Unfortunately, it was not that. Quite the opposite, in fact. On Sunday Night Football, with the entire world watching, the Vikings laid a dud. Outside of Brian Flores’ bend-but-don’t-break defensive creating some early game highlights, the 70,000+ packed into The Bank were rendered completely useless.

Steadily, Vikings fans went from rabid at kickoff, to nervous by halftime… and apathetic by mid-fourth quarter, after former Viking John Parker Romo kicked the Falcons to a late 15-6 lead that might as well have been 45-6.

What We Learned – Minnesota Vikings vs Atlanta Falcons

That’s what happens when, less than one week after a historic comeback victory in Chicago — where we saw the Vikings score three fourth quarter touchdowns while Brian Flores’ defense wrapped Caleb Williams’ brain into a second half pretzel — the offense forgets how to move the ball and your defense how to stop the run.

So on that note, let’s dig into what we learned about the Minnesota Vikings during Sunday’s lullaby 22-6 week two home loss against the Atlanta Falcons.

Minnesota Vikings tough in the redzone, but soft against the run

Before we get to the struggles of JJ McCarthy, let’s discuss Brian Flores’ 2025 crew, and what to take away from their performance last night, one that raised just as many questions about the MN Vikings defense as it brought answers.

Flores knew that the Falcons were going to establish the run early, if they were allowed to do so. That’s how they built their team, behind the ultra-talented Bijan Robinson, especially once they moved on from Kirk Cousins as their starter.

You want a shot at a lot of $$$ as WR or RB

Practice long sticks with one stride and drive stepping with toes of other foot pointed 90 degrees to boundary at full speed.

This kind of hip movement underscores great routes and RB C.O.D.

Bijan Robinson #Falcons pic.twitter.com/duFTAPdZdb

— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) September 15, 2025

It’s possible B-Flo was fine with that, which would explain Minnesota’s “bend-but-don’t-break” defensive strategy. You could even argue that it worked, being Atlanta didn’t score its first touchdown until there was just 3:22 remaining in the fourth quarter.

But how well did it work, really? Because the Falcons piled up a mind-numbing 218 rushing yards, on 5.6 yards per carry. Atlanta’s offense also passed for 198 yards. By himself, Bijan Robinson rushed for 22 times and accounted for 143 yards on the ground (6.5 YPC).

Combine all that with the Vikings’ offensive struggles, and there should be no surprise that the Falcons won the time of possession battle 36:32 to 23:28. And when your offense is only on the field for 1/3 of the game, you get QB stat lines like JJ McCarthy’s Sunday night.

JJ McCarthy takes major step back

It took a crazed comeback in Chicago for McCarthy to reach 143 yards passing in week one. That’s not a huge deal, especially in a win.

In week one vs the Bears, even before he led the comeback, McCarthy looked poised and somewhat comfortable in the pocket, against the Bears, especially for a redshirt rookie making his NFL debut. He progressed through his reads, before delivering accurately and on-time to open receivers, when they were there.

None of that was true last night, where the Vikings’ youngster looked more like a deer in headlights than he did a professional quarterback, finishing 11/21 for 158 yards, 0 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.

JJ McCarthy tonight:

•11/21
•158 yards
•0 TDs
•2 INTs
•22-6 Loss

Maybe he should just stick to handing the ball off

pic.twitter.com/86DbzjLuS3

— Daily MSU (@daily_msu) September 15, 2025

But per usual, it isn’t what McCarthy did on paper that made me nervous, it was what I saw with my eyes. Sunday night, back at home with no crowd noise to deal with, JJ looked oddly uncomfortable, under the bright lights of U.S. Bank Stadium.

The 22-year-old struggled to get the team lined up on time, set protections properly and communicate with Kevin O’Connell. Those issues led to all sorts of free pass rushers, missed blocking assignments and multiple fumbled or bobbled exchanges between McCarthy and two different centers.

Related: JJ McCarthy’s Legendary Moment in Vikings Huddle Shook Teammates, Sparked Comeback

When he did get the ball in his hands successfully, life wasn’t much better., as McCarthy struggled to go through reads and get the ball out on time. Worse yet, he missed throws that are normally free throws for him.

The kid was bouncing footballs short of his receivers, throwing them over their heads. It was an ugly night for the redshirt rookie.

“JJ McCarthy can’t throw” pic.twitter.com/SNYNFdtWEk

— Blake (@RyanDayRuinedMe) September 15, 2025

We all expect growing pains from the Minnesota Vikings’ young franchise QB this season. Last night, it was HOW he made his mistakes that was most worrisome. Going forward, what matters is how he responds.

Please, make the injuries stop

The Minnesota Vikings entered 2025 feeling downright cocky about their medical staff, even targeting injury-prone offensive and defensive linemen in free agency, in order to save a buck.

So far, not good. For weeks/months, coaches and those around TCO Performance Center have been touting Christian Darrisaw’s recovery and rehab from knee surgery that ended his 2024 season halfway through.

They were so sure of themselves that most of the fanbase and those in media expected the 25-year-old All-Pro caliber blindside protector to suit up week one.

He didn’t. Then in week two, after being a full-participant in practice all week, Darrisaw was inactive again. As a result, JJ McCarthy has been dealing with constant pressure from the left side.

.@AtlantaFalcons @Vikings Falcons rookie class all showed up and showed out @jalonwalkr @JamesPearceJr10 @xavierwatts6 @Billy2Bowman the Falcons have a pass rush. spread the news. #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/i1XbanGQqd

— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) September 15, 2025

To make matters worse, there is still concern over whether or not Darrisaw will be ready to play in week three, which would raise even bigger problems, being Skule and Kelly may very-well have to sit out too, after they suffered concussions vs the Falcons.

On defense, the injury list just keeps growing. None of Harrison Smith, Blake Cashman (IR) or Andrew Van Ginkel were active on Sunday night, leaving massive gaps at the second and third levels that helped lead to Bijan Robinson’s big day.

Related: Kevin O’Connell Says Jettas Isn’t the Diva He Sees Elsewhere

On both sides of the football, if the Minnesota Vikings cannot start to get healthier, it may not matter how much better McCarthy gets or how much KOC learns on the job. And for a team so confident in that department, it’s time to walk the walk.

This team has a lot of problems, but they can’t really fix them if most of their best players aren’t on the field. Thankfully, the upcoming Vikings schedule is the easiest it will be all season, so there is plenty of room to turn things around.

Kevin O’Connell needs to be better

There’s only one person, outside of McCarthy himself, who’s responsible for making sure JJ bounces back from Sunday’s brutal week two showing.

It took just three seasons for Kevin O’Connell to ascend up the NFL head coaching ranks and establish himself as, possibly, the best QB whisperer in the entire league.

But he needs to do more than whisper, if he wants McCarthy to develop into a top NFL quarterback. We all know that, behind the scenes, our young QB is being taken care of and coached better than most.

What about during games, though? Because the Minnesota Vikings are still missing their star left tackle, Christian Darrisaw, and injury issues up front just continue to get worse.

Some rookie-on-rookie fun with Falcons first-round pick James Pearce Jr. beating Vikings first-round pick Donovan Jackson for the sack.

