Sam Darnold Gets a Little National Love
Thanks to Sam Darnold, Aaron Jones, and the Minnesota Vikings defense, the New York Giants splatted in Week 1, losing to the purple team 28-6 at home.
Sam Darnold Gets a Little National Love
And because Darnold was close to flawless, his esteem around the NFL climbed a little bit this week.
The 33rd Team publishes weekly quarterback power rankings, and following Week 1, Darnold climbed five spots, one of the league’s highest risers, from No. 26 to No. 21. In fact, Darnold checked in directly behind Kirk Cousins, who performed woefully in his Atlanta Falcons debut.
“We got our first look at Sam Darnold in the Kevin O’Connell offense, throwing to Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. What we saw was a quarterback who can get to the open receiver and the plays created will be enough to make up for some lapses in judgment,” The 33rd Team’s Ari Meirov wrote, “Darnold had one bad pick, but it didn’t matter because everything else was in rhythm and worked as designed.”
Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs), Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills), and Lamar Jackson (Baltimore Ravens) headlined Meirov’s pecking order. It’s worth noting that Jackson did not play well in Week 1, but his ranking did not suffer.
“The Giants might be one of the league’s worst defenses — there was barely pressure created outside of Dexter Lawrence — but there was a lot to like about how Darnold played early and how this offense could structurally support good production without the quarterback having to do too much to elevate it,” Meirov concluded about Darnold’s Week 1 output.
Darnold’s outing at MetLife Stadium, where he’s now started 21 career games, checked in at the tops of the charts per a couple of trustworthy statistical metrics. The guy played lustrously, and there’s just no other way around it.
Foremost, his EPA-CPOE, an efficiency stat measuring quarterbacks’ wins added, led all passers heading in Week 1. It likely won’t remain, but Darnold set the pace out of the gate.
After EPA+CPOE glory, Darnold led all NFL quarterbacks per Pro Football Focus grade, an unforeseen outcome because Darnold is more known for struggles than effectiveness. He banked an 88.0 PFF grade for his Week 1 troubles, an outstanding mark for anybody.
A wickedly good level of Week 1 production, Vikings fans will cross their fingers as the purple team encounters a murderer’s row of opponents before the start of November, including games against the 49ers, Houston Texans, Green Bay Packers, Jets, Detroit Lions, and Los Angeles Rams. It won’t be easy, and Darnold will receive a more daunting test than the Giants offered.
But at least the NFL masses took notice of Darnold’s afternoon. A magnificent first act in purple.
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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.
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