Darnold gets attention from Washington Post

[Montana Tom]

What to know from NFL Week 16: Sam Darnold is the man, and Joe Burrow is still alive
The Eagles suffered through a brutal day in Washington, Kyler Murray’s Cardinals were eliminated, and the New York Giants are just about on the clock.

After another solid showing from Sam Darnold, the Minnesota Vikings are 13-2 with a path to the No. 1 seed in the NFC. 

Sam Darnold states his case
The Bengals are alive — barely
What a disaster for the Eagles
Buffalo had a scary day
The Lions won’t fade away without a fight
The Chiefs are figuring it out
Kyler Murray is going home early again
Here come the Ravens
The Michael Penix era has started in Atlanta
The Giants are (almost) on the clock

Analysis by Adam Kilgore
The NFC playoff field will not be finalized for another two weeks, but it’s worth considering just how fantastic the bracket could look. With the Los Angeles Rams inching closer to a playoff spot Sunday, it’s realistic to think it could include seven teams with 10 wins and at least four with 12. It’s likely to include three quarterbacks picked first overall and two more taken in the top three. Every game will feel titanic.

Here is what to know from Week 16:

Sam Darnold states his case

After the first two weeks of the season, Jordan Palmer, the offseason quarterback coach for a slew of NFL passers, said something that resonates now. Palmer works with Sam Darnold. Back in September, he wanted to make the point that Darnold was overlooked for tangible reasons.

“There’s some really exciting players at the top of the NFL right now at the quarterback position,” Palmer said then. “Fans and media have it in their minds how it looks when they do it — how fast they are and how strong their arms are. People think there’s a gap between Sam Darnold and that group. I’m uniquely positioned to have this opinion: There is no gap.”

Palmer, by the way, counts Josh Allen among his clients. Darnold can’t claim to be on an MVP level, but this season he has occupied a tier only slightly below. Darnold submitted another elite performance in the Vikings’ 27-24 victory over the Seattle Seahawks, which pushed Minnesota to 13-2. The Vikings still have to play Green Bay and Detroit, but if they win out, they will be the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

Darnold passed for 246 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions, but he was better than those numbers. Late in the fourth quarter, trailing by three, the pocket closed in on Darnold. He scooted forward and launched a 39-yard, go-ahead touchdown pass to Justin Jefferson as two pass rushers decked him.

Darnold doesn’t just manage games. When necessary, he can conjure magic. The Vikings have an apparent dilemma with first-round quarterback J.J. McCarthy waiting in the wings and Darnold’s one-year contract expiring. It shouldn’t be a difficult choice. Darnold will be far more expensive, but he has demonstrated that he can lead an NFL team to the top of the league. Potential cannot compare with that.

[purplefaithful]

Anything can happen in a given week, but I'd still rank the NFC:

Lions
Eagles
Vikings
Packers

Last 2 weeks are going to be crazy. The whole thing can flip dramatically.

We'd be playing @ ATL if the playoffs were this Sunday.

[MaroonBells]

What to know from NFL Week 16: Sam Darnold is the man, and Joe Burrow is still alive
The Eagles suffered through a brutal day in Washington, Kyler Murray’s Cardinals were eliminated, and the New York Giants are just about on the clock.

After another solid showing from Sam Darnold, the Minnesota Vikings are 13-2 with a path to the No. 1 seed in the NFC. 

Sam Darnold states his case
The Bengals are alive — barely
What a disaster for the Eagles
Buffalo had a scary day
The Lions won’t fade away without a fight
The Chiefs are figuring it out
Kyler Murray is going home early again
Here come the Ravens
The Michael Penix era has started in Atlanta
The Giants are (almost) on the clock

Analysis by Adam Kilgore
The NFC playoff field will not be finalized for another two weeks, but it’s worth considering just how fantastic the bracket could look. With the Los Angeles Rams inching closer to a playoff spot Sunday, it’s realistic to think it could include seven teams with 10 wins and at least four with 12. It’s likely to include three quarterbacks picked first overall and two more taken in the top three. Every game will feel titanic.

Here is what to know from Week 16:

Sam Darnold states his case

After the first two weeks of the season, Jordan Palmer, the offseason quarterback coach for a slew of NFL passers, said something that resonates now. Palmer works with Sam Darnold. Back in September, he wanted to make the point that Darnold was overlooked for tangible reasons.

“There’s some really exciting players at the top of the NFL right now at the quarterback position,” Palmer said then. “Fans and media have it in their minds how it looks when they do it — how fast they are and how strong their arms are. People think there’s a gap between Sam Darnold and that group. I’m uniquely positioned to have this opinion: There is no gap.”

