talking with Jonathan Allen,
31:09and he's the one that brought up his name,
31:11and he's actually out there playing that three technique,
31:14but you could see the explosive nature of it.
31:17And when you have guys like Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen
31:20in their resume talking about Jalen Redman,
31:23you know they found one.
31:25And that play was Chris Lindstrom,
31:26one of the best guards in the league.
31:28Yep.
31:29And a heck of a play by Redman.
31:31Second and 11, Penix Mooney.
31:36Couple shot of the first down.
31:37Byron Murphy, the tackle.
31:39Darnell Mooney missed week one with a shoulder injury.
31:44Former Bear, who had a very good season,
31:46was the second leading pass catcher
31:48in all the key categories last year for Atlanta.
31:51Yeah, Mooney is an explosive guy.
31:5421 catches, over 20 yards.
31:56That tied for second in the National Football League,
31:59so desperately needed to try and open up
32:01some of those other guys.
32:08Algier, the running back, third to couple.
32:14He's got it, and he's got it.
32:16First down for the Falcons.
32:18His drive rolls on at the 40.
32:20Charlie Werner is right here,
32:30and he is the old Moose Johnston kind of guy.
32:34Algier is just going to follow him.
32:35Wherever he goes, that's where I'm going.
32:37Because you know he's going to take out somebody.
32:40He is the lead blocker.
32:41He is the fullback.
32:43He is the intimidating factor
32:45coming out of the backfield
32:46when he's that lead blocker.
32:48Robinson through space
32:55and into the secondary to the 22-yard line.
32:59That's 18 that time.
33:01It puts Pigeon over 100 yards rushing tonight.
33:06So here, once again,
33:08you're going to see Charlie Werner come right through.
33:10These guys are getting upfield so fast
33:13that if they don't clog it up on the initial contact
33:16with the blitz there by pace,
33:18there are gaps.
33:19It's like, you know, in short yardage, Mike,
33:21sometimes they break off one for about 70 yards.
33:23Same thing.
33:24The Vikings are being so aggressive,
33:26and the Falcons now are taking advantage of it.
33:35Keep feeding Robinson.
33:37One tackle spins for a couple.
33:39So you keep hearing him say Pigeon Robinson, right?
33:42So that was his name the first couple of years,
33:44and then there was a story in an interview
33:46that it's Pigeon,
33:47and that's the way his mom and his grandma
33:49like it pronounced.
33:49So then we get on our call with him this week,
33:51said, hey, man,
33:52just tell us about the whole Pigeon.
33:54And I said, well, actually,
33:55I really don't like being called Pigeon.
33:56I want to be Pigeon.
33:57So we said, you sure?
33:59There are like 20 million people watching.
34:01He's like, yeah, it's back to Pigeon.
34:03So it is.
34:03And we said, well, you explain it to mom and grandma.
34:06Exactly.
34:08Pennix flushed left,
34:10and the lefty fires to the sideline
34:12and finds Pigeon.
34:14It's his name,
34:15so let him say it over and over and over
34:17until you get it right.
34:20Pigeon Robinson, University of Texas.
34:22Still one more time,
34:23just do Texas for me.
34:24Okay.
34:26Pigeon Robinson, Texas.
34:28One more.
34:29Pigeon Robinson, Texas.
34:31Is okay.
34:32That's our little behind the scenes
34:33of our Sunday Night Football lineups.
34:36You heard it from his mouth to ours.
34:39Pigeon.
34:40But when it has been third and short,
34:43it's Algier.
34:45Tyler.
34:51Following Warner to the right.
34:52That time the Vikings get in the way.
34:55So what will Raheem Morris do?
34:57He needs a couple of yards here.
34:59Fourth down.
34:59He's going to send on Parker Roman.
35:01for another field goal attempt.
35:03And again,
35:04in the red zone,
35:05the Vikings defense steps up.
35:08It has been exactly that, Mike.
35:10It has just been the inability
35:12of the Falcons to score touchdowns
35:15instead of these field goals.
35:16And they really have not gotten that close.
35:20We haven't seen one really
35:22well-orchestrated play
35:24in the red zone,
35:25really,
35:25from either one of these teams.
35:26Parker Romo lost the kicking battle in New England
35:30in the preseason to a drafted kicker.
35:32So that happens often.
35:36Free agents signed this week.
35:39He is now four for four on the night.
35:41And he's added yet another
35:4233-yard field goal.
35:44He's got two of those
35:45to help Atlanta
35:48to a six-point lead
35:49over the Vikings
35:50in downtown Minneapolis
35:52on a late summer Sunday night.
35:59Terrific matchup here
36:00in Big Ten country
36:00next Saturday night.
36:01It'll be Illinois and Indiana.
36:03Number 9 and number 19.
36:057 Eastern on NBC and Peacock.
36:09A little high school actual
36:10Friday night action.
36:12Eden Prairie beating Edina.
36:1340-19.
36:14The Eden Prairie head coach
36:15is Mike Grant,
36:17son of Bud Grant.
36:19He's been the head coach there
36:20for quite some time.
36:21The Gophers welcome
36:21us to Minneapolis.
36:25And well wishes for the Vikings
36:27who played there for
36:28a couple of seasons
36:29between stadiums.
36:30So instead of the
36:32touchback to the 35,
36:34it is brought out by Price.
36:36And he is brought down
36:38around the 30.
36:39So J.J. McCarthy
36:40will take over.
36:41This is the last day of a week
36:43he will never forget.
