The Sunday Night Football matchup in Week 2 of the 2025 NFL season features the Minnesota Vikings hosting the Atlanta Falcons at U.S. Bank Stadium. We’ll be diving into all of the primetime games this season, and this one isn’t any different. With that in mind, keep reading for betting odds, picks and player props for this exciting showdown. Also, make sure you head over to our Week 2 NFL Betting Hub for a look at all of our NFL betting content.
MORE: Head to the Pro Picks page for best bets from all of our VSiN hosts and analysts!
How To Watch Falcons vs. Vikings
When: Sunday, September 14th at 8:20 pm ET
Where: U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Channel: NBC
Falcons vs. Vikings Odds
Odds from DraftKings Sportsbook as of Friday, September 5th. Look around for the best prices!
Moneyline: Vikings -175, Falcons +145
Spread: Vikings -3.5 (-105), Falcons +3.5 (-115)
Total: Over 44.5 (-110), Under 44.5 (-110)
Falcons vs. Vikings Analysis
Kirk Cousins will be back in Minnesota for Sunday Night Football. That sounds like it should be a story, but Michael Penix Jr. is now the guy for Atlanta. That sets up an intriguing battle between two young quarterbacks, as Penix Jr. and the Falcons will be hoping to pick up a road win over J.J. McCarthy and the Vikings.
Atlanta opened as a 4.5-point underdog in this game, but the spread is down to 3.5 in most spots. Meanwhile, the total in this game has dropped from 45.5 to 44.5. All of that can be tracked, along with what people are betting, on our VSiN betting splits page.
I agree with the movement on the total. Minnesota ran on 53.06% of its plays in Week 1, and that number probably would have been higher if the Vikings didn’t dig themselves into a big hole. This team absolutely loves what McCarthy brings to the table, but Kevin O’Connell clearly wants to take a little off the 22-year-old’s plate. On top of that, Minnesota is an incredible defensive team. Well, running the ball and playing good defense is a good recipe for an Under. The Under is also 6-4 in the 10 games Atlanta has played as a road underdog under Raheem Morris in this stint with the team. It’s also 13-9-1 in the first month of the season since Minnesota hired O’Connell.
However, my favorite play you can make in this game is Vikings -3, which is out there at -125. The extra 15 cents is worth losing the hook in what could be a close game.
McCarthy definitely struggled in the first three quarters of Minnesota’s Week 1 win over Chicago, but he made some big-time throws late in the game. And ultimately, the first-year starter threw for two touchdowns and rushed for another. McCarthy settled in nicely after some tense moments early. In the first few quarters, he was having trouble simply snapping the ball. It felt like he was up against the play clock pretty much every time he wanted to hike it. But that all changed in the fourth quarter, and he should be in better shape at home.
If McCarthy is closer to being the guy he was in the fourth quarter than he was in the first half, it’s hard to see the case for backing the Falcons here. Minnesota and Atlanta were on a level playing field when it comes to EPA per play on offense last year (Vikings 0.038, Falcons 0.041), and there probably won’t be much that separates the two in 2025. But Minnesota was second in the NFL in EPA per play allowed (-0.091) in 2024; Atlanta was 20th (0.042). The Vikings are just a much better defensive team, as Brian Flores is an elite defensive coordinator and his defense is loaded with talent. Just last game, we saw a special performance from the Minnesota defense in the second half, and I think the team has what it takes to slow down Atlanta.
The Vikings have the kind of defensive front you need to keep Bijan Robinson in check. They were the top-ranked team in football in Rush EPA per play allowed (-0.203) last season, and they’re likely going to be right up there again this year. And if the Falcons can’t get the ground game going, they’re going to be putting a little too much on Penix Jr. in a difficult road environment.
I’m also not too worried about Minnesota playing on a bit of a short week. The Vikings are 5-0 straight-up and 3-1-1 against the spread when coming off a Monday Night Football game under O’Connell.
Falcons vs. Vikings Player Props
Jordan Mason Anytime TD Scorer (+105)
Mason out-snapped veteran Aaron Jones in Week 1. He also got 15 carries in that game; Jones got eight. Jones isn’t going to suddenly go away. O’Connell likes what he brings as both a runner and a pass-catcher. But Minnesota views Mason as the best short-yardage back on this team, and he’s going to get most of the red-zone opportunities in this one. With that in mind, I like his chances of cashing in and finding the end zone.
Last week, we didn’t see any goal-line chances for Mason, as the Vikings scored all three of their touchdowns from beyond the 10-yard line. But I’d be a little surprised if that happens again.
Falcons vs. Vikings Pick
I said this in last week’s Bears-Vikings preview, but I strongly believe Minnesota is one of the best teams in football. The Vikings just aren’t being priced like one because of the uncertainty surrounding McCarthy. Well, McCarthy looked like a baller in the final 15 minutes of Week 1. If that’s a sign of things to come, we’re getting a nice discount on Minnesota. Also, the Falcons are just 3-6 SU and ATS as road underdogs of 7 or less under Morris.
I like Minnesota to win this game by a field goal or more, and I’m also putting a little chunk on Mason to score.
Bet: Vikings -3 (-125) & Mason Anytime TD (+105 – 0.5 units)