Palmer, by the way, counts Josh Allen among his clients. Darnold can’t claim to be on an MVP level, but this season he has occupied a tier only slightly below. Darnold submitted another elite performance in the Vikings’ 27-24 victory over the Seattle Seahawks, which pushed Minnesota to 13-2. The Vikings still have to play Green Bay and Detroit, but if they win out, they will be the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

Darnold passed for 246 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions, but he was better than those numbers. Late in the fourth quarter, trailing by three, the pocket closed in on Darnold. He scooted forward and launched a 39-yard, go-ahead touchdown pass to Justin Jefferson as two pass rushers decked him.

Darnold doesn’t just manage games. When necessary, he can conjure magic. The Vikings have an apparent dilemma with first-round quarterback J.J. McCarthy waiting in the wings and Darnold’s one-year contract expiring. It shouldn’t be a difficult choice. Darnold will be far more expensive, but he has demonstrated that he can lead an NFL team to the top of the league. Potential cannot compare with that.

The bold is the bottom line, both literally and figuratively. 

As the weeks go on, I'm becoming more and more comfortable with the following: Sign Sam long term (3 or 4 years), which will allow us to keep his 1st year hit under $10M, giving the Vikings about $60M to add free agents and go win a Lombardi in '25. Two years in, trade him for the moon and hand the keys to a fully developed McCarthy. At that point, we will have a much better idea about what we have in JJ.

[purplefaithful]

The bold is the bottom line, both literally and figuratively. 

As the weeks go on, I'm becoming more and more comfortable with the following: Sign Sam long term (3 or 4 years), which will allow us to keep his 1st year hit under $10M, giving the Vikings about $60M to add free agents and go win a Lombardi in '25. Two years in, trade him for the moon and hand the keys to a fully developed McCarthy. At that point, we will have a much better idea about what we have in JJ.

I got mixed emotions about signing Sam to a 3 or 4 year...And damn if it doesnt change day to day or morning till night. 

We have a lot of holes to fill and a big QB contract wont allow for it like JJM would.

The D is not getting old, it is old:
Smith
Griffin 
Gilmore

Both lines need work; the only interior rush pressure comes from blitzes and we dont run the ball as effectively/efficiently as I would like to see. 

Top it off with A. Jones is going to be hitting a wall at some point - if they can/do keep him in 25. 

OTOH, I keep saying lets wait and see, but what else is there to prove? He can win a playoff game? Beat GB? Win at Detroit?

What is the line in the sand that says keep JJM on ice and sign Darnold vs stick to the plan? 

Maybe its not anything at all to do with the play on the field and all to do with the contract? I suspect this is the case. 

Will be interesting to see how firm the Vikings hold to the plan they had coming into the year or pivot off it.

[AGRforever]

I got mixed emotions about signing Sam to a 3 or 4 year...And damn if it doesnt change day to day or morning till night. 

We have a lot of holes to fill and a big QB contract wont allow for it like JJM would.

The D is not getting old, it is old:
Smith
Griffin 
Gilmore

Both lines need work; the only interior rush pressure comes from blitzes and we dont run the ball as effectively/efficiently as I would like to see. 

Top it off with A. Jones is going to be hitting a wall at some point - if they can/do keep him in 25. 

OTOH, I keep saying lets wait and see, but what else is there to prove? He can win a playoff game? Beat GB? Win at Detroit?

What is the line in the sand that says keep JJM on ice and sign Darnold vs stick to the plan? 

Maybe its not anything at all to do with the play on the field and all to do with the contract? I suspect this is the case. 

Will be interesting to see how firm the Vikings hold to the plan they had coming into the year or pivot off it.

To me it really depends on if Flores is back and how confident we are in JJMs knee. 

If Flores is back Fking go for it. Push some cap. Sign Darnold for $30m x3 yr. Play to win the damn thing. 

I am fairly confident that JJM can be good though. I have no idea how long it would take to get him playing at Sammy’s level.

[StickierBuns]

The bold is the bottom line, both literally and figuratively. 

As the weeks go on, I'm becoming more and more comfortable with the following: Sign Sam long term (3 or 4 years), which will allow us to keep his 1st year hit under $10M, giving the Vikings about $60M to add free agents and go win a Lombardi in '25. Two years in, trade him for the moon and hand the keys to a fully developed McCarthy. At that point, we will have a much better idea about what we have in JJ.

Yeah, I'm not buying into a long term 4 year contract. That won't be happening with McCarthy on the bench. Part of Sam's success, a big part, is KOC's offense and offensive personnel. JJ would benefit from this setup just as Darnold has. And why would you trade a guy, in your scenario, after 'two years in' that is knocking it out of the park, for the 'moon'? It's silly. You won't have any true idea what you have in McCarthy unless you play him, period. Even Mac Jones had a nice season and now look at him, the same could happen to Darnold. 

