Prominent ESPN Voice Still Not Sold on 3-0 Vikings

Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.

ESPN, the company, ranked the Minnesota Vikings as the NFL’s third-best team entering Week 4 — a belated token of respect after Kevin O’Connell and Co. started the season 3-0.

Prominent ESPN Voice Still Not Sold on 3-0 Vikings

But not everyone at that network is sold. Chiefly, Sam Darnold is evidently the concern.

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ESPN’s Benjamin Solak [sort of] doubled down on his Darnold-themed critique this week, two days after Darnold delivered a four-touchdown performance against the Super Bowl-contending Houston Texans. Put plainly, Solak is not sold on Darnold’s sustainability.

“This is the rub for Darnold: He has to succeed when O’Connell’s machinations fail — when he’s pressured or forced to play outside of structure. And Darnold doesn’t need to win on scramble-drill plays or beat free rushers or anything,” Solak explained. “If he can just continue to avoid turnovers and whittle down on sack numbers, then he’ll continue doing his part for the Vikings’ offense. We might call this the Jimmy Garoppolo/Brock Purdy dichotomy.”

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Darnold leads the NFL in touchdown passes, ranks sixth among all quarterbacks per EPA+CPOE entering Week 4, and is on pace for 45 touchdowns to 11 interceptions.

Solak continued, “I called the Vikings pretenders in this space last week and picked against them in my Friday column. Vikings fans raked me over the coals, and Sunday, I ate my crow as Minnesota demolished the Texans at home. I’m still not convinced, though. I’ve watched a lot of Darnold over the years, and I know that these flashes of quality play are often chased by a few head-scratching weeks.”

Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.

And Solak isn’t the only man at ESPN low on Darnold. Two weeks ago, Stephen A. Smith called Darnold a “virus” that would soon permeate the Vikings locker room.

Minnesota began the 2024 season with a 28% playoff probability, according to sportsbooks, a mark that has since climbed to 69%.

Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.

Solak concluded, “I’m one step closer to believing that this will last all season. I’ve gone from ‘full-throated doubter’ to ‘suspicious but willing to entertain.’ Verdict: Good coaches can win with Darnold. Great coaches can win with Darnold for a while. Time to make your money, KOC.”

Minnesota, conveniently for Darnold’s sake, also showcases the NFL’s best defense through three weeks, ranked tops in the business per DVOA. The Vikings also lead the NFL in sacks with 16, the most by any team in the sport through three games of a season since 2010.

The Vikings put their undefeated streak on the line this weekend at the Green Bay Packers and are expected to lose by 2.5 points.


Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL. 

All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.