In a dramatic return to U.S. Bank Stadium, former Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins faced off against his replacement, Sam Darnold, and the result was a resounding victory for the home team. Darnold put on a spectacular show, throwing for five touchdowns and over 300 yards as the Minnesota Vikings dominated the Atlanta Falcons, 42-21, improving their season record to an impressive 11-2.

Darnold completed 22 of 28 passes for 347 yards and five touchdowns. While Cousins managed 344 passing yards, he failed to find the end zone and threw two interceptions, continuing a recent trend of turnovers that has plagued him in recent games. Last week against the Los Angeles Chargers, he threw four interceptions, and he had one in each of the two games prior.

The Falcons started strong, orchestrating an 11-play, 70-yard drive capped off by a Tyler Allgeier touchdown. However, the momentum shifted dramatically after the Falcons turned the ball over on downs on their second possession. Darnold capitalized on the opportunity, connecting with Jordan Addison on a broken play for a 49-yard touchdown, tying the game.

Darnold continued his impressive performance, finding star receiver Justin Jefferson for a 12-yard touchdown, Jefferson's first score since Week 7. Later, another broken play resulted in a 52-yard touchdown pass to Jefferson, further solidifying the Vikings' dominance.

Addison led all receivers with 133 yards on eight receptions, while Jefferson finished close behind with 132 yards on seven catches. The Vikings sealed the victory in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Falcons 21-0, including a touchdown run by Aaron Jones, who totaled 73 yards on 13 carries.

Bijan Robinson scored for the Falcons and led the game in rushing with 92 yards on 22 attempts. Darnell Mooney was Cousins' leading receiver, accumulating 142 yards on six receptions, while Ray-Ray McCloud added 98 yards on eight catches.