The Minnesota Vikings could not follow an impressive week one fourth quarter comeback against the Chicago Bears with a week two victory, falling to the Michael Penix Jr. led Atlanta Falcons, 22-6, in a fairly one-sided game on Sunday Night Football.

After spearheading an excellent final quarter against Chicago last week, many were expecting quarterback, JJ McCarthy to parlay his strong finish into a good game against the visiting Falcons.

Alas, it was not to be as McCarthy went 11/21 for 158 yards passing, along with two interceptions, as the team failed to put up double digits in prime time.

And Kevin O’Connell, speaking after the game, did not mince his words, not just about how he felt about the final result, but the team’s overall play.

Vikings HC Not Pleased With ‘Very Disappointing Performance’

“Very disappointing performance tonight” is certainly not what any player wants to hear from their head coach after a prime time game early on in the season.

And whilst much of the public blame will no doubt fall on the shoulders of McCarthy, there were moments where the second year QB shined, including a 50 yard rope to a wide open Justin Jefferson to set up a field goal right at the end of the first half.

Indeed, despite McCarthy displaying his athletic ability, the ex-Michigan man was sacked six times, including once for a lost fumble on the team’s 40 yard line – and felt constantly under duress from the Falcons’ revamped pass rush.

Duress that could not be contained by the Vikings’ offensive line, despite Minnesota having spent big money on both center Ryan Kelly and right guard, Will Fries, in free agency, and having drafted fellow guard, Donovan Jackson, in the first round of April’s draft.

So its clear that the offense will no doubt have to go back to the drawing board, both with regards the passing game and the pass-protection execution, which was not up to scratch on the second weekend of the season.

Where Do The Minnesota Vikings Go From Here?

Week three against the Cincinnati Bengals will be an interesting litmus test to see where the team lies after a rollercoaster opening two weeks.

Joe Burrow figures likely to miss next week – and possibly much more – in suffering turf toe against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, leaving Jake Browning as the starter, who managed to edge the Bengals to victory.

On paper, the Vikings still have one of the better rosters in football – at least when quarterback is taken out of the equation. But right now it does not seem like offensively things are ticking anywhere near as smoothly as they were under the tandem of now-Seahawks QB, Sam Darnold and O’Connell, in 2024.

Perhaps the biggest worry for O’Connell will be McCarthy’s clear lack of arm strength in both bouts, with both Penix and Caleb Williams clearly demonstrating themselves as having superior pure arm talent, even if they may not quite have the level of support around them that the former national champion currently has.

If O’Connell cannot find a way to utilize McCarthy’s skillset best before the end of the regular season, this could end up being a very long year for Minnesota and their fanbase.