Kirk who?

Let’s give a shout-out to Sam Darnold, the unexpected star for the Minnesota Vikings, who stole the spotlight on Sunday by throwing five touchdown passes, overshadowing Kirk Cousins’ return to U.S. Bank Stadium.

While Cousins added two more interceptions to his season total of 15, Darnold put on a spectacular performance, leading the Vikings to a decisive 42-21 victory over the Atlanta Falcons, marking their sixth straight win.

By the end of the game, Darnold had achieved a career-high 347 passing yards, and for the first time in Vikings history, both Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison topped 100 receiving yards with at least two touchdowns each. Surprisingly, the usually reserved Darnold joined the celebration, waving a towel while the crowd chanted, “MVP!”

It was a surreal moment for Darnold. When he attended training camp, becoming an MVP contender wasn’t on the agenda. Instead, the Vikings had planned to develop rookie J.J. McCarthy, who was drafted 10th overall. Unfortunately, McCarthy suffered a season-ending knee injury during his first preseason game.

Now, with a one-year contract and on his fourth NFL team in seven years, Darnold has emerged as one of the league’s most inspiring comeback stories, and the Vikings (11-2) are proving they are a legitimate contender.

It’s clear why Darnold broke from his usual demeanor to acknowledge the fans with the towel. It was a perfect moment for him.

“I just felt the energy,” Darnold shared at the postgame press conference. “It was pure passion. Pure joy, man. Finishing that game the way we did, especially our defense making that big stop at the end. It was just a blast to be a part of.”

Darnold certainly had fun, completing four passes that nearly covered 200 yards, which included touchdown strikes of 49 and 52 yards. He also had a 42-yard completion leading to a touchdown and drew a 47-yard pass interference penalty setting another score up. Addison made eight receptions for 133 yards and three touchdowns, while Jefferson had seven catches for 132 yards and two touchdowns.

Although the game started tied at 21 in the fourth quarter, the Falcons (6-7) made critical mistakes, including two turnovers, which allowed the Vikings to go on a 98-yard drive for their last touchdown.

“I think we matured a lot today,” said Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell.

However, amidst all the excitement surrounding the Vikings’ playoff possibilities, Cousins’ struggles reminded everyone of the unpredictable nature of the NFL. Since leaving as a free agent last season without a long-term deal, the Vikings eyed their future quarterback in the draft, hoping to secure McCarthy, who guided Michigan to a national championship last year. As McCarthy recuperates from surgeries for a torn meniscus, Darnold’s outstanding performance this year—tying for third in the NFL with 28 touchdowns, along with career-highs in passing yards (3,299) and passer rating (108.1)—adds complexity to the team’s plans.

Will the Vikings let Darnold go, too?

If you’re Darnold, who entered the NFL in 2018 as the third overall pick, it’s likely you don’t want to leave now after enduring past struggles with the Jets and short stays with the Panthers and 49ers. Up to this point, though, the Vikings haven’t begun negotiations with Darnold’s agents regarding an extension, according to multiple sources.

We’ll have to see if this is more than a temporary fix. The market for quarterbacks is heating up, and much may depend on whether the Vikings are willing to offer a longer deal than the year-to-year arrangement Cousins declined, which resulted in Darnold’s one-year, $10 million contract.

Darnold’s performance has certainly increased his value in the always-demanding NFL quarterback market, yet he risks not finding a situation as accommodating as the Vikings, which features a modern coach and top-tier receivers who elevate a quarterback’s game.

Finally finding such an advantageous position with the Vikings, Darnold’s future desires will also be tested based on how he weighs financial gain against the right football fit.

In any case, Darnold’s connection with Jefferson for a pivotal 52-yard touchdown late in the third quarter highlighted his current success. With the Vikings ahead 14-13, the Falcons attempted to blitz, forcing Darnold to scramble to his left to avoid a sack. He managed to reposition himself and, while moving to the right, launched a pass.

Jefferson waved as he dashed past a blown coverage in the middle of the field.

“I did see him wave his arm,” Darnold noted. “That’s one of the first cues as a quarterback that maybe I should throw to him. He made a great play.”

And when it wasn’t Jefferson, it was Addison. Darnold connected with Addison for a 49-yard touchdown and another 42-yard gain that set up an easy touchdown. He also targeted Addison on the 47-yard pass interference penalty leading to another score.

“Clearly, if teams want to double-cover ‘Jets’,” Darnold said, referring to Jefferson, “we’ve got another guy who can make them pay.”

And let’s not forget, a great quarterback makes the difference, too.