Sam Darnold managed to avoid a sack on third-and-8 by escaping a collapsed pocket. He found a narrow opening to run to the right, looking for more space, as Justin Jefferson raised his hand downfield.
Darnold threw a 45-yard pass while on the run, landing the ball perfectly in Jefferson’s hands, who was wide open inside the 10-yard line. Jefferson then made his way into the end zone, giving the Minnesota Vikings a 21-13 lead, sparking a strong fourth-quarter performance against the Atlanta Falcons.
“I’m not going to tell you what I told him in regards to my opinion on how many guys make that throw,” said coach Kevin O’Connell with a smile.
The 42-21 win on Sunday not only extended the Vikings’ (11-2) win streak to six games but also validated their decision to let Kirk Cousins go in free agency and bring in a more affordable replacement.
With O’Connell leading the quarterback development and play-calling, and Jefferson heading a strong group of pass-catchers, Darnold has finally found success in an environment that had been missing for him, even more so after the injury to rookie J.J. McCarthy.
The Vikings’ defense, allowing only 18.5 points per game (sixth best in the NFL) and leading the league with 20 interceptions, also makes them a tough team to beat, especially in the playoffs.
Darnold became the ninth quarterback in NFL history and the first since Aaron Rodgers in 2019 to achieve these impressive stats in a game: at least 325 passing yards, five touchdowns, a 75% completion rate, no interceptions, and a passer rating over 155.
Jefferson and Jordan Addison combined for 15 catches, 265 yards, and five touchdowns.
“This is definitely the ball that we want to play every single game,” Jefferson said. “Just the energy, the tempo that we had, just going out there and executing the plays.”
One of the most impressive moments was Darnold’s 52-yard touchdown pass to Jefferson, thrown on the run. Jefferson started the play in motion, moving from left to right into a three-man bunch with Addison and Jalen Nailor to create a better matchup with nickel cornerback Dee Alford.
Addison ran a route that drew the attention of three defenders, while Pro Bowl safety Jessie Bates shifted toward Nailor, leaving Jefferson wide open. Cornerback Clark Phillips tried to catch up to Jefferson, who had outrun Alford.
“He absolutely cooked the dude on the route,” Darnold said.
The Falcons’ coverage broke down badly, leaving three receivers open, but that’s the kind of pressure the Vikings can put on a defense with the way Darnold is playing.
“We already knew what he was about once we got him on our team, that he could throw any pass,” Addison said. “He’s just put it on display for everybody else.”
