Falcons trample J.J. McCarthy and the Vikings 22-6 behind Bijan Robinson's running, dominant defense

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Bijan Robinson got back to work on the ground, and the Atlanta Falcons were back in business.

Robinson ran 22 times for 143 yards, Georgia native Parker Romo made five field goals without a miss in his Falcons debut, and Atlanta smothered J.J. McCarthy for six sacks and three turnovers in a 22-6 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.

Tyler Allgeier added 13 carries for 67 yards with a late touchdown run against a Vikings defense that admirably kept the game close all night while the offense crossed midfield just three times and only once got inside the 20.

“For us to be balling like that throughout the whole game, it was pretty cool to see,” said Robinson, who helped the Falcons (1-1) keep the pressure off quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and keep the crowd noise from being a factor after the first quarter.

Penix was 13 for 21 for 135 yards and has yet to commit a turnover this season.

“He’s selfless. He’ll do whatever it takes to win, which is exactly what he did tonight,” coach Raheem Morris said.

Robinson and Allgeier thrived all night behind a fired-up offensive line, culminating in a 12-play, 83-yard drive that took 6:17 off the clock down the stretch. In an opening loss to Tampa Bay, Robinson had only 24 yards on 12 rushes, though he caught six passes for 100 yards.

McCarthy, the first-time starter taken two picks after Penix in the 2024 draft whose rookie year was lost to a knee injury, overcame an interception return for a score in his debut at Chicago by leading the team to three fourth-quarter touchdowns. There was no late magic for McCarthy or Minnesota this time in his first game as a father.

“We’ve got a lot to do, and I’ve got a lot to do personally," said McCarthy, who threw two interceptions and lost a fumble on a sack.

With all of the home-opener hype in the background, highlighted by another prime-time kickoff and a halftime ceremony for newly minted Hall of Fame member Jared Allen, the fans were roaring for McCarthy after his remarkable start.

This time, Penix more got the better of him after McCarthy led Michigan to the national championship over Penix and Washington two seasons ago.

Instead of playing it safe and heading into halftime, Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell showed his faith in McCarthy by calling a dropback that created a 50-yard pass to Justin Jefferson off a slick double move toward the middle of the field. That set up Wil Reichard’s second field goal with a second left and cut it to 9-6 at the break.

But the Vikings kept getting banged up, and the offense just spiraled further after that.

“We’ve got to find a way to stay on the field longer, because it’s an important part of how we need to play as a team, especially against a team like that,” O'Connell said.

First-round draft picks Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. each contributed to the five first-half sacks, as an offseason priority to ramp up the pass rush came into prime-time focus. Atlanta hadn’t had that many sacks in a half in any game since 2009 against Washington.

Both interceptions came from rookies defensive backs, too. Third-rounder Billy Bowman Jr. had a diving grab late in the second quarter to set up a field goal, and fourth-rounder Xavier Watts made up for getting burned on Jefferson's long reception by running down an overthrow by McCarthy on the desperation final drive.

“We’re hungry,” Watts said. “We’re just doing our thing.”

Romo, who had a four-game stint with the Vikings last year while Reichard was injured, stepped in for Younghoe Koo after being signed to the practice squad on Wednesday.

“It’s crazy that I know more of their guys than I do our guys, but that’s my homework,” said Romo, who's from the Atlanta suburb of Peachtree City.

With his 9-yard reception in the first quarter, Jefferson matched Larry Fitzgerald Jr., the Minneapolis native who played 17 seasons for Arizona, as the youngest players in NFL history (26 years, 90 days) to reach 500 career catches.

Falcons: CB A.J. Terrell Jr. limped off with a left hamstring injury late in the second quarter and didn’t return.

Vikings: C Ryan Kelly (second quarter) and LT Justin Skule (third quarter) each left with concussions. Skule started his second straight game for recovering standout Christian Darrisaw (knee). ... RB Aaron Jones (hamstring) was injured in the third quarter and didn’t return. ... With S Harrison Smith held out again, three key starters were missing on defense. Backup OLB Gabe Murphy (knee) was hurt in the fourth quarter and was being evaluated for an MCL injury.

