Dec 1, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (14) passes against the Arizona Cardinals in the third quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.
The following questions are about current Minnesota Vikings topics, answered by VikingsTerritory. Today is the December 19th edition, addressed in a from-the-hip fashion. If you have questions, please email them to DustinBakerNFL@gmail.com.
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.
Answer: Yes.
The Seahawks, in fact, seem exactly like the type of franchise that would hand Darnold a “Baker Mayfield contract” and then just call it good at QB1. If so, they may not even draft a rookie passer to wait in the wings.
They basically did this very strategy with Geno Smith.
Darnold to Seattle might boil down to Seattle’s 2024 playoff inclusion or lack thereof. If they miss the postseason, perhaps it will cut ties with Smith and explore Darnold’s free agency.
It’s a wonderful idea.
Answer: Vikings win 30-24.
Seattle played terribly against the Green Bay Packers last weekend, and their quarterback is hobbled, though he, Geno Smith, is expected to play against Minnesota.
Minnesota is flat-out good, and losing to Seattle would be an honest-to-goodness disappointment. The Vikings are no longer “the little engine that could” this season. They should beat Seattle.
Answer: Week 17 at home versus the Packers.
All signs point to Pace Jr.’s return for that pivotal contest. Head coach Kevin O’Connell sounded optimistic this week about Pace Jr.’s return in Week 17. “He’s doing well. He’s right on schedule. He’ll go through some simulated work with the trainers this week, simulating what we would do in practice this week. The timeline of that designation would be, I believe, next week, so hoping he’s on schedule with that,” O’Connell told reporters on Tuesday.
That’s exactly the style of update that would cue Pace Jr.’s return after an IR trip.
Tentatively pencil Pace Jr. in for Vikings-Packers in 10 days.
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.