The Vikings and Falcons faced off last weekend in a game that marked a return to Minnesota for former Vikings franchise quarterback Kirk Cousins, who left for Atlanta in free agency last offseason.
But it was Cousins’ unlikely replacement, Sam Darnold, who stole the show with five touchdown passes in a 42-21 romp over Atlanta for the Vikings’ sixth win in a row. The victory moved the Vikings to 11-2 on the season while dropping the Falcons to 6-7.
The 36-year-old Cousins was welcomed by a sea of boos on his first offensive series, and finished with 344 yards and a pair of interceptions as both quarterbacks — and teams — continued to trend in opposite directions.
Read more from The Athletic’s Alec Lewis, Josh Kendall and Chris Licata below.
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Sam Darnold’s 5 TDs push Vikings past Falcons in Kirk Cousins’ return: Key takeaways
