Mr. Sammy Darnold, you glorious bastard....

[purplefaithful]

Good to see some of the doubters are finally coming to realize, there is no bad Sam!

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The game was too close because the defense couldn't get any pressure. They prevailed in the end, but they aren't getting the pressure or confusing QBs as much as they were early in the season. They are still a very good defense and have won several games this year, but it took them awhile to get on track yesterday. I think they missed Harry.

GB got 7 sacks on Seattle...I think the seahawks may have gotten an OL or 2 back for our game. 


Lack of pass rush is my BIGGEST concern the next 2 games and into the post-season...

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And all three of those seasons were MVP seasons for those QBs. This is the stat that is one of the more meaningful in my opinion because it measures week-in, week-out consistency. We need to remove all the Darnold qualifiers, like "for a bridge QB" or "for a castoff." What he's doing is historic by any standard.

Darnold completed 22 of 35 passes for 246 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions and a 112.3 passer rating yesterday. 

Its as unfathomable as 13/2...

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Sam Darnold’s big moment — the biggest of his life, perhaps — sets everything up for Vikings

When Darnold hit Justin Jefferson for the winning points against Seattle, he put himself and his team in position for big things.

SEATTLE – Sam Darnold was a man besieged. Surrounded by large, screaming men, his arms pinned to his sides, he couldn’t move, and breathing was becoming a problem.

He had played impeccably all afternoon despite defenders enveloping him like the perpetual Seattle mist, scrambling and spinning in the pocket, firing passes that defied geometry, if not physics. And now, in the gloaming, he was taking a beating.

“I think I slobbered on him,” Dalton Risner said.

Risner plays guard for the Vikings, and he was among those slapping Darnold on the helmet and back, because Darnold had just made the play of the season, if not Darnold’s entire life.

The Vikings trailed the Seattle Seahawks by four points late in the fourth quarter. They took the ball on their 30, then Darnold went to work. Twelve yards to Justin Jefferson. A scramble for 9. A facemask penalty led to a first down at the Seattle 39 with 3:58 remaining.

Darnold dropped back, felt pressure and rushed forward. Jefferson spun and went deep. Darnold, without breaking stride, hit him with the winning touchdown pass in the Vikings’ 27-24 victory, and then his offensive linemen surrounded him, looking like bears ripping bark off a tree.

“I mean, dear gosh, I’ve been a part of a lot of football teams, and it’s just unbelievable, whether it’s Justin Jefferson or him, just for us to be able to make plays like that in crunch time in an environment like that,” Risner said. “Doesn’t surprise me, but it’s just freaking fun to be a part of. We were just saying, ‘Dude, way to make a freaking play.’”

The numbers justified the emotions.

Against a quality defense in a roaring stadium in the rain, with the first seed in the NFC playoffs within reach, Darnold completed 22 of 35 passes for 246 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions and a 112.3 passer rating.

Earlier Sunday, the Eagles lost at Washington and Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts left the game because of a concussion. With the Packers coming to U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday, and the season finale scheduled for Detroit, Darnold and the Vikings can earn the first seed and division title with two victories.

With that last touchdown pass and this game, Darnold has positioned the team, and himself, for big things. This wasn’t Darnold playing point guard; this was Darnold making the big shot with the game on the line.

In the locker room after the game, Jefferson was comparing this team not to the 13-win team of 2022 but to his LSU national champions. “This is the same type of vibe,” he said.

Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell called this “Sam’s offense,” and noted that Darnold dealt well with O’Connell’s headset failing, forcing Darnold to call a play without help as the play clock ran down.

Veteran running back Aaron Jones described Darnold in the huddle before the winning drive as “poised, very poised. No flinch. He came into the huddle and said, ‘Hey, guys, it’s gonna be loud in here. … He gives you confidence, so there’s never a doubt in our mind that we’re gonna get this done."

Darnold’s best throw of the day might have been the first touchdown to Jefferson, who was barely open yet found the ball in his arms at the back of the end zone. That throw required as much confidence and trust as it did accuracy. “Lots of practice,” Darnold said.

Since Darnold’s three-interception performance at Jacksonville, he has thrown 15 touchdown passes and one interception — and the interception was a what-the-heck fourth-down toss against Chicago.

The Vikings have a succession plan. That’s why they signed Darnold to a one-year deal and planned to replace him with J.J. McCarthy.

Darnold is threatening to erase that plan, if he can survive the celebrations.

“I saw the touchdown, and I saw Sam, and I just grabbed ahold, slobbering, and I don’t even know what I told him,” Risner said. “I think I just kept saying, ‘You did it, Sammy.’”

Startribune

[JR44]

I was devastated with the JJM injury as I really wanted to see him play this year and begin his era with us, while Sam seemed like a good place holder, every week he does what you want to see in your QB, in addition he has something you cannot teach, which is an elite arm. It has been one of those magical seasons for us, it is hard to believe, but I just don't see us letting Darnold walk.

[purplefaithful]

Leber doesn't hype too much and certainly doesnt sugar coat...

"Darnold is having an All Pro Year, not just Pro Bowl"

Ok, lets see what happens the next few weeks right?