Pearce had a 23% pass rush win rate at Tennessee last season. pic.twitter.com/IwFQC0EO2k

— Bobby Football (@Rob__Paul) September 15, 2025

Beyond injuries, though, it sure seems like there is too much on the young QB’s plate pre-snap, when it comes to offensive checks and protections, causing late breaks out of the huddle and rushing at the line of scrimmage.

It’s on O’Connell, especially if the line doesn’t get healthier this week, to simplify the process for JJ McCarthy so he can play fast and loose.

Oh, and when you have short yardage situations, how about we just give the ball to Jordan Mason (since that’s why the Vikings got him), instead of play action fake tosses and/or QB sneaks that continue to fail?

This is the one I keep coming back to.

JJ McCarthy has drove you down the entire field. You’ve been sworn by running the ball the entire game, but when you have the ball at the two yard line, you don’t. pic.twitter.com/hvNGGG5hx9

— 𝙆𝙖𝙨𝙚 (@verysadvikings) September 15, 2025

There is no doubting KOC’s abilities as a play-caller or his future as an NFL head coach. But it’s on him to make life easier for JJ McCarthy going forward. And if he can’t, then nothing he has done to this point will matter.

MN Vikings hope on the horizon…?

Next week, they will host a Joe Burrow-less Cincinnati Bengals, before flying overseas to defend their undefeated international record against the Cleveland Browns (week 4) and Pittsburgh Steelers (week 5).

Both contests were supposed to be road games, Instead, they are at neutral sites, (Dublin and London) a scheduling outlier that the Vikings must take advantage of.

JJ McCarthy had 4 chunk completions in one drive that got us down to the two yard line.

Once protection is sorted out, they should open up the playbook for him. He can do this! pic.twitter.com/sUHPkgpSAy

— 𝙆𝙖𝙨𝙚 (@verysadvikings) September 15, 2025

Related: Vikings HC Wastes No Time Delivering Legendary Message

To do so, however, their defense needs to be better against the run and JJ McCarthy needs to be better overall. That means moving on from an ugly week two lands at the feet of head coach Kevin O’Connell and defensive coordinator Brian Flores.

In the meantime, fans need to try and remember that there are still 15 games (of 17) remaining… so there’s a whole lot we have yet to learn about the 2025 Minnesota Vikings. A month from now, we’ll realize how little we actually knew about this team, after the Falcons loss.

The storylines for this contest are aplenty. Adam Thielen will run out of the tunnel as a member of the home team once again. Kirk Cousins will exit the tunnel as a clipboard holding member of the away team. McCarthy and Michael Penix Jr. get to redo their National Championship showdown of a couple years ago.

Under the primetime lights of Sunday Night Football, this one should be plenty of fun. Minnesota enters as -3.5 point favorites at home.

Before the game kicks off, it’s worth taking a look at who locally thinks the Vikings emerge victorious, and how the game will shake out. Of course those covering the team on a daily basis have the greatest insight as to where things should stand.

To add context, we’ve also included picks and predictions from popular national media outlets, who do not follow the Vikings as closely as those on the local beat. That will allow you to compare and contrast how local media views the MN Vikings vs those in the national space.

Week 1 Minnesota Vikings local beat writer & media predictions

• Ben Goessling (Star Tribune) – Vikings 23, Falcons 21

The Falcons‘ offensive weapons, especially with Robinson’s elusiveness and Drake London’s physicality, will test a Vikings defense that is without two starters because of injury and had three defensive backs on the injury report this week. It will require the Vikings to get creative with their secondary, and they’ll need solid performances from players like cornerback Dwight McGlothern. But they’ll get a boost from a U.S. Bank Stadium crowd that should be electric on Sunday night, and their offense will have some favorable matchups against Atlanta’s defense. They’ll win their home opener in a close one. – Star Tribune

• Dane Mizutani (Pioneer Press) – Vikings 24, Falcons 17

It took J.J. McCarthy roughly 45 minutes of game time to find his rhythm in his NFL debut. The hostile road environment at Soldier Field contributed to that. He should be more comfortable from the onset at U.S. Bank Stadium. – Pioneer Press

Related: Three Keys for Minnesota Vikings Against Atlanta on Sunday Night

• John Shipley (Pioneer Press) – Vikings 23, Falcons 18

Rising rookies take the stage, with the Vikings’ J.J. McCarthy bolstered by a come-back Monday night win and the birth of his first child. Atlanta’s Michael Penix Jr., meanwhile, will be getting advice about winning a nationally televised night game from Kirk Cousins. – Pioneer Press

• Charley Walters (Pioneer Press) – Vikings 30, Falcons 24

Quarterbacks drafted in 2024, J.J. McCarthy (No. 10 overall) of the Vikings and Michael Penix Jr. (No. 8) by the Falcons, will be on the big stage for comparison. Ex-Viking Kirk Cousins and his guaranteed $27.5 million will get to compare, too, from the Atlanta sideline. – Pioneer Press

• Jace Frederick (Pioneer Press) – Falcons 28, Vikings 24

Another week, another battle of second-year quarterbacks. But Michael Penix Jr. is significantly better than Caleb Williams. Minnesota’s pass rush needs to get home to get Atlanta’s signal caller out of rhythm. – Pioneer Press

Sunday Night Football – Vikings vs Bears national predictions

• ESPN – 10 of 11 experts pick Vikings
  • Sonia Bell – Vikings
  • Mike Clay – Vikings
  • Jeremy Fowler – Vikings
  • Dan Graziano – Vikings
  • Kalyn Kahler – Vikings
  • Matt Bowen – Vikings
  • Pamela Maldonado – Vikings
  • Eric Moody – Vikings
  • Seth Walder – Vikings
  • Lindsey Thiry – Falcons
  • Seth Wickersham – Vikings

Minnesota’s Myles Price will return a kick or punt for a touchdown. Price had juice in his NFL debut Monday night, particularly as a punt returner, where he recorded 22 yards over expectation — second most in Week 1. — Seth Walder (ESPN)

Related: Falcons Bringing Scorned Vikings Kicker to Minnesota

• The Athletic – 6 of 8 experts pick Vikings
  • Joe Buscaglia – Vikings
  • Chad Graff – Vikings
  • Larry Holder – Vikings
  • Josh Kendall – Vikings
  • Nick Kosmider – Falcons
  • Austin Mock – Vikings
  • Zack Rosenblatt – Vikings
  • Josiah Turner – Falcons

J.J. McCarthy just finished cramming one of the best quarterback debuts ever into just 15 minutes. Who doesn’t want to watch the follow-up act? – The Athletic

• MMQB (Sports Illustrated) – 5 of 6 experts pick Vikings
  • Conor Orr – Vikings
  • Gilberto Manzano – Falcons
  • Matt Verderame – Vikings
  • John Pluym – Vikings
  • Mitch Goldich – Vikings
  • Claire Brennan – Vikings

Of course, we all know how the story goes from there. Atlanta selected Michael Penix Jr with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, two spots ahead of where the Vikings selected JJ McCarthy, shocking Cousins and his representation.

In week 16, after totalling 3,508 yards on 66.9% passing for 18 touchdowns and a league-high 16 interceptions, Cousins was benched in favor or Penix Jr., and he’s remained the publicly declared Falcons backup quarterback ever since, despite the $75 million in guaranteed money still owed on Kirk’s contract.

