Marc Raimondi
Marc Raimondi
ESPN Staff WriterMarc Raimondi’s first year covering the Falcons was 2024, but it wasn’t his first year at ESPN. He joined the company in 2019 and was a top combat sports reporter. He also covered professional wrestling and wrote the book “Say Hello to the Bad Guys: How Pro Wrestling’s New World Order Changed America,” which was published by Simon & Schuster in 2025. Raimondi also worked for the New York Post and Newsday, beginning in 2009, covering high school and college sports, plus the NFL, NFL, MLB and NHL.
Kevin Seifert
Kevin Seifert
ESPN Staff WriterKevin Seifert is a staff writer who covers the Minnesota Vikings and the NFL at ESPN. Kevin has covered the NFL for over 20 years, joining ESPN in 2008. He was previously a beat reporter for the Minneapolis Star Tribune and Washington Times. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia.Sep 14, 2025, 08:37 PM ET
MINNEAPOLIS — The Atlanta Falcons (0-1) face the Minnesota Vikings (1-0) in a NFL Week 2 matchup on Sunday night.
Coach Kevin O’Connell made his Vikings team aware that Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr. is a better runner than some gave him credit for entering the 2024 draft. It was a notable acknowledgement after Bears QB Caleb Williams rushed for 58 yards and a touchdown on six carries against Minnesota in Week 1. The Vikings will try to keep Penix in check at a time when multiple defensive starters and key players are nursing injuries.
The Falcons were second in the league last season in rushing success rate (47.5%) behind Bijan Robinson and a stout offensive line. In Week 1, Atlanta was second to last in that category (28.6%) and 30th in the league in run block win rate (63%).
Our two team reporters — Marc Raimondi for the Falcons, Kevin Seifert for the Vikings — are at US Bank Stadium, and they’re keeping you updated on all the biggest plays and highlights.
Falcons-Vikings highlights