Penix Jr. to London with one second left lifts Falcons over Vikings 35–31

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - Under the lights of Sunday Night Primetime, Chuck Davis' Atlanta Falcons walked a tightrope and never blinked. With one second left on the clock, Michael Penix Jr. rifled a 5-yard dart to Drake London for the game-winning touchdown, silencing a roaring crowd and lifting Atlanta to a 35-31 thriller over the Vikings. "Clock awareness was everything," Penix said. "We had one play left, Drake won his leverage, I trusted the read, and we finished."

Game Recap

This one swayed all night. The Falcons surged behind their stars early and kept answering every Minnesota punch. Penix (340 yards, four TDs, 20-of-29, 147.9 rating) found a rhythm with Kyle Pitts (6 catches, 142 yards, two TDs), repeatedly hitting the tight end up the seams, including a 51-yard explosion that flipped field position. "They were bracketing the outside, so we attacked the middle," Pitts said. "Mike's ball was on time all night."

Minnesota countered behind a near-flawless night from J.J. McCarthy, who completed 22 of 23 for 326 yards and two touchdowns and added a 5-yard scoring keeper with 2:06 left. Jalen Nailor (8 for 165 and a TD) and T.J. Hockenson (6 for 58 and a TD) did damage underneath while Aaron Jones Sr. pounded out 78 yards and a score.

But Atlanta kept answering. In the fourth, a goal-line plunge from Tyler Allgeier nudged the Falcons back in front at 5:16. After McCarthy's late go-ahead keeper, Penix authored the drive of the night: quick outs to move the sticks, a screen to Bijan Robinson (6 catches, 113 yards, TD; 97 rushing) that ripped chunk yardage, and finally the one-second strike to London.

With the crowd still buzzing, Atlanta had to finish the job. Younghoe Koo's kickoff was returned to the 27 before the Vikings were wrapped up, and the clock hit zero. The Falcons' sideline erupted as Atlanta sealed a dramatic primetime victory.

Key Stats

Atlanta's balance traveled: 340 passing yards, 98 rushing, and 4 TDs in five red-zone trips (80%). The Falcons' front set the tone with six sacks, paced by Christian Wilkins (2.0) and help from Brandon Dorlus, David Onyemata, Arnold Ebiketie and Jalon Walker (one each). "We talked all week about affecting timing," Wilkins said. "If you give our offense one more possession, they'll make you pay."

Minnesota moved it too-375 offensive yards and 50% on third down-behind McCarthy's precision and Nailor's breakout. But the Vikings managed just one sack and couldn't get the final stop. Kicker Will Reichard went 1-for-1 on FGs with four PATs, while Atlanta's Younghoe Koo drilled all five PATs.

Quotes

"Clock awareness, trust, and execution-that last play was practiced on Friday," Penix said. "We got the look, Drake did the rest." "We're right there," McCarthy said afterward. "If we finish one more drive, this is a different story. Credit to their front-pressure showed up in key spots." "Our identity is physical and fearless," Davis said. "Road game, primetime, down late-we leaned on our guys and they answered."

Up Next

The Falcons will carry their 2-0 start into a divisional road matchup against the Carolina Panthers in Week 3. The Vikings, now 0-2, will look to rebound at home when they host the Cincinnati Bengals.