From Sam's Redemption Season to his Redemption Game

[Zanary]

Our oft-embattled QB finds himself in familiar territory, again:

"can he live up to his potential, or is he the bust he's seen to be?".

Right now, that answer eludes me. He looked  very deer-in-headlights under center, and his early misses seemed to fry his confidence later. Granted, Detroit's defense was MILES beyond what I expected, and kept JJ/Addison/Hock bottled up better than anyone I've seen all season. Campbell and his crew utterly out-coached and out-played us last night.

So, maybe Monday is at least as big for KOC as it is for Sam: neither has proven that they can win a postseason game in their current positions, and both are looking for big paydays/contracts after this season.

They'd better get to work.

[StickierBuns]

Good post. Yes sir, this playoff game, IMO, is a do-or-die for Uncle Sammy being a Viking next year. Not sure with another outing like last night and a one and done loss, that Minnesota could trust him moving forward and commit in a real way. That's just the harsh reality of it. If you didn't have McCarthy sitting there and KOC calling him a 'franchise QB' the day after they found the knee issue, maybe it would be different.

However I don't think KOC is any kind of danger....at all. He's getting a big extension regardless.

[purplefaithful]

I think KOC and Sam are in vastly different circumstances, even though they are tied at the hip this season.

[MaroonBells]

We'll see. Sam has had two bad games in 17. That one was by far the worst, despite not throwing three picks like in the Jags game. He either bounces back in LA or he doesn't and his Cinderella season (and ours) comes to an end. He's still going to get a bag though, and the Vikings are still on the precipice of what should be a good, long window.

[CFIAvike]

I am not even going to comment on Darnold’s play last night. Rather I’d like to comment on the reaction to it.

Sam Darnold, for most of his career, has been perceived as a laughable bust. People have been waiting all season for the other shoe to drop. For any other quarterback, who had a game like he just did, people would just be ready to move on and get ready for the next game. With Sam, everyone will question whether he’s going to drift back to the mean.

I don’t know what kind of success Sam would have to produce from here on out to erase the first seven years of his career, but clearly 16 games this year has not been enough. That’s the big worry I have with Sam. Every time he has an off game, people are going to ask whether the “old Sam” is back. It will be interesting to see how he responds in LA.

Sam Darnold is quite literally playing for the rest of his career next Monday.

[Zanary]

I am not even going to comment on Darnold’s play last night. Rather I’d like to comment on the reaction to it.

Sam Darnold, for most of his career, has been perceived as a laughable bust. People have been waiting all season for the other shoe to drop. For any other quarterback, who had a game like he just did, people would just be ready to move on and get ready for the next game. With Sam, everyone will question whether he’s going to drift back to the mean. 

I don’t know what kind of success Sam would have to produce from here on out to erase the first seven years of his career, but clearly 16 games this year has not been enough. That’s the big worry I have with Sam. Every time he has an off game, people are going to ask whether the “old Sam” is back. It will be interesting to see how he responds in LA.

Sam Darnold is quite literally playing for the rest of his career next Monday.

Hence, "redemption game".

Everything regarding the perception of Sam Darnold has one week to define itself...for better or worse. He will be seen as the "bad Sam" version for the next 7 days, after seemingly falling apart in Detroit. He and KOC both have a ton of work to do, as our head coach still only has a one-and-done in his postseason resume in the top job.

[CFIAvike]

Hence, "redemption game".

Everything regarding the perception of Sam Darnold has one week to define itself...for better or worse. He will be seen as the "bad Sam" version for the next 7 days, after seemingly falling apart in Detroit. He and KOC both have a ton of work to do, as our head coach still only has a one-and-done in his postseason resume in the top job.

I don’t think next week is a reflection on KOC at all. His job is safe no matter what. There would be a literal line of teams fighting over themselves for the chance to hire KOC.

[comet52]

Our future is JJM not Sam. The sooner we let that future begin, the better.

[greediron]

One overlooked fact was the refs let Detroit manhandle our receivers. That was a big difference in the game IMO.

[JimmyinSD]

One overlooked fact was the refs let Detroit manhandle our receivers.  That was a big difference in the game IMO.

I dont want to be that guy,  but the refs were fucking us all night long.  even if they didnt want to call the safety or the intentional grounding,  the pass hit a lions linemen,  isnt that an illegal touch?

Collinsworth and tirico were waxing poetic about how good of a job the lions DBs were doing covering JJ and they had a few clips ready... I saw blatant PI or Illegal contact in every single one... and not ticky tack shit either,  very obvious shit that has to be called.

better not hear any lions fans cry about the Chiefs getting calls,  looked like we were playing the packers in lambeau last night.