Sports
Falcons run over Vikings to spoil home opener as JJ McCarthy struggles
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
There was no fourth-quarter magic for J.J. McCarthy in his second NFL start, as the Atlanta Falcons handled the Minnesota Vikings on the road to win their first game of the season, 22-6.
McCarthy stole a victory in Chicago last Monday after orchestrating a thrilling fourth quarter against the Bears. But the Falcons had all the answers for the young quarterback on “Sunday Night Football” to get in the win column.
McCarthy went 11-of-21 through the air for 158 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions in a game where he had some chances for big plays, but he just didn’t have the right touch on his passes. With the lack of a successful run game, the Falcons were sending all types of pressure and McCarthy went down for six sacks.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Michael Penix Jr. of the Atlanta Falcons passes against the Minnesota Vikings during the second quarter in the game at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sept. 14, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
But McCarthy’s opponent, Michael Penix Jr., wasn’t having the best of games at the quarterback position either. Penix was just 13-of-21 for 135 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. He also missed some throws that could’ve led to a touchdown earlier than Tyler Allgeier’s late fourth-quarter score, which was the dagger for the Falcons.
COWBOYS BEAT GIANTS ON WALK-OFF FIELD GOAL IN THRILLING OVERTIME VICTORY
Allgeier’s five-yard rush was the only touchdown for either team in this game, as it was a field goal battle throughout with both teams struggling to convert on red zone chances. Parker Romo, the Falcons’ new kicker as Younghoe Koo was benched after a rough week 1 performance, was up for the challenge as he knocked in all five of his field goal attempts, including his longest from 54 yards out.

J.J. McCarthy of the Minnesota Vikings warms up against the Atlanta Falcons before the game at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sept. 14, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
Though the pass game wasn’t efficient for Atlanta, star running back Bijan Robinson picked up the slack with 143 rushing yards on 22 carries to lead the game in that category. Drake London was the leading receiver for the Falcons with 49 yards on three receptions.
For the Vikings, Justin Jefferson had 81 yards, though he caught just three passes. After McCarthy’s second interception of the game on the Vikings’ final drive, Jefferson was noticeably frustrated on the sideline, but who wouldn’t be when the offense truly clicked in the fourth quarter this past week?
McCarthy and the Vikings will hope to be more consistent from start to finish next week when they face the Cincinnati Bengals, who are expected to be without quarterback Joe Burrow after he suffered a toe injury on Sunday.

Bijan Robinson of the Atlanta Falcons rushes against the Minnesota Vikings during the first quarter in the game at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sept. 14, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Meanwhile, the Falcons hit the road again, but against an NFC South rival in the Carolina Panthers next Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Sports
Hail or Fail: Special teams shine in a long-awaited Commanders win
The good (Jacory Croskey-Merritt) and bad (turnovers) from Washington’s first triumph since October.
Source link
Sports
African players in Europe: Salah off to AFCON amid uncertainty | The Express Tribune
PARIS:
Mohamed Salah heads for Morocco this week to captain Egypt in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) amid uncertainty over his future at Liverpool.
Salah came off the bench midway through the first half and set up the second goal in a 2-0 Premier League win over Brighton at the weekend.
After the match, manager Arne Slot said there was “no issue to resolve” with his star forward, but speculation continues to rumble over the Egyptian’s future after his outburst last weekend.
AFP Sport highlights African headline-makers in the major European leagues:
ENGLAND
MOHAMED SALAH (Liverpool)
The 33-year-old came on as a substitute and seized his chance by setting up Liverpool’s second goal for Hugo Ekitike. Salah had been left out of Liverpool’s squad for Tuesday’s Champions League victory at Inter Milan after his explosive rant about Slot following the recent draw at Leeds. That was the third successive game that Salah had been left on the bench and his furious claim that he had been “thrown under the bus” hinted at a potential departure from the troubled Premier League champions during the January transfer window.
CALVIN BASSEY (Fulham)
The Nigeria defender scored in his side’s 3-2 win at Burnley. Bassey grabbed Fulham’s second goal to put them 2-1 up in the 31st minute en route to their first victory at Turf Moor since 1951. The 25-year-old’s close-range header from Harry Wilson’s cross was his first goal since an FA Cup tie against Manchester United in March.
IBRAHIM SANGARE (Nottingham Forest)
The Ivory Coast midfielder capped his side’s 3-0 victory over Tottenham with the final goal. Sangare netted in the 79th minute at the City Ground, bending a superb strike in off the post with the outside of his foot. The 28-year-old’s second goal this season — and his first in seven matches — helped boost Forest’s bid to avoid relegation.
SPAIN
AKOR ADAMS, CHIDERA EJUKE (Sevilla)
Nigerians Adams and Ejuke celebrated AFCON call-ups with a goal each as Sevilla hammered Real Oviedo 4-0 in La Liga. Adams opened the scoring in the fourth minute and Ejuke completed the rout with one minute of regular time remaining.
GERMANY
MOHAMED AMOURA (Wolfsburg)
Amoura scored for the second straight match in Wolfburg’s 3-1 Bundesliga win at Borussia Moenchengladbach. With the teams level after 34 minutes, Amoura was on the spot to blast in a deflected Christian Eriksen cross, putting the visitors back in front. The 25-year-old has six goals and two assists for Wolfsburg in the league this season.
