The narrative heading into the December 8, 2024, matchup between the Atlanta Falcons at Minnesota Vikings was supposed to be all about the return of the prodigal son. Kirk Cousins, back in the building where he spent six seasons, walking into the visitor’s locker room for the first time. It was a script written by a Hollywood hack. But by the time the fourth quarter rolled around, the storyline had flipped entirely. It wasn't about the old guy coming home. It was about Sam Darnold—the guy many had written off years ago—turning into a flamethrower.
Minnesota ended up winning 42-21. That score looks like a blowout, and honestly, it was by the end. But the box score hides how weird this game actually felt for the first 40 minutes.
The Sam Darnold Masterclass
Everyone keeps waiting for the Sam Darnold "seeing ghosts" moment to happen again. It just didn't happen in 2024. Against Atlanta, he was surgical. He didn't just play well; he set career highs in passing yards (347) and touchdowns (5).
His connection with Jordan Addison was borderline telepathic. Addison hauled in three touchdowns. Think about that. Three. Most receivers are lucky to get three in a month. But Kevin O’Connell has created this system where if you over-index on stopping Justin Jefferson, someone else is going to destroy you. And Jefferson still got his, by the way—two touchdowns and 132 yards of his own.
The most ridiculous play of the game was a 52-yard bomb to Jefferson. Darnold was basically wrestling with pass rushers, somehow stayed upright, and launched a "fuck it, Justin is down there somewhere" ball that landed perfectly. It was the kind of play that makes a 11-2 record (which the Vikings held after this win) feel legitimate rather than lucky.
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Kirk Cousins and the Homecoming Curse
Cousins didn't actually play badly if you just look at the raw yardage. He threw for 344 yards. He moved the ball. In fact, the Falcons crossed midfield on every single one of their nine possessions. Every. Single. One.
But they couldn't finish. It was like they were allergic to the end zone. They settled for short field goals when they needed touchdowns. And then there were the turnovers. Byron Murphy Jr. made an incredible one-handed interception that basically put the nail in the coffin.
You’ve gotta feel for Kirk a little bit. Coming back to U.S. Bank Stadium, seeing your old neighbors (he literally mentioned looking forward to seeing his old neighbor Jon Weber), and then getting picked off twice while your successor throws five touchdowns? That’s a tough day at the office. The loss was the Falcons' fourth straight at the time, and it highlighted the massive gap between a "good" offense and an "elite" one.
The Special Teams Disaster
If you want to know where the game actually turned, look at the kickoff return in the fourth quarter. The Falcons had just given up a touchdown to make it 28-21. They were still in it. It was a one-score game.
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Then Ray-Ray McCloud III fumbled the kickoff.
C.J. Ham, the Vikings' veteran fullback and Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee, jumped on the ball at the Atlanta 32-yard line. Seven plays later, Addison caught his third touchdown. Suddenly, it was 35-21, and the air just left the Falcons' sideline. You can’t make those kinds of mistakes against a team that’s on a six-game winning streak.
Bijan Robinson vs. The Brick Wall
Going into this game, the Vikings had the #1 run defense in the league. Everyone wanted to see if Bijan Robinson could crack it. He actually did better than most expected, grinding out 92 yards on 22 carries and finding the end zone once.
But Raheem Morris's defense just couldn't hold up their end of the bargain. Even with veteran safety Jessie Bates III back there, they were getting torched on the back end. The Falcons finished with nearly 500 total yards and still lost by three touchdowns. That is almost impossible to do in the modern NFL unless you are actively sabotaging yourself with penalties and turnovers.
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Key Stats from the Dec 8, 2024 Matchup:
- Final Score: Vikings 42, Falcons 21
- Sam Darnold: 22/28, 347 yards, 5 TDs, 157.9 passer rating (near perfect)
- Kirk Cousins: 23/37, 344 yards, 0 TDs, 2 INTs
- Jordan Addison: 8 rec, 133 yards, 3 TDs
- Justin Jefferson: 7 rec, 132 yards, 2 TDs
Why This Game Matters for 2025 and Beyond
Fast forward to the 2025 season, and the dynamic shifted again. In their September 14, 2025 rematch, Atlanta actually got some revenge with a 22-6 win. But that December 2024 game was the peak of the "Darnold Era" in Minnesota. It proved that the Vikings didn't just "get by" after Cousins left; they actually got more explosive.
For the Falcons, it was a wake-up call. It showed that having weapons like Bijan Robinson and Drake London doesn't matter if you don't have a defense that can get off the field or a quarterback who can out-duel a red-hot Sam Darnold.
If you're looking for actionable takeaways from how these two teams interact, keep an eye on the Brian Flores defensive scheme. When he has his full complement of linebackers—like Blake Cashman, who missed the 2025 game but was key in 2024—the Vikings are a nightmare to run against. When they're thin, Bijan Robinson eats.
For fans or bettors looking at future matchups:
- Check the Vikings' Linebacker Depth: Their defensive efficiency drops off a cliff if the middle of the field is open.
- Red Zone Efficiency is Everything: Atlanta’s habit of settling for field goals (they had five in their 2025 win) is a dangerous way to live.
- Home Field Advantage: U.S. Bank Stadium remains one of the loudest venues in the league, evidenced by the delay of game penalties it forced on Atlanta during key drives.
The rivalry between these two is kida low-key, but with the Cousins connection and the battle for NFC supremacy, it’s become one of the most tactical matchups on the calendar.