Since his benching, Kirk Cousins has made it clear he does not want to take a backseat to Michael Penix Jr in Atlanta. There have even been reports that he’d be more interested in backing up JJ McCarthy in Minnesota, if QB2 is his only option.

Still, up to this point, Kirk was continuing to show up and participate on all Falcons-sponsored workouts, both voluntary and mandatory, even as recently as mid-April, after head coach Raheem Morris told reporters that he didn’t expect Cousins’ presence at voluntary workouts this offseason.

Former Minnesota Vikings QB Kirk Cousins is a no-show for Atlanta Falcons OTAs

But now, just over one month later, the Atlanta Falcons have gathered at team facilities this week (just like the Minnesota Vikings), for Voluntary Organized Team Activities. One player who did not show up this time, however, was Kirk Cousins, who was always a staple at every Minnesota Vikings voluntary workout, while here.

The first practice of #Falcons OTAs is now underway and Kirk Cousins is not on the field. Cousins has made clear he wants to play elsewhere in 2025. https://t.co/8Uf6DY1mO0

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) May 27, 2025

While the 36-year-old Cousins did show his face earlier this spring, it’s not a surprise he was not in the house today. The situation in Atlanta seems to be getting more and more desperate, with each day that goes by.

Most recently, Kirk Cousins has been tied to the Pittsburgh Steelers, who are waiting on Aaron Rodgers to get over his alleged obsession with the Minnesota Vikings and head coach Kevin O’Connell.

Should Rodgers find another landing spot or choose to retire, it sounds like the Steelers could sweeten whatever previous deal they’ve had on the table or have been willing to offer up for Cousins. Deals that, to this point, the Falcons have refused.

Related: The Minnesota Vikings Spent How Much More Than Everyone Else?!

But no matter what happens with A-Rodg and the trickle down effect it may or may not have on Kirk in Atlanta, it looks like the former MN Vikings QB is more determined than ever to escape the ATL, even if it means missing out on offseason workouts.

Now, will the Falcons hold out until practices become mandatory in a couple of weeks? If so, is Cousins willing to take fines and miss paychecks, in order to prove how serious he is; and then, where does the relationship go from there? We’ll soon find out all the answers to those questions.

At the start of free agency, and for much of the time since, their primary focus has been whether or not to add 41-year-old former nemesis, Aaron Rodgers, who has still yet to sign with another team. For now, however, it appears the MN Vikings have moved on from their A-Rodg discussions.

That doesn’t mean they’re out on higher-end veterans, though. Even if they have to complete a trade to make it happen. Enter Kirk Cousins, who spurned running it back with the Vikings in exchange for a massive payday from the Atlanta Falcons.

Former Minnesota Vikings QB a no-show in Atlanta this offseason?

Of course, we all know how that has gone, since. The Falcons went 7-7 with Cousins under center last season, before benching him, in favor of No. 7 overall pick Michael Penix Jr, who they drafted behind Kirk’s back last April, creating this entire mess in the first place.

Now, he enters the 2025 season behind Penix Jr. on the Atlanta depth chart and he’s not happy about it. Kirk Cousins has made it clear to Falcons brass that he does not want to be their backup QB, and instead, would prefer to be traded or released.

So far, Falcons head coach Raheem Morris and the rest of the organization remain defiant that they would rather have a $35 million backup, than a sunk cost no longer on the roster. Since no trade offers have been near what the Falcons deem worthy of the $37M in dead cap that would cost, let alone the $70 million cap penalty they’d have to absorb if they released him.

In other words, we have a stalemate down in Georgia between the Atlanta Falcons and Kirk Cousins. And when there is a contract stalemate in the NFL, we talk holdouts, which begin early in the offseason during voluntary team workouts, or what we in the business like to call “Organized Team Activities”, which begin as early as May.

#Falcons coach Raheem Morris does not expect QB Kirk Cousins to be at OTAs: "I'm not going to be foolish to think that he's going to show up for voluntary work."

— Marc Raimondi (@marcraimondi) April 1, 2025

It’s crazy how much difference a year can make. Around this time last season, Cousins was riding the high of a shiny new deal big money deal. He was everywhere and the Atlanta Falcons organization was parading him around town like the city’s next savior.

Vikings Kirk Cousins vs Falcons Kirk Cousins

Instead of crowning him at the end of the ceremony, however, they drafted his replacement, in Penix Jr. The 6’4″ lefty then proceeded to breath down Cousins’ back for the next 14 weeks, until he was benched, ending the worst “healthy” starting season of his career.

Kirk completed 66.9% of his passes last season, which is the exact same as his career average. But he threw for just 3,508 yards. Outside of his half season with the Vikings in 2023, when he played in only 8 games — it was the lowest passing yard total since 2015, prior to being named the starter in Washington.

RAIDERS PICK OFF KIRK COUSINS ON THE FIRST PLAY OF THE SECOND HALF 😤

That's Cousins' ninth INT in the last five games 🤯

(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/txkxYDJp5j

— ESPN (@espn) December 17, 2024

Worse yet, Cousins threw only 18 touchdowns in 2024 (also his lowest since 2015), while leading the NFL in interceptions, with 16. In those 8 games as a Viking in 2023, he threw the same exact number (18), but paired those with just 5 interceptions.

In 2022, Kirk Cousins was a pro bowler who led the Vikings to a 13-4 record and Kevin O’Connell’s first playoff appearance as a head coach. The MN Vikings were just 4-4 when Cousins was lost to the season due to a ruptured achilles. But as his numbers show, most of the slow start that 2023 season was not on him.

In fact, he was one of the only things giving fans hope during that ugly turnover-riddled start that ended in a mostly Josh Dobbs led offense sputtering to a 7-10 playoff-less finish. Had he finished out that Packers game, the Vikings were on a three game win-streak and he would have been atop the pile for NFL MVP odds. Instead, he was on the trainers table after the game, then eventually on the surgery table.

Jordan Addison is THAT DUDE 🔥 pic.twitter.com/zi563PmDE8

— vikesinsider (@vikesinsider) September 15, 2023

A MN Vikings reunion for Kirk Cousins?

It seems far-fetched to believe that there’s a world in which Kirk Cousins wears purple again. At this point, he’d probably be coming back to sit behind young starter, J.J. McCarthy. But does that seem likely? According to some recent reports and rumors, there are avenues being left open by the Vikings, in case they decide to investigate a Cousins’ return.

Still, it seems more possible that the Minnesota Vikings are keeping that open as an insurance plan, just like they are with Aaron Rodgers. If they call him if, it’s probably because JJ McCarthy has had a setback in his recovery or fails to prove himself ready as a starting NFL QB on a playoff-caliber team.

Related: O’Connell Hints at Major Changes to Minnesota Vikings Offense in 2025

If Cousins doesn’t want to be a QB2 in Atlanta, he probably doesn’t want to be a QB2 in Minnesota either. It is possible that Cousins would choose to work with Kevin O’Connell again, as opposed to staying with the Falcons, where he clearly isn’t happy. But why would the Vikings offer what the Falcons are demanding for Cousins, just to sit behind someone else? Again… these questions will all be answered in due time.

Before the ink had dried on his new $180 million contract, the Falcons were already drafting his replacement Michael Penix Jr., with the No. 7 overall pick. Cousins and his representation were stunned by the move. Coming off a ruptured achilles tendon, Kirk struggled to find his form and was benched in favor of Penix after 14 starts.

