Oct 20, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (14) warms up before the game against the Detroit Lions at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images.
Sam Darnold has been the best version of himself all season for the Minnesota Vikings. At this point, it’s fair to call what he has been the real version of himself. It’s not his fault that the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers were dumpster fire organizations while he was there. On Sunday Night Football, though, he was nowhere to be seen.
From the start, it seemed the Vikings signal-caller couldn’t calm himself. Darnold was playing in the biggest game of his career, and he was constantly off. Open receivers had to deal with high throws and the offensive line blocked for a guy who couldn’t calm his feet. Minnesota watched their quarterback lose his composure in the season’s biggest game.
Kevin O’Connell continued to put the ball in Darnold’s hands. When the dust settled, Minnesota threw the ball 41 times. Darnold completed just 18 of those passes and for just 166 yards. He didn’t throw an interception, but he also couldn’t put the ball in the end zone despite being in the red zone with advantageous situations on multiple occasions.
The Vikings can not afford a repeat performance.
It’s understandable that Darnold hasn’t been put in big moments. The last time he played in games that mattered would be back in college with USC. That isn’t going to be the case moving forward. While eyeing a sizable payday this offseason, the ability to win during the moment will be scrutinized.
Darnold is now facing the same stretch he saw earlier this season. After a loss to the Detroit Lions, he faced a Los Angeles Rams team on a short week and took the loss. This time, there are more days to prepare, and the Vikings should be considered to have the upper hand. Darnold will need to lean into that reality and emerge victorious.
Unfortunately, the Vikings couldn’t get the job done during the season’s final week. That doesn’t mean the loss has to define them, though. Darnold has been so much better than the performance he showed against Detroit. If he wants to substantiate that and distance himself from ugly narratives, then a coming-out party on Monday night would be a great way to provide an answer.
Ted Schwerzler is a blogger from the Twin Cities that is focused on all things Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. He’s active on Twitter and writes daily for Minnesota Sports Fan. As a former college athlete and avid sports fan, covering our pro teams with a passion has always seemed like such a natural outlet.