This is how to view the Sam Darnold Experience

[StickierBuns]

COLUMN: "The only thing more reckless than Sam Darnold on Sunday was the rhetoric being thrown around on social media.
This is what the Vikings signed up for when they brought him in. Might as well strap in and enjoy the ride on the roller coaster."

https://www.twincities.com/2024/11/11/da...r-coaster/

He's our one-year bridge QB with upside, and to explore that upside on a talented team with good coaching. He was never going to be resigned by Minnesota nor was he going to stay here past 2024. He's flawed and we've seen those flaws, but we've also seen some pretty amazing throws. He's going to turn it over. He's not going to be benched and shouldn't be, the ride isn't stopping until the season is over. This was 100% JJ McCarthy's team the day he was drafted, either this year at some point late or to start the next season (2025, obviously because of his injury). Nothing has changed, at least for most that understood this despite some silly talk about him being resigned or being an MVP candidate. 

7-2, baby....loving it. Just let Sam be Sam, that cat can't change his spots now. Cheers to more of this unexpected fun season. 

[Greylock]

I really don't think Sam is any different than any other quarterback in the league. There are a lot of stinkers playing quarterback in the league and some of the other so called franchise guys have really bad games. Goff just threw 5 interceptions in his last game, Josh Allen considered to be a franchise guy in Buffalo has some really good games and then he will have a "what the hell game". Is Sam any different? He will have a really good game then have a real sticker but he is trying to make plays. Yea sometimes you have to wonder what he is seeing but I will will take being aggressive rather than being conservative and throwing behind the sticks on 3rd or 4th down and hoping for a broken tackle.

[JR44]

I often view it standing back in the kitchen while pacing with my eyes half closed! 

[MaroonBells]

I really don't think Sam is any different than any other quarterback in the league.  There are a lot of stinkers playing quarterback in the league and some of the other so called franchise guys have really bad games.  Goff just threw 5 interceptions in his last game, Josh Allen considered to be a franchise guy in Buffalo has some really good games and then he will have a "what the hell game".  Is Sam any different? He will have a really good game then have a real sticker but he is trying to make plays.  Yea sometimes you have to wonder what he is seeing but I will will take being aggressive rather than being conservative and throwing behind the sticks on 3rd or 4th down and hoping for a broken tackle.

Couldn't agree more and I don't think we're done seeing Good Sam. But by the same token, we're not done seeing Bad Sam either. The overreaction to Sam's performance by the bedwetters on social media was pretty ridiculous. 

Between Ponder, Freeman, Joe Webb, Tarvaris Jackson, hell even Kirk Cousins, we've seen a lot of crap QB games in our purple history. This was not one of them.

[JimmyinSD]

early in the season he was much more confident and accurate than he is now. he is in his own head and unless that changes its only going to get worse IMO. He is starring down JJ, he is late on throws, holding the ball to long, slow in his progressions, and his overall accuracy is looking worse by the week. remember that horseshoe I brought up a few years ago that eventually fell out in the iggles debacle? Well it appears Sams got knocked out a few weeks back and unless somebody goes back and finds it, and promptly shoves up back up his ass, I think we are closer to the team we are, than the team we were.

[StickierBuns]

early in the season he was much more confident and accurate than he is now.  he is in his own head and unless that changes its only going to get worse IMO.  He is starring down JJ, he is late on throws, holding the ball to long, slow in his progressions, and his overall accuracy is looking worse by the week.  remember that horseshoe I brought up a few years ago that eventually fell out in the iggles debacle?  Well it appears Sams got knocked out a few weeks back and unless somebody goes back and finds it,  and promptly shoves up back up his ass,  I think we are closer to the team we are, than the team we were.

He's different, zero doubt about it. Will that change from this point on? I guess we'll see. Two highly winnable games these next two weeks, although on the road. I'll be at the one in Chicago and I've got field passes so I'll check in quick with KOC to get the latest and report back.

[purplefaithful]

He's different, zero doubt about it. Will that change from this point on? I guess we'll see. Two highly winnable games these next two weeks, although on the road. I'll be at the one in Chicago and I've got field passes so I'll check in quick with KOC to get the latest and report back.

I figured you had some insider connect with the hints you lay down now and then lol!

Bring em some luck, Soldier Field has not been kind to the Vikings over the decades.

[MaroonBells]

I figured you had some insider connect with the hints you lay down now and then lol!

Bring em some luck, Soldier Field has not been kind to the Vikings over the decades.

Watch, the Bears will bench Williams the week of our game and Vikings will get Tyson Bagent....who we'll somehow make look like Johnny Unitas. 

Tyson Bagent Time? Some Players Reportedly Asked For QB Change

[StickierBuns]

Watch, the Bears will bench Williams the week of our game and Vikings will get Tyson Bagent....who we'll somehow make look like Johnny Unitas. 

Tyson Bagent Time? Some Players Reportedly Asked For QB Change

Some said the same thing about Joe Flacco and Mac Jones.....at some point these old bugaboos stop holding water. 

Other than last year with the absolute shit ton of injuries that decimated the season, KOC wins ball games: he's 20-6 in the regular season, removing the anomaly injury apocalypse that was the 2023 season, to this point. Its a new era in Minnesota, they won't be regularly losing to backup QBs anymore.

[Montana Tom]

I really don't think Sam is any different than any other quarterback in the league.  There are a lot of stinkers playing quarterback in the league and some of the other so called franchise guys have really bad games.  Goff just threw 5 interceptions in his last game, Josh Allen considered to be a franchise guy in Buffalo has some really good games and then he will have a "what the hell game".  Is Sam any different? He will have a really good game then have a real sticker but he is trying to make plays.  Yea sometimes you have to wonder what he is seeing but I will will take being aggressive rather than being conservative and throwing behind the sticks on 3rd or 4th down and hoping for a broken tackle.

Couldn't agree more.
I think with all the "bench Sam" screams, they forget what the consensus was in July...that this was going to be a lost season.
Nothing has changed (except thankfully the fan screams to bench Darnold and start JJM).  His injury was a blessing in that regard...no pressure to push the rookie into what would be absolute rookie mistakes.

I have no doubt that Caleb Williams, Drake Maye and Bo Nix will be solid starters at some point in their career. Bo Nix is having the best success of those three.  Jayden Daniels already is (shocking, I know, but he's turning into a rare bird).  Michael Penix Jr is doing essentially a JJM imitation, watching from the sidelines this year.  

So there you have it...out of the six top QBs taken in the top 11 spots, you have one that is proving that he can quickly adapt to the NFL game.  

Let's not forget how difficult it is to play that position.  And how the roadside on any football / sports broadcasting booth is littered with former stud college QBs who didn't make it in the NFL. 

I'm going to just enjoy the ride the rest of this season...we're already beating the 6.5 wins that oddsmakers had us at.