Same ol' Sam?

[comet52]

He's a very skilled thrower. But he has a narrative to get past and he can do it in this year's playoffs.

I don't think it's a narrative it's just his history.  He turns it over a lot.  He's like Jameis - tons of physical talent but the brain function isn't quite up to par.

Which kinda reminds me, I think Jameis is who they probably should pursue as backup to JJM.  Because if JJM is not going to work out then a guy who can chuck the deep balls that KOC loves is probably the best alternative.  He's under contract to the Giants but maybe he could be gotten for a low round pick.

[pattersaur]

I do not get all of the absolutes with Darnold.  He played one year in our offense and turned his career around and based on what he is doing this year, it was not a fluke.  He very may have continued to improve in our offense as he continued into year two and gained more familiarity in the offense and with KOC.  I think we would have seen an ever better version this year. 

The narrative that he can't win a big game or he chokes is a complete joke.  What is it based on?  Until last year he had never played in a playoff game or any game of great significance.  Sure, he did not play great in the last two games, but the entire team was awful, he had no protection.  So we are basing the narrative on 2 games?  Go check the game tape of the MNF agains the Rams and tell me how he can't win a big game.  He has the Seahawks at 13-3 and has won plenty of big games in the process as he did here last year in taking us to 14-3.

Not trolling but I'm curious-- Do you think Darnold is gonna play well against SF this weekend then?

[MaroonBells]

Inquiring minds want to know: Did yesterday's game qualify as a "big game" for Darnold? On Darnold's injury, some idiot said "it sounds like the set up for an excuse." Does any QB get the shit that Darnold gets? It really is unbelievable.

[purplefaithful]

Inquiring minds want to know: Did yesterday's game qualify as a "big game" for Darnold? On Darnold's injury, some idiot said "it sounds like the set up for an excuse." Does any QB get the shit that Darnold gets? It really is unbelievable.

He'll never have to carry that team with that D and that running game...But that was a really badly beat-up 49'er squad...

Sam makes some throws I can only dream of JJM being able to do some day. 

I think Sammy gets his ring this year. Good coaching staff in Seattle too.

I am embarrassed by how wrong I was about Seattle going into this season.

[MaroonBells]

He'll never have to carry that team with that D and that running game...But that was a really badly beat-up 49'er squad...

Sam makes some throws I can only dream of JJM being able to do some day. 

I think Sammy gets his ring this year. Good coaching staff in Seattle too.

I am embarrassed by how wrong I was about Seattle going into this season.

That throw to JSN in the corner of the end zone was a remarkable throw. But I've seen JJ throw similar passes. JJ's tough passes are dimes. It's the easy ones he struggles with.

[purplefaithful]

That throw to JSN in the corner of the end zone was a remarkable throw. But I've seen JJ throw similar passes. JJ's tough passes are dimes. It's the easy ones he struggles with.

I know exactly the pass you are talking about...The TD to the TE from JJM is one that is reminiscent, I forget which game that was...A later one in the season.

Dayum, I hope the kid shows he can stay on the field & makes a big leap in 26.

[comet52]

The game plan by McDonald the last two games was smart for Sam, limiting his passing to limit exposure to his mistakes.

In the season finale and playoff versus San Fran, Darnold threw a combined 43 times with 32 completions. The team ran the ball 72 times. The run/pass ratio last night was 2-1, 33-17. In the first game it was 39-26.

In the 2024 finale at Detroit, Sam was 18/41 while the team ran it 19 times, for a pass/run ratio of 2-1, the opposite of McDonald's method. A very different way of handling Sam which didn't work out.

[Zanary]

For all the whining (and, of Vikings' pages on FB and elsewhere, it's a TON of whining) about Sam leaving...again, he turned down the offer given and bet on himself. He'd looked like hot garbage for us against Detroit and LA, so his departure wasn't surprising to the attentive, at all.

All the "ifs" mean nothing. There's no way to know how he would've done if he'd stayed...he could've been on IR after 3 snaps, he could've been QB deep into the playoffs, there's equal possibility of both: zero. He ain't on the team anymore, and all the grousing is nothing more than noise.

Seattle is carrying Sam, via their defense and running game. He's made great plays, but he's also made a ton of forgettable plays that just get...forgotten.

If Chicago/LA can disrupt his timing, like any QB, he'll look pretty average pretty quickly. Seattle is smart to keep a lot of focus on their ground game.

[Canthony]

For all the whining (and, of Vikings' pages on FB and elsewhere, it's a TON of whining) about Sam leaving...again, he turned down the offer given and bet on himself. He'd looked like hot garbage for us against Detroit and LA, so his departure wasn't surprising to the attentive, at all.

All the "ifs" mean nothing. There's no way to know how he would've done if he'd stayed...he could've been on IR after 3 snaps, he could've been QB deep into the playoffs, there's equal possibility of both: zero. He ain't on the team anymore, and all the grousing is nothing more than noise.

Seattle is carrying Sam, via their defense and running game. He's made great plays, but he's also made a ton of forgettable plays that just get...forgotten.

If Chicago/LA can disrupt his timing, like any QB, he'll look pretty average pretty quickly. Seattle is smart to keep a lot of focus on their ground game.

Absolutely correct. He threw for 120 yards. Darnold had really nothing to do with the win.

[JimmyinSD]

If sesttle were to win it all,  sam darnold just replaces Trent dilfer as the poster child for lucky guy in the right place at the right time.  I think SD is a decent QB,  but hes not a difference maker in most games.