Questions Answered: A Darnold Believer, Optimism for Week 2, Vikings Player of the Game
The following questions are about current Minnesota Vikings topics, answered by VikingsTerritory. Today is the September 9th edition, addressed in a from-the-hip fashion. If you have questions, please email them to [email protected].
Questions Answered: A Darnold Believer, Optimism for Week 2, Vikings Player of the Game
Also, please note: These are opinion-based responses. Some answers will be incorrect from time to time. But we’ll try to keep that to a minimum.
Q: Well, well, well. Are you a Sam Darnold believer yet?
Answer: We are buying the reclamation project, yes.
The guy looked fantastic on Sunday, making all the throws draft scouts expected 6.5 years ago when Darnold joined the New York Jets via the third overall pick. The knock on Darnold has never been anything related to arm talent — it’s the turnovers. And he only had one in Week 1 because his arm was hit by Dexter Lawrence, who terrorized the Vikings all damn day.
Now, Darnold needs sustainability. Vikings fans saw a sweet quarterback in Joshua Dobbs for two games last year. Darnold needs more games than that. Thankfully, Darnold has the arm, and Dobbs does not.
Q: Do you have newfound optimism that the Vikings can beat the 49ers?
Answer: No.
Pound for pound, the 49ers are probably the most complete team in the business. We might buy into the upset if Minnesota did not knock off San Francisco last year. But the 49ers will seek vengeance and be more prepared than last year. The memory Is fresh.
We don’t believe Minnesota will get blown out or anything of the sort. It’s just that playing the Giants in Week 1 is markedly different from playing the 49ers in Week 2. New York stinks; San Francisco does not.
The Vikings fired up a 2-6 home record in 2023, a mark they desperately need to improve. It’s just a bummer that the first home game is against the best roster in the league.
Q: Who would you consider the Vikings’ player of the game yesterday? There were so many.
A: If forced to pick — probably Aaron Jones.
Jones made the offense multidimensional, something Minnesota hasn’t experienced since the 2021 version of Dalvin Cook. His efficiency and productivity freed up Darnold to cook in the passing game.
Darnold, too, had a magnificent game. So did Andrew Van Ginkel and Blake Brandel. But Jones felt like special sauce.
Ex-Vikings Speedster Lands on His Feet
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 MIN 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.
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