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Falcons Takeoff: Facts, stats, quotes from Week 14 road loss to Vikings

A one-stop shop for an overall statistical and factual look at the Falcons-Vikings game.

For the 2024 NFL season, digital team reporter Terrin Waack will provide select stellar stats, obscure facts and notable quotes from the most recent game to show how the Atlanta Falcons are taking flight into the new week.

MINNEAPOLIS — The Atlanta Falcons lost 42-21 to the Minnesota Vikings last Sunday for their Week 14 matchup at U.S. Bank Stadium in front of 67,008 ticketed fan.

It was the second-highest attendance U.S. Bank Stadium has ever seen.

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STELLAR STATS

— Falcons inside linebacker Kaden Elliss, defensive lineman Eddie Goldman, outside linebackers Matthew Judon and Arnold Ebiketie each recorded a sack against Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold. That gives the Falcons nine sacks in their last two games. They totaled 10 in their first 11 games. The Falcons have now recorded at least four sacks in consecutive games for the first time since Weeks 10 and 11 in 2019, when they had six and five, respectively.

— Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney had 101 yards receiving in the first half. It was the first time in his five-year career he surpassed 100 yards receiving in a single half. He finished with a career-high 142 yards receiving. Also, Mooney had three different receptions of at least 20 yards, giving him 19 for the season, which is second most in the NFL

— The Falcons totaled 496 yards on offense. It was their second-highest output of the season, falling short of only the 550 yards of offense tallied in the Week 5 win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That game, though, featured an overtime finish.

— With 101 yards from scrimmage, Falcons running back Bijan Robinson notched his ninth game this season with at least 100 yards from scrimmage. That's good for second most in the NFL.

— Elliss had 10 total tackles, breaking double digits for the seventh time this season to tie for most in the NFL.

OBSCURE FACTS

— The Vikings scored at least 40 points for the first time under head coach Kevin O'Connell, who took over the program in 2022. It was the team's most points in a game since Week 7 of the 2019 season when the Vikings beat the Detroit Lions, 42-30. Kirk Cousins was the Vikings quarterback at the time, throwing four touchdowns in that win. The Vikings' 42 points also signified the most the Falcons have given up this season. The previous high came in the 38-6 loss to the Denver Broncos in Week 11.

— The Falcons scored on their opening drive with a 6-yard run from running back Tyler Allgeier. The last time Atlanta opened a game with a touchdown was in the Week 8 win against the Buccaneers when tight end Kyle Pitts caught a 36-yard touchdown pass from Cousins.

— Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson ended a six-game scoring drought with a 12-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter. In total, Jefferson went a career-long 26 quarters and an overtime period without reaching the end zone.

— Cousins is now 2-1 against his former teams. He was with the Vikings from 2018-23 and the Washington Commanders from 2012-17. With the Vikings, he beat the Washington Commanders in 2019 and 2022.

— Vikings kicker Will Reichard missed a 47-yard field goal attempt in the third quarter. It was the first time this season a Falcons opponent missed a field goal.

QUOTING RAHEEM MORRIS

On whether there was any thought to put backup quarterback Michael Penix Jr. in…

"Not today. I wanted (Kirk Cousins) to go finish his deal out here in Minnesota (and) be able to play the game like he wanted to play. That was my decision and my decision alone."

QUOTING THE FALCONS

Quarterback Kirk Cousins

On posting 496 yards on offense…

"The game is always about points, and so you have to come away with points more than yards. Yards are an indicator, but got to turn them into points."

Safety Jessie Bates III

On returning to playing winning football…

"That's why we got 17 games. Ain't nobody coming to save us. Just gotta play better. The margin of error is so small once you start playing these (December games)."

QUOTING THE OPPONENT

Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell

On what he said to Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins postgame…

"I just told him I'm so thankful for our time I had coaching him as a position coach and then obviously as the head coach when I got here coming up on three years ago. I love him as a person. I think he's a great human being, great father, great husband. He stands for so many great things that I always really valued. I'm proud of the way he's transitioned down to a new place this year. He's had a lot of success, and I think he's going to continue to do so."

GAME LEADERS

Top 3 rushers

  1. Falcons: Bijan Robinson | 22 carries for 92 yards and a touchdown
  2. Vikings: Aaron Jones | 13 carries for 73 yards and a touchdown
  3. Falcons: Tyler Allgeier | nine carries for 63 yards and a touchdown

Top 3 receivers

  1. Falcons: Darnell Mooney | six receptions for 142 yards
  2. Vikings: Jordan Addison | eight receptions for 133 yards and three touchdowns
  3. Vikings: Justin Jefferson | seven receptions for 132 yards and two touchdowns

Top 3 passers

  1. Vikings: Sam Darnold | 22-28 for 347 yards and five touchdowns (sacked four times)
  2. Falcons: Kirk Cousins | 23-37 for 344 yards (sacked once, intercepted twice)
  3. N/A

Top 3 tacklers

  1. Falcons: Kaden Elliss | 10 total tackles, seven solo (a sack)
  2. Falcons: Jessie Bates III | nine total tackles, four solo
  3. Vikings: Blake Cashman | seven total tackles, five solo

NEXT UP

The Falcons (6-7) are back on the road in Week 15 to play the Las Vegas Raiders (2-11) at Allegiant Stadium. The game will be aired on "Monday Night Football" on ESPN and is set to kick off at 8:30 p.m. ET.

The Raiders are coming off a Week 14 road loss of their own, falling 28-13 to the Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium.

With their win against the Raiders, the Buccaneers are now 7-6 on the season and hold a one-game lead in the NFL South following the Falcons' loss in Minnesota.

Get an inside look at the matchup between the Atlanta Falcons and the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium during Week 14, presented by Grady.

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