Darnold to Jefferson and Addison is explosive like 1998 Vikings

Cunningham tied for the league lead with 55 completions of 20+ yards in 1998. Darnold leads the NFL with 52 and still has four games to play.

Nov 26, 1998; Irving, TX, USA; FILE PHOTO; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Randall Cunningham (7) is pressured as he releases the ball by Dallas Cowboys defensive end Kavita Pittman (97) during the 1998 season at Texas Stadium. Mandatory Credit: RVR Photos-Imagn Images / RVR Photos-Imagn Images

Sam Darnold did something Sunday that Kirk Cousins has never done: throw five touchdown passes in a game. Darnold just happened to do it in a 42-21 win over Cousins and the Falcons, boosting Minnesota's record to 11-2 while Cousins' Falcons have lost four straight to drop to 6-7.

Darnold entered the game as one of only two quarterbacks with at least 10 games of a 100+ passer rating this season, and after shredding the Falcons for 347 yards on 22-of-28 passing — and a 157.9 rating — he has 11 such games.

Three of his completions went for at least 40 yards, as connections with Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison offered reminders of the historic 1998 Vikings with Randall Cunningham throwing bombs to Randy Moss and Cris Carter.

Darnold's bomb to Addison on the second offensive possession of the game went 49 yards for a touchdown.

Dec 8, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (3) celebrates his touchdown with wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) against the Atlanta Falcons during the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images / Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

On the next drive, Darnold went deep to Addison and ex-Vikings cornerback Mike Hughes was flagged for a 47-yard pass interference penalty. That possession ended with Darnold throwing a laser to Jefferson for a touchdown.

In the third quarter, Darnold avoided a sack and found Jefferson for a 52-yard touchdown.

On the very next possession, Darnold lofted a bomb to Addison for 42 yards. Three plays later, Addison dove into the end zone for his third touchdown of the game.

Addison finished with eight catches for 133 yards and three scores while Jefferson had 132 yards and two touchdowns on seven receptions.

The aerial attack was a reminder of how dominant Cunningham to Moss and Carter was in 1998. Those 15-1 Vikings saw Cunningham throw for four touchdowns in four different games. He never threw five touchdowns for the record-setting Vikings. Addison and Jefferson also did something Moss and Carter (or any other Vikings receiving duo) never did, which is go for 100+ yards and two touchdowns each in the same game.

In Week 4 of the '98 season, Cunningham threw touchdowns of 67 yards to Robert Smith, 35 yards to Carter and 44 yards to Moss. The next week was the famous Monday night game at Lambeau Field in which Cunningham torched the Packers for a 37-24 win. Cunningham hooked up with Jake Reed for a 56-yard score and later found Moss for touchdowns of 52 and 44 yards, respectively.

On Thanksgiving, Cunningham hooked up with Moss for scores of 51, 56 and 56 yards, respectively, and he also struck with Carter for a 54-yard touchdown.

Sep 27, 1998; Chicago, IL, USA; FILE PHOTO; Minnesota Vikings (84) Randy Moss in action against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Photo By Imagn Images © Copyright Imagn Images / RVR Photos-Imagn Images

Late in the season against the Bears, Cunningham lobbed four touchdowns — one to Leroy Hoard and three to Moss — with the longest of the day being a 37-yarder. But he also had a 64-yard bomb that didn't end in the end zone.

Cunningham tied Steve Young of the 49ers with 55 passes of 20+ yards in 1998, and he led the NFL with 19 completions of 40+ yards. Darnold is up to 10 completions of 40+ yards this season and he leads the NFL with 52 completions of 20+ yards.

Like Cunningham, Darnold has taken his opportunity to start and ran with it. The 1998 Vikings were 12-1 through 13 games and running away with the NFC North, while the 2024 Vikings are 11-2 and trying to chase down the 12-1 Lions for the division crown.

What makes the 2024 Vikings potentially more dangerous than the 1998 team is the defense. Those '98 Vikings were a middle-of-the-pack defense, while the modern day defense is one of the best in the NFL.

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