MINNEAPOLIS — The only touchdown scored Sunday inside the Minnesota Vikings' U.S. Bank Stadium went to the victorious Atlanta Falcons.

Final score: 22-6

Why it's important: The Falcons accomplished their first victory of 2025 in a hostile environment during prime time. This should give them confidence as the season continues. Atlanta also has another NFC South opponent on tap with the Carolina Panthers in Week 3, so the Falcons have a better chance of carrying the positive momentum forward and regaining their footing in the division race with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Key takeaway: This Falcons defense looked like a completely different unit from last season, and that is because the youth was unlocked and unleashed. Second-year defensive linemen Brandon Dorlus and Ruke Orhorhoro represented the 2024 draft class with two sacks combined. Edge rushers Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. stepped up for the 2025 class with 1.5 sacks combined. And cornerback Billy Bowman Jr. and safety Xavier Watts added exclamation points for this year's rookie class with one interception apiece. These players don't only represent the Falcons' future potential but present talent.

Key moment: It wasn't until the 3:25 mark in the fourth quarter that a goal line was successfully crossed – and it was the Falcons who did it. Running back Tyler Allgeier scored on a 5-yard run to secure Atlanta's victory in Minnesota. The touchdown capped off a 12-play, 83-yard drive that milked six minutes and 17 seconds off the game clock. It essentially made it impossible for the Vikings to pull off a comeback, which wasn't the case when that drive began.

Standout performance: Parker Romo. The kicker was signed to the Falcons' practice squad Tuesday, elevated to the active roster Saturday and he repeatedly added to the scoreboard Sunday. Romo made all five of his field-goal attempts for Atlanta and against his former Minnesota team. He surpassed veteran Younghoe Koo (four) for most field goals made by a kicker in his Falcons debut.

Number to know: Five. The Falcons had five sacks in the first half — the most in a half for Atlanta in any game since Week 9 of the 2009 season, when the Falcons beat the Washington Commanders. Atlanta's single-game high last season was also five (twice). Also, go back to see Romo's field-goal total under Standout Performance.

Player milestone:

• Second-year defensive lineman Brandon Dorlus and rookie edge rusher James Pearce Jr. combined for their first career sacks when they collectively brought down Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy on a third-and-2 play in the first quarter.
• Rookie edge rusher Jalon Walker got his first career sack on a second-and-7 below in the second quarter.
• Second-year defensive lineman Ruke Orhororo got his first career sack with help from defensive lineman Zach Harrison on a third-and-14 play in the second quarter.
• Veteran edge rusher Leonard Floyd recorded his first sack with the Falcons on a first-and-10 play in the second quarter. Floyd last sacked a Vikings quarterback when he played for the Chicago Bears in a 2017 Week 5 loss.
• Rookie cornerback Billy Bowman Jr. had his first career interception on a first-and-10 play in the second quarter. Bowman is the first Falcons rookie with at least one interception and half a sack in his debut season since cornerback Brian Poole in 2016.
• Running back Bijan Robinson had a career-high 54 rushing yards in the first quarter. His previous high was 42 rushing yards in the Falcons' Week 13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in 2024.
• Rookie safety Xavier Watts had his first career interception on a first-and-10 play in the fourth quarter that cemented the Falcons' win.

Injury updates:

• Cornerback A.J. Terrell Jr. went down with a hamstring injury with 18 seconds remaining in the second quarter and was ruled out as the third quarter began. Dee Alford took his place.

A quick tweet: The Falcons editorial staff of Tori McElhaney, Will McFadden and Terrin Waack share their gut reactions to Sunday's outcome in 280 characters or less.

• McElhaney: The defense put the team on its back in prime time. Exciting stuff from this unit early in 2025.
• McFadden: I'm willing to be patient with the offense because this defense has been a joy to watch. Also, Parker Romo made a field goal for every day he's been in ATL.
• Waack: SPECIAL TEAMS MATTER. Mad kudos to Parker Romo.

Setting the storylines:

• Kicker Younghoe Koo was ruled out Saturday and did not make the trip to Minnesota. Parker Romo was elevated from the practice squad and therefore solidified his role in at least Week 2 for the Falcons. Romo signed with the team Tuesday.
  More: The Falcons' first offensive series ended with Romo making a 38-yard field goal.

• That marked the first time in team history the Falcons had two different kickers make a field goal within the team's first two games of a season.

• Wide receivers Darnell Mooney and Drake London were both active after a week of limited practice participation. Mooney missed Week 1 due to the shoulder injury he sustained in the first practice of training camp. London hurt his shoulder during the Falcons' season-opening loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

• When Falcons' Michael Penix Jr. and Vikings' J.J. McCarthy took the field, it marked the first-ever "Sunday Night Football" game on NBC where both quarterbacks had a career total of five starts or fewer. Penix made his fifth career start, while McCarthy notched his second.
• Catch up on all the news that came out in the lead-up to Sunday's game in one spot here.

Looking forward: The Falcons have their second NFC South matchup next Sunday with a road trip to face the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET.