The Minnesota Vikings' decision to part ways with Kirk Cousins and embrace Sam Darnold has sparked a heated debate among fans and analysts. Cousins, once the team's quarterback, has faced criticism for his recent performance, while Darnold has won over the hearts of the Vikings fan base with his five-touchdown game.

Turnover Troubles for Kirk Cousins

In Week 14, the Vikings' win over the Cousin-led Falcons marked a turning point. Cousins, who had been struggling with turnovers late in the season, threw for 344 yards but zero touchdowns and two interceptions, adding to his league-leading total of 15 on the year. This was the longest dry streak of his career, and calls for the Falcons to bench him grew louder.There were even calls for the Falcons to start rookie Michael Penix Jr. before the game. Cousins' struggles have led to questions about the team's decision to pay him a $50 million guarantee this season as part of his four-year, $180 million deal.

The Impact on the Falcons Franchise

The Falcons' decision to stick with Cousins over Penix Jr. has come under scrutiny. Fans and analysts alike are questioning the franchise's quarterback development plan. One fan wrote, "The whole QB development plan where sitting Michael Penix Jr. behind Kirk Cousins and his big monied contract is proving itself to be the dumbest decision of 2024. Can't imagine Terry Fontenot survives this catastrophe."

Social Media Reactions

Social media has been abuzz with fans and analysts venting their frustrations. Fox Sports' Emmanuel Acho called on the Falcons to make the switch to Penix Jr., writing, "You drafted Michael Penix Jr. for this moment, make the switch Falcons." Former NFL quarterback Chase Daniels agreed, saying, "How can you not at least entertain the idea of Michael Penix Jr?"

Sam Darnold's Moment of Glory

While Cousins faced criticism, Darnold fully won over the Vikings fan base. "Sam Darnold just stood up on the bench and was going nuts. Crowd is chanting MVP. Justin Jefferson smiling bright on the screen. What a world," noted The Athletic's Alec Lewis. "This place is in euphoric celebration mode as this game wraps up. They're showing Darnold, Jefferson, Addison and their stats on the video boards over and over. Crowd eating up every minute of it," added Sports Illustrated's Will Ragatz.

Vikings' Pivot to Success

Overall, the Vikings' decision to pivot to Darnold has been a massive success. Myron Medcalf offered a fitting metaphor, saying, "Going from Kirk Cousins to Sam Darnold is basically like the Vikings buying a nice 3BR/2BA home that they later discovered had some oil in the backyard after they finally got out of their timeshare."