RAMY BENSEBAINI (Borussia Dortmund)
Borussia defender Bensebaini scored his side’s only goal in a disappointing 1-1 draw at Freiburg. With Dortmund teammate and Guinea international Serhou Guirassy struggling in front of goal and missing chances, Bensebaini took matters into his own hands with 31 minutes gone. The Algerian latched onto a Yan Couto free-kick and blasted home from close range.
FRANCE
HIMAD ABDELLI, HAROUNA DJIBIRIN (Angers)
Algerian Abdelli converted an early penalty and Cameroonian Djibirin restored a two-goal lead on 85 minutes as mid-table Angers trounced lowly Nantes 4-1 in Ligue 1. Both Africans were scoring their second goals of the league campaign.
Sports
Vikings’ JJ McCarthy tallies 3 touchdowns, buries Cowboys’ playoff chances
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
The Minnesota Vikings may be eliminated from the playoffs, but the Dallas Cowboys technically weren’t heading into their Sunday night matchup at AT&T Stadium.
The Cowboys’ chances are now at rock bottom after falling to the Vikings, 34-26, on Sunday night.
The Vikings are now 6-8 on the season, while the Cowboys fell to 6-7-1. And though they’re not technically eliminated, the Cowboys’ playoff chances are hanging by a thread now.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) celebrates after a touchdown during the first half against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on Dec. 14, 2025. (Kevin Jairaj/Imagn Images)
It was an inauspicious start for the Vikings in this contest, as J.J. McCarthy very first pass attempt was an interception, as it was tipped at the line by a blitzing Donovan Wilson and Quinnen Williams looked up and hauled it in.
Dak Prescott and the Cowboys’ offense had tremendous field position for their opening drive, and though it took 11 plays to go 35 yards, Javonte Williams was able to nail it into the end zone for the 7-0 lead.
It also wouldn’t have happened without a fake field goal, as Brandon Aubrey, one of the most trusted legs in the NFL, ran for a first down on fourth-and-4 from the Minnesota 29-yard line. However, Aubrey would come up in a not so good way later in this game.
SUPER BOWL 2026 ODDS: RAMS, SEAHAWKS REMAIN ATOP BOARD; BRONCOS RISE
The Vikings were finally able to get something going after the field was flipped on their third drive when Aaron Jones was pushed out of bounds on an 18-yard reception, and the Cowboys were called for a horse collar tackle, tacking on 15 yards. On the very next play, McCarthy fired a touchdown pass to Jalen Nailor — his first of two scores in this one — to tie the game at seven apiece.
The second quarter brought about a wave of offense on both sides, as Dallas responded with Malik Davis rushing one in from a yard out, while McCarthy capped a 75-yard drive with a perfectly executed fake handoff on Dallas’ one-yard line for a walk-in touchdown.
On the ensuing drive, Aubrey, who again has one of the most reliable legs in the game, missed just his third field goal attempt of the year, this one from 51 yards out. After Will Reichard nailed one, Aubrey had some redemption before halftime, as both teams tallied 17 points.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) looks to throw during the first half against the Minnesota Vikings at AT&T Stadium on Dec. 14, 2025. (Kevin Jairaj/Imagn Images)
In the second half, the Cowboys ended up with a 23-17 lead thanks to two more Aubrey field goals, but seven points is what they were hoping for. McCarthy helped make it happen with a big pass to Nailor to set up the Vikings in the red zone.
After Justin Jefferson, who struggled in this one despite the targets, not hauling in a touchdown pass, C.J. Ham buried a one-yard touchdown to make it 24-23 after the extra point.
Prescott tried to match his second-year counterpart, but the Cowboys stalled on Minnesota’s 41-yard line. At 59 yards out, it’s well within Aubrey’s range, but he missed yet again. All four of his field goal misses this season have been from 50 yards and beyond.
Now, with the ball near midfield, the Vikings had a chance to further their lead and they got just what they needed. On 1st-and-goal from the Dallas four-yard line, McCarthy found Nailor again and he celebrated as the Vikings went up 31-23.
The Cowboys would turn the ball over on downs on the ensuing drive, and the Vikings saw Aaron Jones pick up multiple first downs to not only keep the clock running, but force Dallas to use all their timeouts.
Bundle FOX One and FOX Nation to stream the entire FOX Nation library, plus live FOX News, Sports, and Entertainment at our lowest price of the year. The offer ends on Jan. 4, 2026. (Fox One; Fox Nation)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
In the box score, McCarthy was 15-of-24 for 250 yards with two touchdowns and one interception, as Jordan Addison’s 58-yard catch was among some of his great throws.
For the Cowboys, Prescott was 23-of-38 for 294 yards, though he never threw a touchdown pass. CeeDee Lamb led all receivers in this game with 111 yards on six catches, but George Pickens was kept quiet for the second straight game. He had just three catches for 33 yards.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
-
Politics1 week agoThailand launches air strikes against Cambodian military: army
-
Fashion1 week agoGermany’s LuxExperience appoints Francis Belin as new CEO of Mytheresa
-
Politics1 week agoZelenskiy says Ukraine’s peace talks with US constructive but not easy
-
Politics4 days agoTrump launches gold card programme for expedited visas with a $1m price tag
-
Tech6 days agoJennifer Lewis ScD ’91: “Can we make tissues that are made from you, for you?”
-
Politics1 week ago17 found dead in migrant vessel off Crete: coastguard
-
Business5 days agoRivian turns to AI, autonomy to woo investors as EV sales stall
-
Entertainment1 week agoToo big to fail? IndiGo crisis exposes risks in Indian aviation

