09-16-2024, 07:15 AM
(This post was last modified: 09-16-2024, 07:24 AM by StickierBuns.)
https://app.startribune.com/story/601145...ntent.html
"The Vikings faced a second-and-9 from their own 3 when O’Connell called for a deep play action shot that “had been in the hopper for a little bit,” dating back to a play they ran against the 49ers last year. The precariousness of the moment, with Darnold lined up in his own end zone as Nick Bosa pressured off the right side, was not lost on O’Connell. “There’s some self-talk that goes into that,” he said. “The opportunity is there for both teams when your heels are in the paint like that.”
But the Vikings protected Darnold against a five-man rush, Jefferson got a step on safety George Odum and Darnold uncorked a throw that traveled 55 yards in the air, before Jefferson caught it with a step on Odum and Ji’Ayir Brown. The receiver sprinted to the left side of the field, then reversed toward the right pylon as the defenders gave chase, and Jalen Nailor (who’d occupied Charvarius Ward on a crossing route) arrived in time for a final block on Odum as U.S. Bank Stadium convulsed with excitement.
“That’s a throw that a quarterback makes. And if he doesn’t make that throw, I don’t know where that ball’s going,” O’Connell said. “That’s big-time quarterback play. For all those folks out there that want some examples of it, I think we’ve got two weeks of some pretty tangible examples of some quarterback play from Sam Darnold.”
The most critical example of it came in the game’s final minutes, when the 49ers had pulled within six and the Vikings had lost Jefferson to a right thigh contusion after a collision with Warner on a run play. Darnold began the drive with Nailor and Trishton Jackson at wide receiver; he fumbled out of bounds on the second play when Warner sacked him.
His third-down completion to Brandon Powell was the first of three on the drive; Darnold would find Nailor for 26 yards on a back-shoulder throw between two defenders, and step to his left away from pressure before hitting Powell for a first down at the 49ers’ 15. The drive cost the 49ers their final two timeouts, and Reichard’s field goal put the Vikings up nine with 3:30 to go." - Ben Goessling, Star Tribune
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“You know you’re signing up for everything you possibly can give on a Sunday afternoon at U.S. Bank Stadium when you welcome them to town,” O’Connell said. “If you can’t tell, I’m absolutely exhausted. I know our team is, but that’s what this is about. I love this football team already. It might seem early, but there is so much that went into this up until today’s performance.” - Kevin O'Connell
"Jason Garrett said that long JJ TD maybe gave the Vikings the confidence they needed to beat the 49ers.
I’m telling you…the Vikings walked into that stadium thinking they were winning by two scores minimum. And if it wasn’t for a goal line fumble they would have."
"The Vikings faced a second-and-9 from their own 3 when O’Connell called for a deep play action shot that “had been in the hopper for a little bit,” dating back to a play they ran against the 49ers last year. The precariousness of the moment, with Darnold lined up in his own end zone as Nick Bosa pressured off the right side, was not lost on O’Connell. “There’s some self-talk that goes into that,” he said. “The opportunity is there for both teams when your heels are in the paint like that.”
But the Vikings protected Darnold against a five-man rush, Jefferson got a step on safety George Odum and Darnold uncorked a throw that traveled 55 yards in the air, before Jefferson caught it with a step on Odum and Ji’Ayir Brown. The receiver sprinted to the left side of the field, then reversed toward the right pylon as the defenders gave chase, and Jalen Nailor (who’d occupied Charvarius Ward on a crossing route) arrived in time for a final block on Odum as U.S. Bank Stadium convulsed with excitement.
“That’s a throw that a quarterback makes. And if he doesn’t make that throw, I don’t know where that ball’s going,” O’Connell said. “That’s big-time quarterback play. For all those folks out there that want some examples of it, I think we’ve got two weeks of some pretty tangible examples of some quarterback play from Sam Darnold.”
The most critical example of it came in the game’s final minutes, when the 49ers had pulled within six and the Vikings had lost Jefferson to a right thigh contusion after a collision with Warner on a run play. Darnold began the drive with Nailor and Trishton Jackson at wide receiver; he fumbled out of bounds on the second play when Warner sacked him.
His third-down completion to Brandon Powell was the first of three on the drive; Darnold would find Nailor for 26 yards on a back-shoulder throw between two defenders, and step to his left away from pressure before hitting Powell for a first down at the 49ers’ 15. The drive cost the 49ers their final two timeouts, and Reichard’s field goal put the Vikings up nine with 3:30 to go." - Ben Goessling, Star Tribune
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“You know you’re signing up for everything you possibly can give on a Sunday afternoon at U.S. Bank Stadium when you welcome them to town,” O’Connell said. “If you can’t tell, I’m absolutely exhausted. I know our team is, but that’s what this is about. I love this football team already. It might seem early, but there is so much that went into this up until today’s performance.” - Kevin O'Connell
"Jason Garrett said that long JJ TD maybe gave the Vikings the confidence they needed to beat the 49ers.
I’m telling you…the Vikings walked into that stadium thinking they were winning by two scores minimum. And if it wasn’t for a goal line fumble they would have."
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