Sam Darnold completed 22 of 28 passes for 347 yards and a career-high five touchdowns, and the Minnesota Vikings pulled away for a 42-21 win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday afternoon in Minneapolis.
Jordan Addison had eight catches for 133 yards and a career-high three touchdowns for Minnesota (11-2), which won its sixth consecutive game. Justin Jefferson had seven catches for 132 yards and two touchdowns.
Kirk Cousins completed 23 of 37 passes for 344 yards and two interceptions in his return to Minnesota, where he spent the previous six seasons before leaving as a free agent.
Tyler Allgeier (nine carries for 63 yards) and Bijan Robinson (22 attempts for 92 yards) rushed for one touchdown apiece for Atlanta (6-7).
The score was tied at 21-21 entering the fourth quarter.
Minnesota grabbed a 28-21 lead when Darnold found Addison for the pair’s second touchdown of the game. Addison caught a pass and dove toward the front right pylon for an 11-yard score with 12:59 to play.
Addison caught his third touchdown — a 6-yard catch on a slant route across the middle — to give Minnesota a 35-21 lead with 8:23 left.
Aaron Jones finished the scoring with 3:38 remaining. The Vikings’ veteran running back burst up the middle for a 15-yard rushing touchdown.
Atlanta opened the scoring on its first possession. Allgeier rushed for a 6-yard touchdown to finish an 11-play, 70-yard drive.
The Vikings pulled even at 7-7 in the final minute of the first quarter. Addison adjusted his route to catch a deep pass from Darnold and sprinted the final dozen yards into the end zone to complete a 49-yard touchdown play.
Jefferson scored his first touchdown of the day — a 12-yard reception from Darnold — to give Minnesota a 14-7 lead with 2:01 remaining in the first half.
The Falcons pulled within 14-10 as Younghoe Koo made a 20-yard field goal with 10 seconds to go before the half.
Koo connected again, this time from 29 yards, to cut Atlanta’s deficit to 14-13 with 5:06 left in the third quarter.
The Vikings increased their lead to 21-13 on Jefferson’s second touchdown of the game and his seventh of the season. Darnold escaped pressure in the pocket and found Jefferson wide open downfield for a 52-yard score.
Atlanta evened the score at 21-21 with 39 seconds left in the third quarter. Robinson scampered for 13 yards for his eighth rushing touchdown this season.
–Field Level Media