Former MN Vikings QB Kirk Cousins Struggling to get out of Atlanta

Now unsurprisingly, Kirk Cousins reportedly wants out of Atlanta. Unfortunately for him, the Falcons aren’t interested in paying him to leave town. If they’re going to send the 36-year-old Michigan State alum direct deposits every week, they want him working for the Falcons, even if it means he’s wearing a headset instead of a helmet on game days.

Sources: QB Kirk Cousins asked for, and got, a meeting with Falcons owner Arthur Blank on his future. Blank and Cousins had that meeting Wednesday night—the QB wants to go to a place where he can start in 2025.

The Falcons brass has said it'd do what's best for the team at QB.

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) March 7, 2025

As you can see, we have quite the QB conundrum down in the Peach State, involving our favorite controversial former Minnesota Vikings quarterback. Only Kirk would find an employer willing to pay him $100 million guaranteed, then stab him in the back prior to his first shift. And now, he’s stuck with a team he’s been feuding with since pretty much the moment he arrived.

Related: What Does Raiders QB Trade Mean for Vikings, Sam Darnold?

Albert Breer’s report all but suggests that the guy writing Cousins’ checks doesn’t really care what he wants, at this point. Entering his 14th year in the NFL and just 1.5 seasons removed from an achilles tear, Cousins isn’t getting any younger. If he doesn’t find a way out of Atlanta this offseason, finding a new starting opportunity next offseason may not be that easy anymore.

Where does this leave Cousins and the Falcons?

In his 14 games last season under center for the Falcons, Kirk Cousins completed 66.9% of his passes, for 3,508 yards, 18 touchdowns and a league-leading 16 interceptions. Cousins was benched in favor of Penix for the final three games of the regular season.

CHARGERS' FOURTH INT SEALS THE GAME. #LACvsATL pic.twitter.com/NoVPVcAHX3

— NFL (@NFL) December 1, 2024

The Falcons don’t have any good options, and that’s the problem. The most straightforward way out in his contract comes after the 2025 season, when they can save $40 million in dead cap by waiting. Releasing him now would incur a $65 million dead cap hit (instead of $40M against the cap on roster). If Atlanta waits until this time next offseason to release him, the dead cap hit will be just $25 million.

What level of interest there would be in a trade remains unknown. For now though, Blank made it clear to Kirk Cousins that Atlanta will be doing what is best for their own quarterback room. Michael Penix Jr. is the only other rostered quarterback and they certainly aren’t going to carry just one.

Related: Schefter No Longer Buying Sam Darnold + Vikings Rumors; Raiders Want JJ McCarthy

Ultimately it makes the most sense for the Falcons to swallow the loss on what was an odd decision from the get go, and move on from Kirk Cousins. If they don’t think Cousins will create a distraction, they don’t know him very well.

But still, it was Kirk Cousins’ first appearance in U.S. Bank Stadium since leaving for a multi-year payday in Atlanta. Playoff implications? This game had them. The Falcons are trying to stay afloat atop the NFC South, arguably the worst division in football.

For Minnesota, a loss would mostly eliminate them from contention in the NFC North, after the Detroit Lions moved to 12-1 on the season, Thursday night. A gaudy win/loss record is great, but if you finish second in your division, the best seed you can get for the playoffs is No. 5.

What we learned about the Minnesota Vikings in 42-21 route vs Atlanta Falcons

We don’t have to worry about any of that, though. Because Sunday, the Minnesota Vikings did things against the Atlanta Falcons that their doubters have been calling for all season.

It started with a fully rehabilitated Sam Darnold throwing for five touchdown passes (all to Jordan Addison and Justin Jefferson), as Kirk Cousins watched from the opposing sideline and simultaneously crumbled down the stretch.

And in the 4th quarter, the Vikings finally showed their finishing skills, something they’ve failed to do for much of the season. You want to talk about one-score games?

Too bad, because the Falcons couldn’t even keep this one within two scores, thanks to a last minute defensive stop that held the final score at 42-21, their third-largest margin of victory in 2024 and their first three-score win since week three (34-7 vs HOU).

Sam Darnold’s best NFL game ever

Look, this isn’t really an argument. All it takes is a quick look at the stats to tell you this was Sam Darnold’s best ever performance as an NFL quarterback. His statline is enormous…

• 22-of-28 (78.6%) | 347 Yards | 12.4 YPC | 5 Touchdowns | 0 Interceptions.

Sam Darnold finished 22-of-28 for 347 yards & 5 TDs against the Falcons, including 292 yards & 4 TDs on dropbacks over 2.5 seconds.

Darnold currently leads the NFL in completions (180), yards (2,635), and TDs (23) on dropbacks over 2.5 seconds this season.

Powered by @awscloud pic.twitter.com/vMqBlxtTtG

— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) December 8, 2024

It’s the first time Darnold has ever thrown for five touchdowns, during his professional career. Only two other times in his career has Sam ever thrown for four touchdowns in one game. It was also a career high in passing yards. His previous was 341, which he did once as a rookie, and once in relief last season for the San Francisco 49ers.

Oh, and his 157.9 QB Rating is his highest ever… by nearly 30 points. His previous high also came with the Vikings, a week 8 Thursday night loss vs the LA Rams, where Sam posted a 128.7. Yes, he got a little help from his friends, who apparently range from Justin Jefferson to Jordan Addison… and maybe even the football gods.

But for the most part, this was Darnold taking yet another step in his development under Kevin O’Connell & Co’s multi-step recovery plan for struggling quarterbacks who have been ruined by previous stops in the league.

Calm, cool and collected.

Sam Darnold hits @JJettas2 DEEEEEP for 6.

📺: @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/FsQMTn2d4z

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 8, 2024

Sam Darnold for MVP

I don’t usually do this, but today, it feels right. Not only was week 14 of the 2024 NFL season vs the Atlanta Falcons Sam Darnold’s best game ever, it probably gets him back into the top-five for NFL MVP odds. But most importantly for the former USC star and his family, he put more hypothetical cash into his future bank account.

If you think Sam Darnold would make Baker Mayfield or Geno Smith money ($25-$35 million per season for three or more years), as has been suggested multiple times this week, then what do you think he will make as a finalist for NFL MVP, up next to Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow?

Related: Minnesota Vikings Have Been Trying to Extend Byron Murphy Jr

Seem crazy? Well, it will be difficult to climb over those two frontrunners, who both have over 29 touchdowns and 5 or less interceptions, to go with ~3,000 yards or more passing. Jackson also has 678 yards and 3 TDs on the ground.

But after today’s game, Sam Darnold is up to 3,299 passing yards, 25 touchdowns and just 10 interceptions, which should place him top five in yards, touchdowns and air yards per attempt, at around 8.5 yards, when the dust settles on week 14.

By the QB numbers, Sam should be top four in MVP odds this week, in a second tier with Jared Goff, behind Burrow and Jackson. So he may not be an NFL MVP favorite quite yet, but he has absolutely pushed himself into the conversation, after today’s performance.

3!!!

📺: @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/mRjaEZ1iS3

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 8, 2024

Minnesota Vikings learning how to close

This takeaway is right up there with Sam Darnold’s performance, when it comes to expectations that NFL pundits, and even Minnesota Vikings fans, have for this 2024 squad. Yes, they were already 10-2, prior to Sunday’s victory.

