Vikings built a fortress around Darnold

[StickierBuns]

What a game. WHAT A GAME. Slingin' Sammy was a machine, a damn rocket launching terminator that had all day to throw. When is the last time we saw him have that kind of time for the most part? His weakness (holding the ball) also many times means a huge chunk play in the passing game. The Nailor TD was just one example of many in that regard: he had other guys open underneath but he waited and hit Jalen for a great TD throw. Minnesota had Green Bay on the ropes, stopping 4th downs, racking up yardage, just kicking the shit out of them. They may have a lull sometimes that allows teams back in but they always shut the door at the end. No fear in having Sammy pass at any time in the football game, that is HUGE for their success. The defense does what it needs to do, isn't always perfect but look around the NFL....neither is ANY team. They don't allow many points. 

Watching Darnold get protected the way he did is a tribute to the offensive line, one of the favorite whipping boys by fans. Anyone missing Ingram? This team continues to amaze and surprise, winning and showing out each week in differing ways. If KOC isn't Coach of the Year, the NFL can jam that award where the sun doesn't shine. And you can see how the team feels about Darnold, cheering and lifting him on their shoulders in the locker room, what a surreal moment it must have been for him. His whole professional world changed for the better the day KOC decided to sign him and share the plan they had for him. Awesome stuff. Very important that KOC got the team's mojo back for winning at U.S. Bank, 7-1 there this year. And as much as I love JJ McCarthy, this is Darnold's team right now and maybe just a little bit of the future as well. I don't know how you'd let Darnold walk now, I just can't envision it. If you have to, franchise him. Whatever it takes. This is what a top-tier NFL franchise QB looks like....I mean, this is as good as it gets. 

p.s. Tom Brady sucks. My wife was like, 'Does he ever shut up?'. Talks over live action. Lots of backhanded compliments at various times from Brady of Darnold. Disjointed thoughts that just stop without an ending, lol. Ugh.

[BStads]

During the pre-game, Brady couldn’t remember who else beat the Packers this year after mentioning the Lions and Eagles. Jeez, try to remember your homework.

[StickierBuns]

Here come the media flowers, expect a lot of this this week:

Peter Schrager

The MVP will be an AFC QB. Debate that one elsewhere.

My take - there's been no better QB in the NFC this season than this man.
14-2 record
4,135 passing yards
35 TDs
106.4 Passer Rating
@Vikings
@gmfb

[Bullazin]

Dart after dart, dagger after dagger comes out of his arm. He’s a lot like Kirk Cousins actually, if you protect him, he will carve you up at all levels of the field.

Here’s what separates Slinging Sammie- his eyes just scan 1,2,3,4 across the field while he stands fearlessly. The marriage between KOC’s downfield concepts and Sammie are perfect. You will get some turnovers with this system/ mentality.

If we could build a little better running game we would be unstoppable.

That game yesterday was not as close as the score. We were borderline dominant against a very good team. What a great year to be a fan. One of our best teams ever.

[JR44]

What was really impressive with the OL is the Packers came out and dominated them early and it looked like it was going to be a long day and then we quickly made some adjustments that neutralized them most of the game.

Darnold really has an elite arm that allows him to get the ball into some tight spaces, which he did much of the day, also one of his best traits has been his feel of the pocket and his ability to slide in the pocket to avoid pressure, it was one of the things that made Dan Marino and Brady so great in that while they was not scramblers they had the ability to just move in the pocket at just the right time. The interception was one of the few bad decisions he has made in awhile and he missed a few, but all QBs are going to have those moments.

[MaroonBells]

I rarely pay attention to what the announcers say, or even who they are, but I sure noticed this one. Tom was terrible. 

Agree about the protection. Had to laugh at some tweets from Packer fans last night wondering if Rashan Gary and Kenny Clark missed the flight. Vikings OL was bad for so long I think complaining about it at this point is just blind force of habit for many. They can have a genuinely great game, limit the hottest defense in the NFL to 1 sack in 43 attempts, while putting up 450 yards of offense...and still get called out. It's as if some folks think there are teams out there somewhere who regularly give their QBs 5, 6 seconds to throw. The kind of time Sam had last night is rare in the NFL. 

Holding the ball. Yeah, Sam holds the ball longer than most QBs. This is demonstrable in the numbers. I remember this was a big topic of conversation on this board early in the year. But I wondered then if it was such a terrible thing. Our offense, and some of its slow-developing routes, require more time than others. And Sam waiting was him trying to run the FULL offense, even when he might be tempted to dump it off. I thought that Zen-like patience and discipline could eventually pay off. I think we might be seeing the benefits of that now.

[purplefaithful]

Sam Darnold’s pass protection started miserably with five pressures in the first eight dropbacks (62.5%) but tightened up with only eight more pressures in his final 36 dropbacks (22.2%) of Sunday’s 27-25 victory over the Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium.

“It just felt like we settled in a little bit,” right tackle Brian O’Neill said of the offensive line. “That’s how it felt after the first two drives.” Darnold had two throwaways, including one on third-and-3, as the Vikings opened with a punt and a missed 57-yard field goal.

When pressured, Darnold was 6-for-12 for 29 yards, an interception and a sack.

When protected, he completed 27 of 31 passes for 348 yards and three touchdowns.

On the Vikings’ three touchdown drives, Darnold was pressured just twice while completing 16 of 17 passes for 195 yards and three touchdowns. “He’s proving everybody wrong,” said running back Aaron Jones in the understatement of the year.

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KOC Caption -

$12mm/year is really going to make the wife happy....

[Vikergirl]

That picture of KOC is such a proud dad moment. I absolutely love it. I have really enjoyed seeing the evolution of Sam. He is really settling in. It's so cool to see him grow and develop. Also seeing his personality come out more is fun. He is more relaxed in the pressers. He was talking about random people coming up to him and talking about focusing on 1 and 0. So obviously people in the community are gravitating towards him too. He is really humble and likeable

[MaroonBells]

This offense, man. Risner, Bradbury and Robinson all stonewall their man, and it looks to me like Darnold has open(ish) receivers all over the field. But like he so often does, Sam chooses the deepest route. 

[Kentis]

The story of the game maybe how well the OL handled their pass rush stunts & twists, a welcome sight for longtime fans. The fudge had been very successful w/ their rush coming in.