Following a week full of quarterback drama for the Falcons (4-5), Taylor Heinicke took his first snaps as the starting QB on Sunday and managed to put Atlanta in a position to secure a victory late in the fourth quarter.
Unfortunately, the defense couldn’t hold up their end of the bargain and allowed the Vikings to get into their two-minute drill, covering 75 yards in eleven plays to take a 31-28 lead on a Joshua Dobbs pass to former Falcon Brandon Powell with 22 seconds remaining.
Atlanta has now lost back-to-back games, the last five games (2-3) have been decided by one score.
Making his first start of the season for the Falcons with Desmond Ridder watching from the sidelines, Heinicke completed 21 of 38 passes for 268 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
The offensive line was much more impressive than in previous games this season, allowing only one sack of Heinicke to a Vikings defense that features the NFL’s sack leader, Danielle Hunter.
Even with Falcons wide receiver Drake London sidelined with a groin injury, Atlanta averaged 12.8 yards/catch on Sunday. Tight end Jonnu Smith lead the way with 5 catches for 100 yards and one touchdown, a 60-yard deep pass from the former Collins Hill star in the third quarter to extend their lead 21-13.
Atlanta was also able to take some of the pressure off of Heinicke with some timely runs from Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier. Robinson gained 51 yards on 11 carries while Allgeier toted the pill 12 times for 39 yards and one touchdown.
Credit to Arthur Smith for turning to his running backs when the game was on the line, running the ball on the final 12 plays of their 13-play, go ahead touchdown drive. That included five consecutive runs by Allgeier.
Minnesota (5-4) overcame the loss of rookie quarterback Jaren Hall to a concussion in the first quarter. Despite acquiring former Alpharetta quarterback Joshua Dobbs from Arizona earlier in the week, Hall had taken all the first-team practice snaps as the Vikings adjusted to the loss of veteran Kirk Cousins for the season with a torn Achilles tendon.
Even though he had started all eight games for the Cardinals before being traded, Dobbs had his first practice in Minnesota on Wednesday so he had very little preparation time.
Dobbs’ first series ended with a third down sack by Calais Campbell in the end zone for a safety, one of four sacks on the day for the Falcons defense. Dobbs also fumbled three times, losing two.
In relief of Hall, the 28-year-old Dobbs completed 20 of 30 passes for 158 yards and two touchdowns. Some of his major damage came from his legs rather than his arm as he also had seven carries for 66 yards and another score, an 18-yard run with a two-point conversion that tied the game at 21-21 in the third quarter.
Regardless of who takes snaps for Atlanta next week, Heinicke or Ridder, the Falcons will need to get back in the win column and have a much better chance to as they travel to Glendale to take on an Arizona Cardinals team that is 1-8 on the season.