Facing his former team this past weekend couldn't have really gone much worse for Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins. Not only did Cousins and the Falcons lose by 21 points to the Minnesota Vikings inside U.S. Bank Stadium, but the veteran signal-caller had to watch his replacement, Sam Darnold, put together a career-defining performance.
Minnesota's decision to replace Cousins with Darnold this season earned even more validation on Wednesday when the current Vikings starting quarterback was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance in Week 14.
Darnold had the game of his life against Atlanta, as he completed 78.6 percent of his passes for 347 yards, five touchdowns, no interceptions, and a 157.9 rating.
Award for Sam Darnold even more confirmation that the Minnesota Vikings were right to let Kirk Cousins go sign with the Atlanta Falcons
Cousins staying or going was the top story of Minnesota's 2024 offseason, and no one really knew what the team was going to do.
The Vikings kept things friendly in the public eye and expressed that they still had interest in re-signing the Pro Bowl quarterback. But behind closed doors, a recent report from The Athletic's Dianna Russini revealed that Minnesota general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and the team's ownership essentially put their feet down when it came to giving Cousins another lucrative, multi-year contract.
This approach ultimately led to the Vikings and their longtime starting signal-caller going their separate ways after spending six seasons together. Cousins eventually got the cash he was looking for from the Falcons, but now, they are finding out why Minnesota was fine with letting him walk out the door.
Meanwhile, it's seeming more and more like the Vikings will have to make another tough quarterback decision for the second offseason in a row.
Darnold is playing at a very high level this year, and depending on how far he's able to lead Minnesota in the playoffs, the team might have to consider putting their plans with rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy on hold for another season or two.