7 reasons why the Vikings will beat the Falcons in Week 1

Rhodes’ success against Julio

This season’s roster for the Falcons features a number of talented players, but none may be more dangerous than wide receiver Julio Jones. His lethal combination of size and speed has helped him develop into one of the best receivers in the NFL today.

Containing Jones on Sunday (if he plays) will likely be one of the Vikings’ top priorities. Luckily for Minnesota, they have a talented player of their own in cornerback Xavier Rhodes who has had success in the past when he’s had to face the Atlanta receiver.

In three matchups since 2014, Rhodes has been able to prevent Jones from becoming much of a factor in the outcome of each game. During the last meeting between the Vikings and Falcons in 2017, Jones only managed two catches for 24 yards on six targets.

Atlanta’s top receiver is definitely capable of having an impressive performance this weekend. But his past showdowns against Rhodes indicate that Minnesota should be able to keep the Falcons receiver in check on Sunday.