36:45Back in his hometown,
36:46the win in Chicago on Monday
36:47and then Thursday,
36:48son Rome born,
36:50a three-day-old
36:51who is now,
36:53as J.J. went from the facility,
36:54mispracticed Thursday,
36:55was back on Friday.
36:56This is Rome,
36:57Micah McCarthy,
36:58watching tonight.
37:00his very first game,
37:02day three of his life.
37:04Let's go, Dada.
37:09Just hard to imagine
37:10all of it in one week
37:12for a 22-year-old
37:13as McCarthy steps
37:15into this job here
37:16with the Vikings.
37:18And we give
37:19first down to Jordan Mason
37:22to the right side.
37:23You know,
37:25that really was
37:26what jump-started
37:27the Vikings
37:28a week ago
37:29against Chicago.
37:30It was Jordan Mason.
37:31They just stuck
37:32to the run.
37:32And he popped
37:33a couple little
37:34counter runs
37:35with pulling
37:35offensive linemen
37:36in front of him.
37:38But the deeper
37:38you go down
37:39the depth chart
37:40with the offensive line,
37:42the harder
37:43that gets, too.
37:44So you're already
37:45playing with a backup
37:46left tackle.
37:46Now you have a backup
37:47center in the game.
37:48and it's not easy
37:50to make all those
37:51adjustments.
37:52So the Falcons
37:52keep firing.
37:55McCarthy shakes
37:56the shoulders,
37:57looks for an opening
37:58and finds Mason.
38:00One shot
38:01of the first down
38:02right at the 40-yard line
38:04will set up
38:05third and one.
38:07But, Mike,
38:07that play
38:08that Justin Jefferson
38:09made before the half
38:10scared the heck
38:11out of this defense
38:12because now
38:13they don't have
38:14their A-lister
38:15at cornerback.
38:17And so they're
38:18settling for a lot
38:19of zones.
38:19So a lot
38:19of the blitzes
38:20that they executed
38:21in the first half,
38:23they're showing
38:23but dropping out
38:25so that they can
38:25fill up the gaps
38:26in the zone defense.
38:29They do not want
38:30Jefferson
38:30one-on-one
38:31on anybody.
38:32Zero, zero, zero!
38:37A quick third and one
38:38and waiting for Mason
38:40is the Falcon front
38:42starting with
38:43Caden Ellis.
38:45Let's see
38:46what O'Connell
38:47will do with fourth
38:48and a full yard here
38:50as he gets marked
38:51on the 40-yard line.
38:55We have seen
38:56time after time
38:57Divine Diablo
38:58make these kinds
38:59of plays
39:00and we talked
39:00about athleticism,
39:01how it impacts
39:02blitzing,
39:04how it impacts
39:05coverage,
39:05but, man,
39:06it can matter
39:07in short yardage, too.
39:09They're going
39:09and the play clock's
39:10running down here
39:11ten seconds
39:12as they break
39:12with the huddle.
39:16Now you see
39:16the probability.
39:21McCarthy keeping
39:22didn't make it
39:23earlier in this situation.
39:25Let's see where they
39:25mark him here
39:26as when Yamada
39:27was on him
39:28but passed
39:28the 41-yard line
39:30and the new Papa's
39:32got a first down
39:32for his offense.
39:33That was a good
39:45job by Michael
39:46Juergens
39:47to get underneath
39:48that nose tackle
39:49with that block
39:50and got just a little
39:51bit of a movement
39:52there.
39:53Just enough
39:54to unsettle
39:55for Cal London.
39:58And again,
39:59Juergens,
40:00no snaps
40:00on offense
40:01last year.
40:02Second-year player
40:02really seeing
40:04the most action
40:04of his brief
40:06NFL career.
40:07Good elusive move
40:08in the backfield
40:09and then
40:09into the secondary
40:10with Mason
40:11to the 42-yard line.
40:13However,
40:15the flag's
40:15going to bring it back.
40:21Holy offense,
40:23number 73.
40:25The Rouse second-year player
40:30came in for just in school.
40:32Yeah,
40:32and it really was
40:34unnecessary.
40:35Watch this play unfold.
40:37The runner is really
40:38going past
40:39and he's going to grab
40:41just a little bit
40:42but there is no way
40:43he was going to catch up
40:44to Jordan Mason.
40:46School,
40:46you saw getting up slow
40:47a couple of plays ago,
40:48now goes into the medical
40:49tent.
40:50So,
40:50the Vikings are
40:51using two backup linemen
40:54here.
40:55behind their quarterback
40:56making,
40:57or in front of the quarterback
40:58making his second start.
40:59Hey, me, me.
40:59Soco, soco, soco, soco, soco.
41:00You, you, soco.
41:01All right,
41:02180, fight.
41:07So from the 31,
41:09trying to get the whole screen
41:10to Aaron Jones
41:11but it's an incomplete pass.
41:13We'll set up third down.
41:16Second down,
41:17excuse me,
41:17second and 20.
41:17This is a far cry
41:21from 41-40
41:23that we saw
41:24last Sunday night.
41:25Right?
41:25Well,
41:27McCarthy took that out.
41:30He and Aaron Jones
41:31with contact.
41:32Knocked the ball loose
41:33for a second.
41:34Just not smooth
41:36right now.
41:38McCarthy
41:39escaping the pocket
41:40looking to take off here.
41:41Got a downfield block
41:43and runs it
41:44right around
41:45the 48-yard line.
41:47It's up third and five.
41:48And that was
41:49the running back Jones
41:50out there in front of him
41:51to help clear a path.