The Vikings’ home opener turned into a disaster. On Sunday Night Football at U.S. Bank Stadium, the Falcons steamrolled them 22-6. Right from the start, it was clear the night wouldn’t go as planned. The offense couldn’t get going. The run defense looked like Swiss cheese. Meanwhile, fans started heading for the exits long before the final whistle blew.

On top of that, JJ McCarthy struggled big time in just his second career start. He threw two interceptions and lost a fumble after a brutal strip-sack. His total passing yards? A measly 158. Every pass seemed riskier than the last. The pressure kept building, and McCarthy just couldn’t handle it.

Moreover, the Vikings barely managed 198 total yards as a team. McCarthy took six sacks. The running game barely moved the chains. In short, it was a total mess from whistle to whistle.

The Vikings’ offense barely managed two field goals. No touchdowns. The real action came from a 50-yard Justin Jefferson catch, a forced fumble by Wilson, and a couple of Falcons’ sacks. As the second half dragged on, some boos echoed through the stadium, and fans started heading for the exits early, fed up with the poor performance. Naturally, the fans were furious.

Fans don’t want to see JJ McCarthy and Vikings in prime time

It was the home opener, McCarthy’s first game at home, but the excitement didn’t last long. Right after the final whistle, the anger exploded on social media. One fan wrote, “I don’t want to see Vikings on another prime time game this season. I don’t think JJ is it.” Another added, “Get Vikings and McCarthy off prime time, please.” The frustration was loud.

And McCarthy couldn’t dodge the Falcons’ pressure, missed several open receivers, and struggled to protect the ball. The worst moment came in the fourth quarter when the Vikings were down by 6. On 3rd and 1, McCarthy aimed deep to Jalen Nailor, who was wide open. Yet he overthrew him, resulting in a punt instead of a crucial first down.

Furthermore, fans feel McCarthy isn’t cut out for prime time yet. One tweeted, “Why are we watching the @Vikings in another prime time game? An absolute joke.” Another added, “Unfortunately, JJ isn’t ready for prime time yet. Too many turnovers, holds the ball and not accurate throws.” The offensive line didn’t help much either, but McCarthy must step up fast if the Vikings want to stay competitive.

On top of that, the run defense looked weak. Without Blake Cashman and Andrew Van Ginkel, it fell apart. Bijan Robinson ran for 143 yards on 22 carries, while Tyler Allgeier added 76 rushing yards and a game-sealing touchdown. That’s why some fans said, “This is why the Vikings shouldn’t have prime time games.”

So while the run defense become concerns for the Vikings, injuries also piled up. So, let’s see how the Vikings adjust in Week 3.