As clear cut as some fans want this to be, its anything but that. When you listen to KOC talk about Darnold, etc. I still get the strong vibe he's talking like its a one and done deal for Sammy. 'I'm just enjoying coaching him (Darnold)' etc. and he speaks very much in the present tense only about Darnold. Big games coming up.

[hogjowlsjohnny]

Yeah, I'm not buying into a long term 4 year contract. That won't be happening with McCarthy on the bench. Part of Sam's success, a big part, is KOC's offense and offensive personnel. JJ would benefit from this setup just as Darnold has. And why would you trade a guy, in your scenario, after 'two years in' that is knocking it out of the park, for the 'moon'? It's silly. You won't have any true idea what you have in McCarthy unless you play him, period. Even Mac Jones had a nice season and now look at him, the same could happen to Darnold. 

As clear cut as some fans want this to be, its anything but that. When you listen to KOC talk about Darnold, etc. I still get the strong vibe he's talking like its a one and done deal for Sammy. 'I'm just enjoying coaching him (Darnold)' etc. and he speaks very much in the present tense only about Darnold. Big games coming up.

I'm not worried about any of this right now. It's a problem that will take care of itself. Some QB needy team will offer Darnold a bag he can't resist and the Vikings can't afford without compromising the rest of their team's roster.
I'm just happy Darnold is here right now and has helped put the Vikings in a position to potentially compete for a championship.
The road gets much more difficult from here on out, but this is a pretty complete team with the ability to accomplish the ultimate goal.

[Montana Tom]

I'm not worried about any of this right now. It's a problem that will take care of itself. Some QB needy team will offer Darnold a bag he can't resist and the Vikings can't afford without compromising the rest of their team's roster.
I'm just happy Darnold is here right now and has helped put the Vikings in a position to potentially compete for a championship.
The road gets much more difficult from here on out, but this is a pretty complete team with the ability to accomplish the ultimate goal.

There is the money bag from another team as a consideration, for sure.

But one of the intangibles that WILL weigh in on Darnold's decision (as well as how the Vikings approach it). is that he has first-hand knowledge of what happened when he was not employed by an organization with the culture, coaching and creativity of the Vikings.  It was painful and humiliating. 

Since this is his fourth (and as of last Spring, potentially his final kick at the can), KOC has rejuvenated Darnold's career.  Is that worth a 3-year $110 mm, back-end loaded contract?  Or a $41mm franchise tag?  That gives us 1-3 years to work up JJM for a seamless transition, protect us from an injury to Darnold (although I admit, he's proven to be pretty tough out there).

Oh yeah, and then there's that guy we signed from the Giants, who is standing in line waiting for KOC to rejuvenate his career. 

I wish my crystal ball was more clear.  But this is a Cadillac problem.

[Knucklehead]

I got mixed emotions about signing Sam to a 3 or 4 year...And damn if it doesnt change day to day or morning till night. 

We have a lot of holes to fill and a big QB contract wont allow for it like JJM would.

The D is not getting old, it is old:
Smith
Griffin 
Gilmore

Both lines need work; the only interior rush pressure comes from blitzes and we dont run the ball as effectively/efficiently as I would like to see. 

Top it off with A. Jones is going to be hitting a wall at some point - if they can/do keep him in 25. 

OTOH, I keep saying lets wait and see, but what else is there to prove? He can win a playoff game? Beat GB? Win at Detroit?

What is the line in the sand that says keep JJM on ice and sign Darnold vs stick to the plan? 

Maybe its not anything at all to do with the play on the field and all to do with the contract? I suspect this is the case. 

Will be interesting to see how firm the Vikings hold to the plan they had coming into the year or pivot off it.

Post of the day right here.

For those of you who are having angst about moving on from Darnold, believe what your eyes are showing you. Kirko had the best 6 seasons of his career under KOC. Darnold went from a laughingstock to a MVP candidate under KOC. JJM is KOC's hand picked QB. There's no reason to think that the offense won't run efficiently with JJM as QB. Of course JJM won't match Darnold's production. But, moving on from Darnold's contract will allow us to improve the team overall.

The pundits & fans want to see how the post season plays out before making a decision on Darnold. I'm also eager to see how the post season plays out. But, my focus won't be on Darnold. I'll be watching to see if:

Our leaky IOL can protect Darnold & generate a better run game against better defenses
Our IDL can collapse the interior against better OL's
Our ancient CBs can hold up against better passing attacks

With limited draft picks, FA is the primary resource that we have to address the weaknesses on our roster. Resigning Darnold to a market rate contract will inhibit our ability to do so.

[greediron]

That TD wasn't just another throw either. He moved up in the pocket and fired it off the wrong foot, facing the wrong way.

Agree with the others, don't think a 4 year contract is the thing, but I would love a 1 or 2 year deal, let JJ heal, grow, learn.