Just for kicks: Falcons throttle Vikings, 22-6, behind Romo’s 5 field goals
MINNEAPOLIS — The Falcons cobbled together some bone-rattling blocking, amassed a bushel full of sacks and five field goals from their new kicker to down the Vikings, 22-6, on Sunday night at U.S. Bank Stadium.
With the game in the balance, the Falcons overcame a holding penalty and Tyler Allgeier scored a 5-yard touchdown run with 3:22 left to cap a 12-play, 83-yard drive.
The Vikings’ last-ditch drive ended with Falcons rookie safety Xavier Watts’ first NFL interception.
The Falcons improved to 1-1 on the season, and the Vikings dropped to 1-1.
“We came out and really challenged the (offensive) line last week and they responded in a big way,” Falcons coach Raheem Morris said. “Coming out being able to run the football, being able to establish the run.”
Kicker Parker Romo, of Peachtree City and McIntosh High, was 5-of-5 on field goals, including a 54-yarder in the fourth quarter that made it a two-score game. He was promoted from the practice squad as the team opted to leave kicker Younghoe Koo at home.
“It’s super special for me to be able to put on for the city of Atlanta because I spent 17 years of my life in Georgia,” said Romo, who was awarded the job Saturday morning.
“He stepped up tonight,” Morris said.
The Falcons were non-committal about Romo’s future. He probably won’t clear waivers if they try to sneak him back to the practice squad.
“All we are going to talk about is tonight,” Morris said. “We are moving forward (Monday). Right now, he did a great job. He went out there and made the kicks. That’s all you can ask of the young man. What he did was what was required to do.”
The Falcons were held to 69 yards rushing in the season-opening loss against the Bucs, and they came out determined to impose their will on the Vikings’ defense.
Bijan Robinson rushed 22 times for 143 yards and Allgeier had 16 carries for 76 yards and a touchdown. Robinson got things started and Allgeier closed out the game.
“That’s part of the plan every single week,” Morris said about the heavy dose of Robinson early.
The Falcons’ defense came through with six sacks, two interceptions and a forced fumble.
“Covering together and rushing together, that’s what it looks like,” safety Jessie Bates III said. “When you can stop the run and dominate the run downs and force guys to pass the ball. When you have tight coverage on the back end, it allows guys up front to go hunting, and that’s what they did.”
The Falcons held a 9-6 lead at halftime behind three field goals from Romo, who made field goals of 38 and 29 yards after the Falcons’ first two drives stalled in the red zone.
The defense bowed up on 4th-and-1 and stopped the Vikings on their first possession. The Falcons got the ball at Minnesota’s 36 and drove down to the 11 before stalling.
The Falcons forced a punt and were driving again, but Drake London had the ball punched out by Vikings linebacker Eric Wilson. Defensive back Theo Jackson recovered the football to stop the drive.
The Vikings then went on a 17-play drive that moved into the second quarter.
The Vikings were threatening to score the game’s first touchdown at the 1-yard line, but after a penalty for delay of game and two sacks, they had to settle for a 33-yard field goal.
The Falcons were forced to punt. Rookie safety Billy Bowman came up with an interception at Minnesota’s 38. For the third time, the drive stalled in the red zone and Romo added a 33-yard field goal with 25 seconds left.
The Vikings didn’t sit on the ball and took a shot to receiver Justin Jefferson. He got loose for 50 yards to get in field-goal range. Reichard made a 51-yarder.
Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell went down with a left hamstring injury on the play before Jefferson’s long gainer, and he did not return. Dee Alford took over at left cornerback for Terrell in the third quarter.
The Falcons forced a punt to start the third quarter and Romo added a second 33-yard field goal to make it 12-6 with 6:17 left in the third quarter. It was the Falcons’ fourth drive to stall in the red zone.
The defense forced a punt, and the Falcons got the ball back with 1:28 left in the third quarter. The Falcons had a three-and-out, but on Minnesota’s next play, defensive lineman Zach Harrison sacked quarterback J.J. McCarthy and caused a fumble. Linebacker Divine Deablo recovered, and the offense was back in business at Minnesota’s 38-yard line.
The offense couldn’t sustain the drive and Romo added a 54-yard field to make it 15-6 with 11:16 to play.
The defense forced another three-and-out and the offense had the ball back with 9:38 to play and took control with the first TD drive of the game.
“They had a fire in their eyes,” quarterback Michael Penix said of the offensive line. “It was awesome to see.”
Offensive coordinator Zac Robinson said he felt the offensive line bounced back with a strong showing after the run game was shut down against the Bucs.
“I’m just really proud of our group, the front as the (offensive) line,” All-Pro right guard Chris Lindstrom said. “As a group, it takes all 11 in the run game. Just the effort that everybody showed today was great in a really hard environment.”
The Falcons travel to play the Panthers (0-2) at 1 p.m. Sunday at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C.
About the Author
Honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in recognition of his "long and distinguished reporting in the field of pro football," D. Orlando Ledbetter, Esq. has covered the NFL 28 seasons. A graduate of Howard University, he's a winner of Georgia Sportswriter of the Year and three Associated Press Sports Editor awards.
