Minnesota Vikings vs. Atlanta Falcons on Sunday night

- Andrew Krammer

Q1, 11:12 - Falcons 3, Vikings 0

Vikings fans made a different on the opening drive of the game. After Bijan Robinson popped off runs of 25 and 17 yards, the Falcons offense struggled in the red zone under the barrage of a noisy crowd. They took a timeout before third down, then had a false start and came up short on the third-and-10. The offense stayed on for fourth-and-2 but took a delay of game penalty, and ultimately the Falcons settled for a 38-yard field goal kicked by former Viking Parker Romo.

- Emily Leiker

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. throws in the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday. (Carlos Gonzalez/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Q1, 15:00 - Vikings on defense first

The Falcons elect to receive the opening kickoff and the Vikings will start on defense.

- Naila-Jean Meyers

A full flag presentation and a moment of silence for the victims of the Annunciation shooting before the Vikings game at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday. (Carlos Gonzalez/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Thielen first out of the tunnel

7:15 p.m. - Fans greeted Adam Thielen with a standing ovation during his first Vikings home game in over two and a half years. The team made Thielen the first member of the offense announced out of the tunnel during pregame festivities.

Thielen, the 13th-year veteran from Detroit Lakes, soaked in the scene in warmups, tossing a football with purple-clad fans in Section 119 right behind the the end zone of the Vikings’ half of the field. One fan in the stands held up a sign that read: “Hooked On A Thielen.” Fans watched a video montage of Thielen’s Vikings highlights and interviews shown on the videoboards before kickoff.

He was the first player out of the Vikings ship tunnel during player introductions, proclaimed as “returning home” and given a loud ovation.

Thielen caught one pass — a two-point conversion — in Monday night’s win in Chicago. He dropped his only other target while playing 32 snaps [57%] as the No. 3 receiver behind Justin Jefferson and Jalen Nailor. He had not played for the Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium since the January 2023 playoff loss to the Giants.

- Andrew Krammer

Who ya got?

7:00 p.m. - We asked readers to vote on who will win tonight’s game. Click on the results tab below to see the results.

Three things that I will be watching tonight

J.J.’s emotions. What a whirlwind week it’s been for the 22-year-old quarterback. McCarthy ignited a stirring fourth-quarter comeback in his NFL debut in his hometown of Chicago last Monday night, then become a dad a few days later with the birth of his son. Now he will be playing his first regular-season game at U.S. Bank Stadium. That’s a lot to process. Curious to see McCarthy’s emotions early on as he gets settled into the game.

Dallas Turner is expected to start in place of Andrew Van Ginkel (concussion) at outside linebacker. Turner had a strong training camp and will get a chance to show his improvement in what should be the most snaps in a game in his young career.

The Vikings are thin in the secondary with safety Harrison Smith (illness) and cornerback Jeff Okudah (concussion) declared out with a concussion. They cannot afford more injuries back there.

- Chip Scoggins

Vikings again honor victims of Annunciation shooting

6:50 p.m. - The Vikings are once again wearing shirts to honor the victims from the Annunciation Church and School shooting on Aug. 27. They’ll also hold a moment of silence before the game. The shirts feature Annunciation’s logo on the front and the back shows its “Essential Agreement,” which is “Be kind. Be respectful. Be inclusive. Be my best self. Be Brave.” These shirts are not available for sale by the team, and retailers who are selling them are being served cease and desist letters, a team spokesman said earlier this week.

- Emily Leiker

Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell wears a shirt to honor the victims of the Annunciation shooting during pregame warmups at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday. (Elizabeth Flores/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Vikings welcome Adam Thielen back home

6:40 p.m. - Before Adam Thielen came onto the field for his pregame warmups with the Vikings receiver group, the video boards at U.S. Bank Stadium played a highlight reel of Thielen’s previous run with the Vikings and clips from his interviews since he was traded back to his home state last month. Ozzy Osbourne’s “Mama, I’m Coming Home” was playing as Thielen ran onto the field behind Justin Jefferson to cheers from the gathering crowd.

- Naila-Jean Meyers

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson hugs Adam Thielen before they take on the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday night. (Elizabeth Flores/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Justin Jefferson nears another milestone

6:35 p.m. - Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson will hit 500 career receptions whenever he makes his first reception tonight. He will tie Minneapolis-born, former Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald Jr. as the youngest player in NFL history to reach the mark at 26 years 90 days.

Jefferson could’ve reached the mark last week, needing only five catches to hit it, but he finished the night with just four grabs (albeit a team high) for 44 yards. He was the receiver on the Vikings’ first TD of the game against the Bears (also the first of J.J. McCarthy’s NFL career.)

What to expect before the game

5:30 p.m. - The Vikings’ gameday production crew is lauded annually with sports entertainment awards and ranked first last season in the NFL’s “Voice of the Fan” survey, which asks fans who attended a game to rate their satisfaction with everything from pregame entertainment to concessions and stadium staff.

Tonight, 20 minutes before kickoff, the production team will unveil a new “Showtime” presentation, featuring cellists from the Minnesota Orchestra and the University of Minnesota. The presentation typically ends with fake snow falling from the ceiling as players emerge from a 30-foot tunnel shaped like a Viking ship.

Vikings safety Joshua Metellus wears a shirt to honor the victims of the Annunciation shooting during pregame warmups at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday. (Carlos Gonzalez/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Other highlights from the pregame plans:

Every spectator will receive a wearable LED wristband in order to participate in the stadium-wide light show throughout the game.

Last week in Chicago the Vikings players and coaches wore T-shirts honoring the victims of last month’s shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and School shooting. They will wear the shirts again today during pregame warmups, hold a moment of silence before the national anthem and recognize first responders.

Former Vikings defensive end Jared Allen, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame last month, will sound the Gjallarhorn and be celebrated at halftime.

The pregame festivities will also include a flyover by the 934th Airlift Wing, Minnesota’s Air Force Reserve unit.

Vikings great Jim Marshall, who died in June, will be honored at next Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Vikings’ helmets this season feature a decal with Marshall’s No. 70.

- Naila-Jean Meyers

Click here to read article