Predicting how every Atlanta Falcons game will end in 2023
By Joe Carlino
WEEK NINE: vs. MINNESOTA VIKINGS (1PM, FOX)
After narrowly falling to the Titans in Week Eight, Atlanta returns home to face a dangerous Vikings team. The Vikings are expected to be one of the two teams contending for the NFC North title, and for good measure: their offense is potent and their defense is legitimate.
Of course, the offense is led by Kirk Cousins, who fortunately isn't playing Atlanta in primetime, otherwise the end result might be different here. Because it's an afternoon game, however, that opens the door for him to dominate, and he's got incredible weapons to do such. While Dalvin Cook has since left Minnesota for the glitz and glamour of New York, Alexander Mattison has slowly been emerging as a nice running back. And of course, we can't deny the dominance that Justin Jefferson is on the outside, as he's easily a top-five wide receiver in the league today. His ability to separate against AJ Terrell in a College Football Playoff championship rematch will be tested with free agent signing TJ Hockenson to the fray.
Defensively, the Vikings also poached a former Saints defensive lineman, signing Marcus Davenport to bolster a line that already features Danielle Hunter and Johnathan Bullard. In their secondary, while Andrew Booth is emerging as a nice cornerback, that secondary will always be effective with Harrison Smith hurting anyone that comes over the middle.
Minnesota earns a hard-fought victory over the Falcons.
PREDICTION: MINNESOTA 31, ATLANTA 24
RECORD: 5-4