Vikings Myths and Misses: Reversed TD Calls, Kirk Cousins Trade, Sam Darnold
Each week, VikingsTerritory rounds up the false starts, wild claims, and all-around off-the-wall Minnesota Vikings talk that crashed and burned — neatly wrapped up in a collection we like to call “nopedy nopes.”
Vikings nopedy nopes are here for the week, with reversed TD calls grabbing headlines, in addition to two familiar QB names: Kirk Cousins and Sam Darnold.
It’s our way of separating fact from fueled fiction that floods the timeline. The feature drops every Sunday, and this week’s batch is another humdinger.
The Vikings Nopedy Nopes | Sunday, October 26, 2025
Falsehoods and things that didn’t quite work for the purple team.
The Nopedy Nope: The NFL replay system is not kind to the Vikings.
In Week 8, this was called an interception and return for a touchdown on the field by the officiating crew.
The call was overturned on replay.
The week before, this was called a touchdown on the field by the officiating crew.
The call was overturned on replay.
A couple of weeks ago, this was called a legal reception by Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.
The call was upheld on replay.
The Verdict: Nopedy nope on the Vikings getting grace via replay for touchdowns called on the field.
The Nopedy Nope: Mike Florio says to beware of a Kirk Cousins trade.
Beset by quarterback chaos — Carson Wentz has sputtered as a stand-in, J.J. McCarthy’s been shelved since Week 2 with a high ankle sprain, and Max Brosmer is an undrafted rookie still finding his footing — Pro Football Talk‘s Mike Florio floated a familiar name via trade this week: Kirk Cousins.
“Tuesday’s practice report will shed more light on whether McCarthy, Wentz, or both will be able to play. Then there’s this possibility. With two weeks left until the trade deadline arrives, could the Vikings pull the rip cord on the Kirk Cousins emergency option?” Florio wrote.
“While the Falcons possibly have a diminished appetite to trade Cousins now that starter Michael Penix Jr. is day-to-day with a bone bruise, the Vikings presumably would get through Thursday night’s game at the Chargers and the following Sunday’s visit to the Lions before making a final decision in the two remaining days before the time for 2025 trades ends. By November 4, the Falcons could be willing to move Cousins out.”
Meanwhile, the Cincinnati Bengals filled their own quarterback gap — due to Joe Burrow’s toe injury — by trading for Joe Flacco, not Cousins. It’s possible Atlanta’s asking price was too steep for anyone to bite.
Florio added one more wrinkle, “And the Vikings could be willing to move Cousins in. Frankly, a move like that could be the only chance the Vikings have to end their current trend of failing to make the playoffs in back-to-back years. They last qualified for the postseason in consecutive years in 2008 and 2009.”
The idea probably won’t materialize, but it’s the latest entry in the never-ending saga of “What if Cousins came back?” The moment Minnesota hits turbulence at quarterback, that theory always finds a way to resurface.
Cousins is slated to inflict a $57.5 million cap hit in 2026. And $57.5 million in 2027. The Vikings’ salary cap is already projected to be underwater for the 2026 offseason. They don’t have the money for a backup quarterback who earns $45 million on average per year. There are also mere days from leaning full tilt into J.J. McCarthy. Cousins to Minnesota makes zero sense.
The Verdict: Nopedy nope on a Cousins reunion trade.
The Nopedy Nope: Sam Darnold is already the one that got away for Minnesota.
ESPN’s Dan Graziano — once firmly in the “ride with McCarthy” camp — officially changed his tune this week.
He admitted it flat out: “The Vikings should have re-signed Sam Darnold. Verdict: NOT AN OVERREACTION. This is a flip-flop, and I’ll own it. I supported the Vikings’ decision to roll with McCarthy, the 10th pick in last year’s draft, while letting both Darnold and Jones walk and telling Aaron Rodgers no thanks.”
“It was a bet on head coach Kevin O’Connell and his proven ability to generate offense with a variety of different quarterbacks. I figured if O’Connell decided this was the way to go, he’d earned enough trust that we should believe him. And maybe he’ll be right eventually.”
As it turns out, Darnold now has Top 10 MVP odds after seven weeks — and that’s hard for some to ignore.
Graziano doubled down on the shift: “But it’s about time to stop predicting and start knowing. The Vikings made six trips to the red zone in Sunday’s game against the Eagles and came away with one touchdown and five field goals, helping them lose a winnable game. Darnold is fourth in the NFL this season in red zone QBR.”
“The Vikings have 11 more games this season to prove O’Connell’s decision right. But the first six have shown it to be worth questioning.”
So, yes — it’s a full-circle moment. Darnold’s playing too well for Graziano not to rethink everything he said about McCarthy. The receipts are right there and out in the open — from him.
Still, any “Wow, Minnesota should have kept Darnold, my god” declaration cannot be stated in good faith until a year, two, or three down the road. Picking McCarthy over Darnold was better for the future, not just 2025.
The Verdict: Nopedy nope on the Vikings already on the short end of the stick for letting Darnold leave in free agency.
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