MINNEAPOLIS — When his last pass of the game sailed over the head of tight end Kyle Pitts and landed harmlessly in the back of the end zone, all Kirk Cousins could do was shake his head and begin the slow walk to the sideline.

The Atlanta Falcons remain in a spiral. Kirk Cousins' homecoming was ruined too. He was intercepted twice without throwing a touchdown pass in a 42-21 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

After a dominant 42-21 win over the Atlanta Falcons and his former quarterback, Kirk Cousins, Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell was asked whether the result of the game validated the team's decision to move on from Cousins in favor of Sam Darnold, who threw a career-high five touchdown passes in the victory.