[Vanguard83]

We keep saying, "Let's see what happens the next few weeks"....all season long.
My knock on Darnold was that he holds the ball too long, and decision-making. BUT I believe his velocity recovers that time, and his escapability has been nothing short of amazing. Not sure what else he has to prove. Still young, and already better than Cousins. Doesn't beat his chest about himself, just does his thing.

[purplefaithful]

Nice speech from KOC..

From the heart...

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We keep saying, "Let's see what happens the next few weeks"....all season long.
My knock on Darnold was that he holds the ball too long, and decision-making.  BUT I believe his velocity recovers that time, and his escapability has been nothing short of amazing. Not sure what else he has to prove. Still young, and already better than Cousins. Doesn't beat his chest about himself, just does his thing.

I dont disagree with the sentiment. 

I'm not sure its he's got more to prove (does he?) but we have the luxury of letting this play out. 

How much the next 2, 3, 4 or 5 games make a difference or not remains to be seen.

[StickierBuns]

We keep saying, "Let's see what happens the next few weeks"....all season long.

This is where I was and then at the end of the game last night I'm like.....that's not fair to Darnold and I wouldn't be doing it with any other player. If this was McCarthy playing like this there'd be a mushroom cloud of excitement emanating from South Florida that could be seen from a satellite. How many games does he have to win? How many TDs does he have to throw? How consistently clutch does he have to be for fans to say 'that's enough, I'm in'? 

Go get it, Sammy.....burn that old narrative down to ash, dude.

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This is where I was and then at the end of the game last night I'm like.....that's not fair to Darnold and I wouldn't be doing it with any other player. If this was McCarthy playing like this there'd be a mushroom cloud of excitement emanating from South Florida that could be seen from a satellite. How many games does he have to win? How many TDs does he have to throw? How consistently clutch does he have to be for fans to say 'that's enough, I'm in'? 

Go get it, Sammy.....burn that old narrative down to ash, dude.

And here's another viewpoint:

Here’s what one #NFL executive had to say on the Sam Darnold and J.J. McCarthy dilemma via @SandoNFL

“This season has proved Sam needs Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, (T.J.) Hockenson, one of the grittiest offensive lines and a top back in Aaron Jones. If you are Minnesota, you wave goodbye to Sam, wish him luck and hope he signs for $50 million with some team that thinks they are a quarterback away, but doesn’t have all those things Minnesota has. You get the premium comp pick, you found your next Sam Darnold in Daniel Jones and you already have your draft pick (McCarthy) ready to go. That is what a smart organization does.””

[MAD GAINZ]

This is where I was and then at the end of the game last night I'm like.....that's not fair to Darnold and I wouldn't be doing it with any other player. If this was McCarthy playing like this there'd be a mushroom cloud of excitement emanating from South Florida that could be seen from a satellite. How many games does he have to win? How many TDs does he have to throw? How consistently clutch does he have to be for fans to say 'that's enough, I'm in'? 

Go get it, Sammy.....burn that old narrative down to ash, dude.

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And here's another viewpoint:

Here’s what one #NFL executive had to say on the Sam Darnold and J.J. McCarthy dilemma via @SandoNFL

“This season has proved Sam needs Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, (T.J.) Hockenson, one of the grittiest offensive lines and a top back in Aaron Jones. If you are Minnesota, you wave goodbye to Sam, wish him luck and hope he signs for $50 million with some team that thinks they are a quarterback away, but doesn’t have all those things Minnesota has. You get the premium comp pick, you found your next Sam Darnold in Daniel Jones and you already have your draft pick (McCarthy) ready to go. That is what a smart organization does.””

It's true to an extent.  I mean our weapons, KOC's play calling, and our OL are set up to maximize a QBs ceiling.

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But when we've seen Darnold's ceiling in this offense... It'll be hard to walk away from 32+ TD passes and 4,000+ yards.

[purplefaithful]

It's true to an extent.  I mean our weapons, KOC's play calling, and our OL are set up to maximize a QBs ceiling.

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But when we've seen Darnold's ceiling in this offense...  It'll be hard to walk away from 32+ TD passes and 4,000+ yards.

And is it really a stretch to think he'd be better yr2???

[Canthony]

And is it really a stretch to think he'd be better yr2???

I can't see him getting better. If anything I would say he will regress. He still makes passes that make you cringe, but we have the WR core to bail him out more times than we all think. He is playing well, but I think we will know alot more the next 3 weeks on what we really have. When the games matter against teams playing their best.

[purplefaithful]

I can't see him getting better. If anything I would say he will regress. He still makes passes that make you cringe, but we have the WR core to bail him out more times than we all think. He is playing well, but I think we will know alot more the next 3 weeks on what we really have. When the games matter against teams playing their best.

Your guess is as good as mine CA, but i saw it happen with KC yr2 in the KOC offense. 

I think Sam is going to be priced out of our mkt tbh - some team will over him >$39mm. Some franchise that he will find palatable enough to leave for. 

But Im enjoying the ride this year and waiting to see what unfolds the next mos or so. I'm bringing my nephew to the Pack game Sunday night and he's out of his mind excited. Just at that right 20 something age when he hasn't been scarred yet.