But it was an inability to close and a propensity to let lesser teams hang around, that has cost the Vikings, when it comes to everyone’s 2025 Super Bowl prediction. As the division rival Lions rip teams apart, week-after-week, Minnesota has mostly skirted by most of their opponents.

Related: It was the Vikings Owners Who Pushed Kirk Cousins Out… and He Didn’t Like That

Not this afternoon. Not vs the Atlanta Falcons. After being outgained 257 to 119 in total yards during the first half, the Vikings offense found its rhythm in the second half, going off for 314 yards and 4 touchdowns (three by air, one by ground). On defense, the numbers don’t look great.

Brian Flores’ group gave up 496 total yards to the Falcons, who actually outgained the Vikings’ total of 433. But when it counted, Minnesota’s defense made plays, intercepting Kirk Cousins twice in big moments. Our former QB has now thrown 8 interceptions and 0 touchdowns in his last four games.

Kirk Cousins has 0 touchdowns and 8 interceptions over the last 4 games.

You drafted Michael Penix Jr. for this moment, make the switch Falcons.

pic.twitter.com/tUWI6lTgOY

— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) December 8, 2024

The Vikings won the turnover battle 3-0, held the Falcons on two of their three 4th down attempts and outscored the Atlanta Falcons 28-11 in the second half. Sure, they didn’t start as fast as they wanted, but they held a 14-10 lead at half, and put together one of the better 60-minute performances of the 2024 season, so far.

Some fans believe he was held back by a deteriorating defense and a head coach who never accepted him. Others believe he his gaudy salary was what held the Vikings back from reaching their full potential, while he was playing quarterback

One reason why it was difficult for Cousins to be entirely accepted by Vikings fans, was due to the circumstances surrounding his arrival. Zim was at the top of his reign, and Minnesota had just played in the NFC Championship Game, the season prior (2017).

Quarterback Case Keenum played a significant role in that infamous 38-7 loss in Philadelphia, just one week after the Minneapolis Miracle. Yet, many fans (and his coach at the time) wanted Keenum to return in 2018. He would have been much cheaper than Cousins and had already developed a chemistry with teammates.

The controversial run of Kirk Cousins + Minnesota Vikings

Instead, the Vikings signed Kirk Cousins to a fully guaranteed three-year/$84 million deal in March 2018. This was weeks after head coach Mike Zimmer told reporters at the NFL Combine that he didn’t want to sacrifice team-building to secure a high-priced quarterback.

Zimmer would coach Cousins for four seasons, before being fired after an 8-9 finish in 2021. The relationship between Zim and Kirk was always rocky, which played a part in the team hiring Kevin O’Connell as Zimmer’s replacement. O’Connell was the anti-Zimmer, empowering Cousins whenever possible and helping the quarterback engineer eight fourth-quarter comebacks in 2022.

But Kirk then suffered an Achilles tear on Oct. 29, 2023, at Lambeau Field, which cost him the rest of the 2023 season. Four and a half months later, he signed with the Atlanta Falcons, ending his six-year run as Minnesota Vikings quarterback.

This weekend, Kirk Cousins returns to U.S. Bank Stadium for the first time, since leaving for Atlanta. In anticipation of his return, let’s look at the ten games that defined Cousins’ career in purple.

10.) 2018 | 29-29 (OT) tie at Packers | Kirk Cousins goes toe-to-toe vs Aaron Rodgers

The second game of the Kirk Cousins era may be as impactful as any game on this list. After trailing 20-7 entering the fourth quarter and 23-14 with 7:38 to play in regulation, Cousins engineered a ferocious comeback. A 75-yard bomb to Stefon Diggs instantly got the Vikings back in the game.

Following two field goals by Packers kicker Mason Crosby (and an interception that went through receiver Laquon Treadwell’s hands), the Vikings trailed 29-21. That’s when Cousins led a nine-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that culminated in a dime to Adam Thielen. Cousins followed that up with a two-point conversion to Diggs to tie the game at 29.

Related: NFL Guru Polarized by Minnesota Vikings Quarterback Matchup Sunday

After that, the game got drunk like the people of Green Bay. Crosby missed a 52-yarder on the final play of regulation. Then Vikings kicker Daniel Carlson missed a 49-yarder on the first drive of overtime. After forcing a Packers punt, Cousins again got the Vikings into field goal range.

Carlson lined up for a 35-yard attempt on the final play of overtime and missed, resulting in a tie. For Cousins, it could have been a comeback that endeared him to fans from the start. Instead, the Vikings tied with their rivals, foreshadowing an up-and-down season. His 425 yards were a career-high at the time, and it was his fourth career game with four touchdown passes.

35/48
425 yards
4 TDs
118.8 rating @KirkCousins8 put on a clinic yesterday. pic.twitter.com/HDwK6SyIGT

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 17, 2018

The Vikings’ rookie kicker was cut the next day. The Raiders would sign him and help turn him into one of the league’s best kickers. This would continue the ever-revolving door of kickers to go in and out of Minnesota, a problem they finally resolved this season.

9.) 2018 | 23-20 win at Eagles | Cousins helps Vikings get revenge

It appeared that the Vikings were getting back on track three weeks later when they got revenge for their loss in the NFC Championship nine months earlier. Kirk Cousins was sharp against the Philadelphia Eagles, going 30-of-37 for 301 yards and a touchdown, in the way. It sparked a four-game winning streak and got the Vikings back into the 2018 playoff race.

An absolute dime.@kirkcousins8 finds @athielen19 for a #Vikings score. pic.twitter.com/C4Y8sZxUQ0

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) October 7, 2018

This game might be best remembered for Cousins giving an epic pre-game speech to the team. This began a short-lived run where Cousins would give passionate pre-game speeches, but none topped this one. Zimmer gave him and offensive coordinator John DeFilippo game balls for their performances.

8.) 2021 | 37-10 loss at Packers | Cousins’ COVID finale ends Mike Zimmer era

Kirk Cousins didn’t play in this game, so why is this game on here? The Vikings entered Week 17 of the 2021 season with a 7-8 record, barely clinging to their playoff hopes. Zimmer was on the hot seat and needed to make a deep playoff run to keep his job.

That evaporated when it was reported that Cousins would miss the game after being moved to the COVID-19 list. He had missed several practices during training camp before the season, and when he returned, Cousins said that deciding whether to get vaccinated was a private matter.

It appeared that he and Zimmer had differing opinions on the matter, so for the deciding game to come down to Cousins missing time due to COVID added salt to the already wounded relationship between he and Zim. Sean Mannion completed 22-of-36 passes for 189 yards and one touchdown, in Kirk’s absence. The Mike Zimmer era in Minnesota ended one week later.

7.) 2022 | 39-36 (OT) win vs Colts | A record comeback

The 2022 season was full of comebacks, but none was bigger than the 33-point comeback against the Colts. After trailing 33-0 at halftime to the 4-8-1 Colts, Kirk Cousins and the Vikings offense got to work in the second half. A two-yard touchdown pass to wideout K.J. Osborn got the Vikings on the board. C.J. Ham would barrel in for a one-yard touchdown rush to cut the deficit to 36-14 going into the fourth quarter.

