[WATCH/STREAMS!] Vikings vs Falcons Live Free Online Broadcast 5 November 2023
The Minnesota Vikings, led by quarterback Jaren Hall, meet the Atlanta Falcons, led by quarterback Taylor Heinicke, in a regular season game on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga. Minnesota Vikings vs. Atlanta Falcons FREE LIVE STREAM (11/5/23): Watch NFL Week 9 online | Time, TV, Channel
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Here’s what you need to know:
What: NFL, Week 9
Who: Minnesota Vikings vs. Atlanta Falcons
When: Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023
Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Time: 1 p.m. ET
TV: FOX
The Minnesota Vikings and Atlanta Falcons have more in common than the 4-4 records they take into Sunday’s game.
Each team’s quarterback plans for the remainder of the season appear uncertain, but could be defined by the performances of Sunday’s new starters.
Perhaps the only certainty for either team’s immediate future at the position is the Vikings know they’ve lost Kirk Cousins until 2024 with a torn right Achilles tendon last week.
A rash of turnovers cost Falcons second-year quarterback Desmond Ridder his starting job for at least one week. Taylor Heinicke will make his first start of the season.
Heinicke says he’s focused only on the one game because he doesn’t know if the starting job will be his for more than one game after coach Arthur Smith said “our focus is short-term.”
Rookie Jaren Hall will make his first career start for the Vikings. Nick Mullens, the primary backup, is on injured reserve with a lower back injury. Minnesota acquired former Arizona starter Joshua Dobbs on Tuesday, hours before the trade deadline.
“The career doesn’t ride on one game, although you don’t want to take the importance away from it,” Hall said of his opportunity to prove he should remain the starter. “It’s got to be my Super Bowl every week because it’s the most important thing that’s coming next.”
Hall, a fifth-round draft pick from BYU, took over in the fourth quarter in last week’s 24-10 win at Green Bay after Cousins’ injury.
Heinicke, a sixth-year pro, has the advantage of similar in-season quarterback changes with Washington the last two years. Heinicke took over in the second half of last week’s 28-23 loss at Tennessee.
Ridder was evaluated for a concussion last week, but remained on the sideline after he was cleared and will serve as Heinicke’s backup.
Ridder was sacked five times and lost another fumble — his 10th turnover in the past five games — against the Titans. Heinicke says his instructions from Smith include avoid sacks and protect the ball.
“I think it’s the basic things for a quarterback,” Heinicke said. “Protect the ball. Get the first downs and get down in red zones and score touchdowns. Don’t take sacks, unnecessary sacks. Get the ball out of your hands and let those playmakers do their things.”
The performance by Minnesota’s defense over the last five games after a rough start gives the Vikings reason to believe the outlook for the rest of the year without Cousins might not be as bleak as it sounds.
During October, the Vikings ranked third in the NFL in 20-plus-yard gains allowed, third in yards allowed per play, third in yards allowed per game, fourth in points allowed per game and sixth in sack percentage per pass play, according to Sportradar.
First-round draft pick Jordan Addison ought to be Hall’s primary target against the Falcons. The USC product leads all rookies with seven touchdown catches and is second overall in the NFL behind Tyreek Hill.