Second look: Grading the Atlanta Falcons versus Minnesota Vikings

The Atlanta Falcons entered the 2019 NFL season with one of the toughest schedules among the 32 teams. The top five Minnesota Vikings defense made the Falcons as uncomfortable as possible Sunday afternoon for Matt Ryan and company.

The game got out of hand for the Atlanta Falcons in the first several minutes as the Falcons found themselves down 14-0 in the first 6:30 of the game, thanks to a blocked punt and then an interception by Matt Ryan after he forced a ball to Julio Jones who had three Viking defenders around him.

A new defensive scheme that saw both Vic Beasley and Takk McKinley as part of the base packages for the first time in their careers and both struggled setting the edge against a reborn Vikings offense that would rattle off 172 rushing yards, averaging more than four yards per carry.

Dan Quinn told Dave Archer on the Atlanta Falcons post-game show he thought that the turnovers was “the name of the game. Not to create any to get back into the plus I thought were the real story of this game.” Matt Ryan would end the day with two total interceptions and Devonta Freeman would add a lost fumble as well. When you add the blocked punt into the fold, all in all, it was a terrible day for the Falcons.

There were several bright spots for the Falcons amidst all the issues on Sunday. Backup running back Ito Smith looked great averaging more than five yards per carry, Grady Jarrett has taken the next step in his development and is clearly the Falcons best defender, Austin Hooper has continued on his trajectory to join the elite tight ends in the league and rookie Chris Lindstrom looked fantastic before leaving with what is speculated as a fractured foot.

Here is how we would grade the rest of the positional groups