The comeback felt possible when Cousins hit Justin Jefferson for an eight-yard touchdown pass to cut the score to 36-21 with 12:52 remaining in regulation. Cousins would hit Thielen for a one-yard touchdown later in the fourth quarter to make it 36-28. But the comeback was complete when Cousins hit running back Dalvin Cook on a catch-and-run for a 64-yard touchdown, followed by the tying two-point conversion to T.J. Hockenson.

With the score tied at 36, the game went to overtime. The teams exchanged punts, leaving the Vikings with 1:41 to score and avoid the tie. Cousins marched the Vikings 60 yards downfield in six plays to set up the 40-yard game-winning field goal by Greg Joseph.

The Vikings 33 Point Comeback against the Colts in 100 seconds pic.twitter.com/TxGn8jmzeE

— Frankie G (@FrankieG1998) December 17, 2022

It would be the largest comeback in NFL history, breaking the previous record of 32 points the Buffalo Bills overcame in the 1992 playoffs. The victory also clinched the Vikings’ first division title since 2017. Cousins’ 460 yards were a career-high, and his four touchdowns again tied a career-high.

6.) 2019 | 27-23 win vs Broncos | Cousins’ first big comeback

This was Cousins’s first big comeback as a Viking. The 7-3 Vikings fell behind 20-0 at halftime to the 3-7 Broncos, and nothing was working on offense. A bye week was looming, and it appeared that the Vikings had overlooked the inferior Denver squad.

Cousins was known as a front-runner during his first season and a half in Minnesota, putting up good stats but not being able to deliver in clutch moments. This was the first time he showed he could punch back since the Packers game in 2018, throwing three second-half touchdowns to help the Vikings become the first team in 100 games to overcome a 20-plus point deficit at halftime.

Related: Minnesota Vikings Open as Week 14 Favorites vs Kirk Cousins’ Falcons

Why is this game above the Colts game? Cousins still threw two picks in that game, while he didn’t throw any against the Broncos. Two of his touchdowns against the Broncos also attacked the defense downfield, once on a 52-yard strike to Diggs and then the 32-yard go-ahead score to tight end Kyle Rudolph.

Every comeback requires some degree of luck. But the win over the Broncos felt much more like a team taking a win from their opponent, as opposed to the Colt’s comeback, where Indianapolis appeared to have given up at times. It also gave us another Kirk Cousins meme that would live in infamy.

Os @Vikings estavam 20 pontos atrás dos @Broncos, com esse TD de Cousins para Kyle Rudolph, a equipe de Minnesota assume a LIDERANÇA! #NFLBrasil #NFL100 pic.twitter.com/FRdO0cNhPK

— NFL Brasil (@NFLBrasil) November 17, 2019

I think my favorite part of this comeback is how it was all Kirk Cousins — no rushing threat, no play action, no gimmicks, versus a good defense — all the things Kirk supposedly isn't capable of. pic.twitter.com/teJw1nEU9F

— Nick Olson (@NickOlsonNFL) August 11, 2021

5.) 2023 | 24-10 win at Packers | End of the Kirk Cousins era

This game was officially a win, but it felt like a loss. The Vikings stormed into Lambeau Field and took a commanding 24-3 lead after Kirk Cousins found Jordan Addison for a 20-yard touchdown halfway through the third quarter.

Minnesota was on its way to its third straight win after starting the season 1-4, and Cousins was playing perhaps his best football as a Viking. He had thrown two touchdowns on the day to give him 18 on the season and just five interceptions.

But the mood, season, and future changed when Cousins tried scrambling on a third-down pass in the fourth quarter. He hopped to the sideline and left the field immediately on a cart. It was soon confirmed that he had torn his Achilles, ending his season and time as the starting quarterback of the Vikings.

#Vikings QB was mic’ed up during the Packers game, when he tore his Achilles.

Super emotional moment for Kirk. Just an absolute rollercoaster of a moment for him.#SKOL pic.twitter.com/pOuturB9FS

— Dustin (@Dust_Vikings) February 22, 2024

Minnesota would finish 3-6 down the stretch and missed the playoffs with a 7-10 record. Fans were left wondering what could have been had Cousins stayed healthy while the defense began to improve as the season progressed.

4.) 2018 | 24-10 loss vs Bears | Sideline blowup with Adam Thielen

The 2018 Vikings had meandered through the regular season, not meeting the expectations set upon them entering the year. But they still entered the final week of the season with a simple playoff scenario: beat the Bears, who were 11-4 and had already clinched the NFC North, and Minnesota would make the playoffs. Chicago gained nothing in terms of seeding with a win or a loss.

Related: Kirk Cousins Went on an Interception Spree vs Chargers

Instead, the Vikings got walloped on both sides of the ball. The Bears outgained them 332-164. Kirk Cousins never got into a rhythm, going 20-of-33 passing for 132 yards and one touchdown. He also took four sacks from the ferocious Bears defense.

As if the performance on the field wasn’t embarrassing enough, the FOX broadcast caught Thielen yelling at Cousins. It then appeared that Cousins was explaining why he couldn’t throw to Thielen and it appeared that the two came to a mutual understanding, but the damage had been done. With the season on the line, Cousins was getting into it with his receiver.

🧐👀 Kirk Cousins & Adam Thielen not on the same page#Skol

(via @thecheckdown) pic.twitter.com/yvuSMYfXVK

— Fanatics View (@fanaticsview) December 30, 2018

3.) 2021 | 19-17 win vs Lions | Kirk Cousins + Mike Zimmer sideline shove

Once upon a time, the Detroit Lions were bad. All the time. When the Vikings played them in 2021 at U.S. Bank Stadium, the Lions were 0-4. The Vikings weren’t much better, sitting at 1-3 after some heartbreaking losses to begin the season.

It appeared the Vikings were going to cruise to victory when Greg Joseph kicked a 55-yard field goal to give Minnesota a 16-6 lead with 4:28 left in the game. The Vikings defense even turned the Lions over on downs the next drive. But Joseph missed a 49-yard field goal on the next drive and the game began to unravel.

Detroit responded with a field goal to cut the game to 16-9. After two unsuccessful runs, the Vikings opted to play it safe on third down with a run to tailback Alexander Mattison who fumbled the ball with less than two minutes left. The Lions would score three plays later and convert the two-point conversion to take a 17-16 lead with 37 seconds remaining.

Related: Sam Darnold Proved He’s a Legit QB1 vs Cardinals

That’s when Kirk Cousins took over at the Vikings’ 18-yard line. He completed three passes that covered 46 yards to set up Joseph for a 54-yard field goal. Joseph hit this one to give the Vikings a 19-17 victory. That’s when the celebration on the Vikings sideline got weird.

FOX cameras caught Zimmer and Cousins shoving one-another with what appeared to be hostility. This moment pretty much confirmed rumors of the massive rift growing between the two, which Zimmer confirmed in his tell-all story with The Star Tribune this summer.

Kirk Cousins and Mike Zimmer after the Greg Joseph kick 😂 😂 pic.twitter.com/A99mi7SFGY

— Tyler Rucker (@tyler_rucker) October 10, 2021

Cousins screamed, “You like that?!” to Zimmer, who didn’t take too kindly to the words… or the shove. “Hey, I pushed Kirk back pretty hard, too.” It was evident that Kirk had saved Zimmer’s job and that Zim wasn’t going to be around following the season.

