Frerotte wasn't playing well that day, and the Vikings trailed 6-3 when he departed, but the veteran had posted a 7-3 record since taking over for the struggling Tarvaris Jackson two games into the season. Now, Jackson was being called upon to lead the offense.

The hope of coach Brad Childress and Co. had to be that Jackson did not make any costly mistakes as long as Frerotte was out.

Six quarters later, Jackson has led the Vikings to two victories and exceeded expectations with his play. He now looks like a guy who has no intention of returning to the bench anytime soon. Childress definitely has the makings of a quarterback controversy on his hands.

Although Jackson and Frerotte split snaps in Wednesday's practice, Jackson almost certainly will start this Sunday when the Vikings play host to Atlanta in a game that could give them their first-ever NFC North title. Minnesota also could clinch even if it loses, provided Green Bay beats Chicago on Monday night.

Jackson led the Vikings to their most recent victory, a 35-14 rout of the host Arizona Cardinals last Sunday, by completing 11 of 17 passes for 163 yards with a career-high four touchdowns and an impressive 135.5 passer rating.

He was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance - the first Vikings quarterback to earn that honor since Daunte Culpepper in 2005 - and has a 141.7 passer rating with five touchdowns and no interceptions since he took over for Frerotte.

Keeping Frerotte on the bench in the playoff stretch might not be fair, but it would be equally as hard to sit Jackson. Frerotte reportedly broke a bone in his lower back and it would come as no surprise if the 37-year-old would miss at least one more game before being declared ready to return.

If Jackson had played like this from the outset, Childress would have looked like a genius for sticking with the third-year player entering this season. Childress talked all offseason about the progress Jackson was making, but he quickly made the switch to Frerotte after losses to Green Bay and Indianapolis.

The Vikings had high hopes after some marquee additions were made last spring - defensive end Jared Allen and wide receiver Bernard Berrian were the biggest names - and Childress had no plans to see things slip away because of Jackson's struggles.

Jackson appeared tentative at that point, and his leadership skills were being questioned. That is no longer the case.

Jackson admits he was angry after being benched, but he took the time to watch Frerotte and re-evaluate his approach.

Thus, the Jackson that is now starting is far more relaxed. And while he's still running a complex West Coast offense, he no longer seems burdened by the demands of the task.

If Jackson can continue with this approach, and statistical performance, the Vikings won't only have their starting quarterback for the remainder of the season, they will have their starter for a few years to come.

SERIES HISTORY: 24th regular-season meeting. Vikings lead the series, 15-8, and have split with the Falcons in the playoffs. Included was a heart-breaking 30-27 overtime loss in the 1998 NFC title game that ended the Vikings' dreams of a Super Bowl season. Minnesota went 15-1 in the regular season and was a heavy favorite to beat the Falcons.