Atlanta is at Carolina next Sunday, and Minnesota hosts Cincinnati.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson (7) runs the ball during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson (7) and Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) meet after an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson (7) runs the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier (25) celebrates a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)

Atlanta Falcons place-kicker Parker Romo (39) celebrates a field goal during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Brandon Dorlus (54) sacks Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)

Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Brandon Dorlus (54) sacks Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)

Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson (7) runs the ball during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)

CRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland (AP) — In the aftermath of a fire inside a Swiss Alpine bar that killed 40 people celebrating the new year, survivors, friends and family members, the region’s top authorities and even Pope Leo have spoken to the public in remarks in French, Italian, German and English, reflecting the tradition of Swiss multilingualism.

Another 119 people were injured in the blaze early Thursday as it ripped through the busy Le Constellation bar at the ski resort of Crans-Montana, authorities said. It was one of the deadliest tragedies in Switzerland’s history.

Investigators said Friday that they believe sparkling candles atop Champagne bottles ignited the fatal fire when they came too close to the ceiling of the crowded bar.

Here’s a look at what people said in the wake of the disaster:

— “I’m looking everywhere. The body of my son is somewhere,” Laetitia Brodard told reporters Friday in Crans-Montana as she searched for her son, 16-year-old Arthur. “I want to know, where is my child, and be by his side. Wherever that may be, be it in the intensive care unit or the morgue.”

— “We were bringing people out, people were collapsing. We were doing everything we could to save them, we helped as many as we could. We saw people screaming, running,” Marc-Antoine Chavanon, 14, told The Associated Press in Crans-Montana on Friday, recounting how he rushed to the bar to help the injured. “There was one of our friends: She was struggling to get out, she was all burned. You can’t imagine the pain I saw.”

— “It was hard to live through for everyone. Also probably because everyone was asking themselves, ‘Was my child, my cousin, someone from the region at this party?’” Eric Bonvin, general director of the regional hospital in Sion that took in dozens of injured people, told AP on Friday. “This place was very well known as somewhere to celebrate the new year,” Bonvin said. “Also, seeing young people arrive — that’s always traumatic.”

— “I have seen horror, and I don’t know what else would be worse than this,” Gianni Campolo, a Swiss 19-year-old who was in Crans-Montana on vacation and rushed to the bar to help first responders, told France's TF1 television.

—“You will understand that the priority today is truly placed on identification, in order to allow the families to begin their mourning,” Beatrice Pilloud, the Valais region's attorney general, told reporters Friday during a news conference in Sion.

Pope Leo said in a telegram Friday to the bishop of Sion that he " wishes to express his compassion and concern to the relatives of the victims. He prays that the Lord will welcome the deceased into His abode of peace and light, and will sustain the courage of those who suffer in their hearts or in their bodies.”

— “We have numerous accounts of heroic actions, one could say of very strong solidarity in the moment,” Cantonal head of government Mathias Reynard told RTS radio Friday. "In the first minutes it was citizens — and in large part young people — who saved lives with their courage.”

— “Switzerland is a strong country not because it is sheltered from drama, but because it knows how to face them with courage and a spirit of mutual help," Swiss President Guy Parmelin, speaking on his first day in the position that changes hands annually, told reporters Thursday.

People bring flowers near the sealed off Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, Swiss Alps, Switzerland, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, where a devastating fire left dead and injured during the New Year's celebrations. (AP Photo/ Antonio Calanni)

A woman holding a stuffed animal, whose daughter is missing, gather with others near the sealed-off Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, where a devastating fire left dead and injured during the New Year's celebrations. (AP Photo/Baz Ratner)

People light candles near the sealed off Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, Swiss Alps, Switzerland, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, where a devastating fire left dead and injured during the New Year's celebrations. (AP Photo/ Antonio Calanni)