2.) 2022, 31-24 loss vs Giants (playoffs). 4th and 8

The Vikings made the playoffs in their first season under O’Connell. They were set to host the Giants, who they had beaten three weeks earlier on another last-second field goal.

Cousins played great for most of the rematch, completing 31-of-39 passes for 273 yards, two passing touchdowns, and one rushing touchdown. But this game is remembered for one pass that Cousins made, and it ended the season.

Trailing 31-24 with 1:51 remaining in the game, the Vikings were facing 4th-and-8 at their own 48-yard line. Cousins dropped back to pass and threw a pass to T.J. Hockenson near the sideline, five yards short of the first-down marker. Hockenson never had a chance to pick up the first-down, and the Vikings’ season was over.

After winning all 11 one-score games in the regular season, the Vikings came up short when it mattered the most. Sure, the Vikings’ defense allowed 431 yards, but the lasting image was the ball in Cousins’ hands with the game on the line. And when you’re paid a lot of money, fans expect you deliver regardless of how much help you get.

What is Kirk Cousins doing here? 4th and 8, season on the line … pic.twitter.com/8plQefe5gj

— The Junkies (@JunksRadio) January 16, 2023

1.) 2019, 26-20 (OT) win at Saints. Kirk Cousins comes up clutch

Although the Giants loss was frustrating, it wasn’t like Cousins hadn’t delivered in the playoffs before. Following a 10-6 regular season in 2019, the Vikings traveled to New Orleans to face the 13-3 Saints. It would take everyone playing their best to pull off the upset, and Cousins held up his end.

Cousins’ stat line wasn’t spectacular, going 19-of-31 for 242 yards. But he didn’t turn the ball over and kept the chains moving, helping the Vikings build a 20-10 lead entering the fourth quarter. The Saints rallied, sending the game to overtime.

Related: KOC Reveals Why Ed Ingram was a Healthy Scratch for Vikings vs Cardinals

But the Vikings got the ball to begin the extra period. Rules at that time stated that a touchdown on the opening drive ended overtime. A field goal would allow the opposing team a chance to score. The Vikings had no interest in allowing the Saints to get the ball back in overtime.

On the sixth play of the drive, faked a handoff to Cook and lofted a perfect pass to Thielen, who corralled the ball at the Saints’ 2-yard line. Three plays later, Cousins called game, finding tight end Kyle Rudolph in the corner of the endzone to give the Vikings the walk-off touchdown.

Cousins to Thielen in OT🔥pic.twitter.com/wEXPzSULd6

— NFL Stats (@NFL_Stats) January 5, 2020

YOU LIKE THAT ⁉️

Kirk Cousins and Kyle Rudolph with the walk-off win in OT! (via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/JHTwR7BER2

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 5, 2020

The locker room celebrated afterwards, leading to Cousins yelling out, “You like that?!” for the first time in a public setting as a Viking. It sent the hated-Saints home and the Vikings punched their ticket to the Divisional Round to face the 49ers where they would ultimately lose 27-10.

But the victory over the Saints gave fans proof that Cousins was capable of making plays when it mattered most. Unfortunately, the roster began to erode following off-season (partially due to his contract) and the Vikings never won another playoff game under Cousins.

Related: Vikings DC Brian Flores Ruled Out for One Possible NFL Head Coaching Job

Who knows how things may have been different if Cousins had a head coach in his corner from the moment he stepped foot in Minnesota as a Viking.

Maybe the signing would have paid off better or led to more consistent playoff success instead of two playoff appearances in six years. But one thing is indisputable: the Kirk Cousins era was never dull, even if things weren’t always going well.

It was two NFL heavyweights battling it out, until the very last bell. This time, the final decision did not land in Minnesota’s favor. Late game mistakes allowed to Detroit a chance to win, and they took advantage.

At the end of the day, half the teams in the league lose every week, right? I’m not one for moral victories, but it’s been a long time since a team has gone undefeated. The 2007 Patriots went 16-0 in the regular season. Prior to that, it had been 30 years since the Dolphins accomplished that feat (12-0).

Kirk Cousins and the Atlanta Falcons had a tough Sunday

In other words, the Minnesota Vikings were never going 17-0. And let’s be honest. Some losses are worse than others. For example, let’s fly south, to the other end of the United States, to Atlanta, where former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins and his new team were destroyed (at home) 34-14 by the mediocre Seattle Seahawks.

Cousins, Atlanta’s new $180 million QB, threw two interceptions and lost a fumble. It was an all-around tough day for our former quarterback, and his new squad. Cousins wasn’t terrible, from a statistical standpoint. He went 24-of-35 for 232 yards and a touchdown, to go with his three turnovers.

Today’s loss for the Falcons was a group effort. Penalties were a huge problem (9 for 72 yards), and they lost the turnover battle 3-0. That is not a recipe for victory. Worse yet, Kirk accounted for all three of Atlanta’s turnovers.

Picked off by LOVE! pic.twitter.com/a0WHSc1dW6

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) October 20, 2024

Kirk Cousins’ fumble was extra egregious. For a guy who is often criticized for being too safe, you just cannot do what he did on that play. Throw the ball away, tuck it and take the sack.

Related: JJ McCarthy in the House and Throwing the Football Around Prior to Vikings vs Lions

Do anything other than wait way too long, to attempt an impossible throw that is never going to end up in the hands of a teammate. All while former Minnesota Gophers EDGE rusher Boye Mafe is breathing down your neck. Because that’s what Kirk did. The result? A 40-yard fumble return touchdown that all but iced the game for the Seahawks.

The Seahawks with the strip-sack and scoop n' score vs Kirk Cousins and the Falcons! 🏈🔥 #NFL pic.twitter.com/ULqWozmtH1

— The Comeback (@thecomeback) October 20, 2024

Did the Minnesota Vikings make the right choice letting Kirk walk?

On the season, Kirk Cousins is now 162-of-242 (67%) for 1,830 yards, 10 touchdowns and 7 interceptions for the Atlanta Falcons. Outside of the high interception rate, those are pretty standard Kirk Cousins numbers. Changing systems and moving to a defensive-minded football team was always a risk.

But we know Kirk. He’s always willing to bet on himself. He took more money, knowing there was a lot more risk involved with changing teams and schemes. That was before the Atlanta Falcons drafted Michael Penix Jr with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Penix had one pass today, by the way. He completed it for 14 yards.

Related: What We Learned About the Minnesota Vikings in Hard-Fought Loss vs Lions

How does Sam Darnold’s first season with the Minnesota Vikings compare to Kirk Cousins’ first season as a Falcon? Darnold had a pretty impressive line today, going 22-of-27 (81%) for 259 yards. Unfortunately, he threw 1 interception and 0 touchdowns.

Cousins vs Sam Darnold – 2024

Overall, Sam played pretty well. The fans calling for his head are delusional. But without a doubt, he did struggle in the 2nd half, at times. And Sam’s inability to make a decisive decision on the second-to-last play of the game also proved to be fatal. On the season, though, the Minnesota Vikings won’t be complaining.

Sam Darnold is now 109-of-164 (66.5%) on the season, for 1,370 yards, 12 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. He doesn’t have the volume Kirk does. The Vikings former QB has thrown the ball 78 more times than their current QB, this season. But Sam’s TD/INT ratio is way better, even if Kirk’s completion percentage is higher.

