Atlanta Falcons Vs Minnesota Vikings recap
In a thrilling showdown on Sunday, the Minnesota Vikings continued their winning streak, overpowering the Atlanta Falcons 42-21, marking their sixth consecutive victory. Sam Darnold delivered a standout performance, throwing for a career-high 347 yards and five touchdowns, while guiding the Vikings to an 11-2 record and keeping them in contention for the NFC North title, just one game behind the Detroit Lions.
Darnold’s impressive outing came as he completed 22 of 28 passes, showcasing remarkable composure despite facing heavy pressure in the first half. After a tightly contested first half that ended in a 21-21 tie, Darnold came alive in the second half, throwing for 250 yards and solidifying his role as a key player for Minnesota in the absence of former quarterback Kirk Cousins, who left for Atlanta in free agency.
The Vikings' offensive attack was bolstered by standout performances from their wide receivers. Jordan Addison had a sensational game, racking up eight receptions for 133 yards and three touchdowns, while Justin Jefferson, returning to form after a six-game scoring drought, contributed with seven catches for 132 yards and two touchdowns. The duo played a crucial role in breaking the tie and pushing the Vikings ahead in the fourth quarter.
On the other side, Kirk Cousins faced a challenging return to Minnesota, where he was met with loud boos from the home crowd. Cousins struggled throughout the game, throwing two interceptions and failing to score a touchdown, extending Atlanta's losing streak to four games. With this latest defeat, the Falcons dropped to a disappointing 6-7 record, falling out of first place in the NFC South and now trailing Tampa Bay by a game.
Cousins completed 23 of 37 passes for 344 yards but was plagued by mistakes. Despite the Falcons crossing midfield on all nine of their possessions, they were unable to convert those opportunities into touchdowns. Instead, they settled for short field goals, which proved detrimental as they could not capitalize on their offensive momentum. Cousins’ struggles were compounded by his league-high total of 15 interceptions this season, including four in the previous game.