Related: We Now Know Vikings Kicker Will Reichard’s Max Field Goal Distance

We’ll probably see Atlanta Falcons fans calling for Kirk Cousins’ head this week. That’s how things always work with Kirko. Most of that criticism will be somewhat overexaggerated. But nonetheless, I’m sure glad (given the money vs output ratio), that the Minnesota Vikings moved on.

Unlike the Falcons, the Vikings are tied for first in their division, at 5-1. Fortunately for Cousins, there’s a lot of season left to play for his new team. In Minnesota, that includes a quick turnaround this week, when they will be featured on Thursday Night Football vs the LA Rams.

But there were questions raised about some illegal flirting between Cousins and the Falcons, prior to the legal negotiating window opened. Those allegations turned into an NFL investigation into possible tampering by Atlanta.

Atlanta Falcons Tampering With Kirk Cousins

A short stretch prior to the opening of free agency allows player agents to discuss contracts with interested teams, prior to the opening of free agency. This “legal tampering period” or “early negotiating window” is meant to give pending free agents an opportunity to gauge the market before signing on any dotted lines.

It’s possible that Cousins and the Falcons illegally negotiated both before and during that window, questions that will supposedly be answered this week, per Adam Schefter.

A resolution in the alleged free agent tampering cases of the Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles is likely to come this week, per league sources. pic.twitter.com/f6uQpqJSek

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 2, 2024

In the case of Kirk Cousins, it appears as though the Atlanta Falcons were relatively aggressive in their tampering attempts. Not only did Kyle Pitts recruit his new quarterback way way early on (and possibly at the direction of his employer), but Cousins said himself that he was meeting and talking with medical trainers and coaches before and during the negotiating window.

What the league does in response to the Atlanta Falcons tampering situation remains to be seen. Largely the decision is a discretionary one with no set parameters. Going into the 2024 NFL Draft, there was some hope that the league would force the Falcons to swap first round picks with the Vikings, which would bumped Minnesota up three slots to No. 8.

Related: Mike Florio Puts NFL on Blast After Kirk Cousins Poo Poo’s Tampering Allegations

Obviously that didn’t happen as there was no resolution by draft night, where the Falcons picked Cousins’ future replacement, Michael Penix Jr. The Vikings ended up trading up one slot to No. 10 and drafting QB of the future J.J. McCarthy.

Could Minnesota Vikings benefit from Falcons tampering?

But now that disciplinary action is ready to be levied, what sort of punishment will the NFL hand down to the Atlanta Falcons? More importantly, will the Minnesota Vikings benefit at all from it?

That much we don’t know, but Schefter is being told that the Falcons’ will be more severe than what the Eagles will see with their tampering of Saquon Barkley.

One league source indicated that the Falcons’ alleged transgressions are considered more significant, and the discipline is expected to be more severe for Atlanta. In the past, the league has taken tampering seriously and disciplined teams accordingly.

Adam Schefter – ESPN

Kirk Cousins wasn’t going to stay in Minnesota after the contract that Atlanta had presented, and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah astutely wasn’t going to give the same guarantees.

That doesn’t mean Minnesota didn’t attempt to retain his services though, and that certainly would have been more difficult if Cousins was having illegal conversations with the Falcons (probably others) at every turn.

Related: Annie Agar Takes Aim at Kirk Cousins’ New Employer

The Atlanta Falcons paid a substantial amount of money to Kirk Cousins in hopes that his presence under center would push them towards a Super Bowl. While that remains to be seen, the way in which they went about the deal may cost them… and hopefully benefit the Vikings in some way.

Finding out the fate of the situation is just another part of the puzzle for the Minnesota Vikings offseason, but it will close the book on a storyline that has been ongoing for some time.

While the Vikings are happy to move on to the J.J. McCarthy era, we’ll never know what may have happened had the Falcons not swooped in with a four-year, $180 million contract offer with $100M guaranteed.

But there was something fishy about the way Cousins made a mad dash to the ATL once the ‘legal tampering’ period of free agency got underway. Almost too fishy.

Then Cousins blew the watergates wide open when he essentially admitted the Falcons committed multiple violations of the NFL’s tampering policy during his introductory press conference in Atlanta. But Cousins doesn’t see it that way.

Mike Florio blows up at NFL’s lazy Falcons Kirk Cousins tampering investigation

Earlier this week, when speaking to the Falcons media again, Atlanta’s new starting QB was asked about the NFL’s ongoing tampering investigation, and Cousins tried to act like there’s “nothing to see here” on that front.

“The league’s still kind of going through that. So, I’ll let them do it. But there’s not a whole lot there.”

Kirk Cousins on NFL’s tampering investigation

Okay, that’s fine, Kirk, but not everyone agrees. Specifically, ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio, who has a staunch belief that “There is a whole lot there. If the league wants to find it”.

Not only does Florio disagree with Kirk Cousins’ notion that there isn’t a lot to the ongoing tampering investigation, he suggests the NFL just isn’t trying as hard to discipline the Falcons when compared to going after the Patriots and Tom Brady for deflating footballs.

When Brady and the Patriots were under investigation for deflategate, he was supposed to hand his phone over to the NFL. He destroyed it instead. Indications are that Cousins hasn’t been asked to surrender his phone to anyone. Is the league even trying here?

Why wouldn’t he be [forced to hand in his phone]? If the league wants to get to the bottom of this, shouldn’t the league want Cousins’s phone, Pace’s phone, Pitts’s phone, the trainer’s phone, coach Raheem Morris’s phone, G.M. Terry Fontenot’s phone? Shouldn’t the league want to see security footage from the team facility to see whether Cousins was there before 4:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday?

In every case, the quality of the outcome of an investigation hinges on the quality of the investigation. If the NFL simply called the Falcons and asked, “Did you tamper?” of course there’s not going to be a whole lot there. But if the NFL went scorched earth on the question of, for example, whether someone took air out of footballs, how can it not go scorched earth now? That’s the problem with the league’s make-it-up-as-we-go approach. With no consistency, there’s no fairness.

Mike Florio on quality of NFL’s ongoing tampering investigation against the Falcons

Related: Annie Agar Takes Aim at Kirk Cousins’ New Employer

Florio notes multiple violations by Cousins, in order to prove his point.

• Kirk admitted to speaking (and possibly meeting) with the Atlanta Falcons’ head athletic trainer during a period when direct communication between teams and free agents was forbidden.
• Cousins also said he was in direct contact with Atlanta’s director of player personnel, likely in the same forbidden time frame.
• Kirk admitted that Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts was recruiting him for several weeks, which could be a violation, depending on whether or not the Falcons knew about it.
• Finally, Kirk also talked about how he himself phoned Darnell Mooney, in an effort to recruit him to sign with Atlanta as a free agent too.

But as Florio notes, the league “has to want to find violations” if they are going to go forward in punishing Kirk Cousins. If they want to let this issue die and long be forgotten, they can. Having Falcons executive Rich McKay serve on the NFL’s competition committee could be a factor too.

Related: Vikings Told Kirk Cousins on Draft Night 2021 That They Were Thinking QB in 1st Round

While some sort of reward is possible, the Vikings likely wouldn’t benefit from whatever penalties the Falcons may face. Yet, Minnesota did still lose it’s starting quarterback, and Atlanta may have cheated the system to get theirs. Is that really fair?