Just two weeks ago, Sam Darnold was having the best season of his career and was set to earn a big contract.
However, after two poor performances in crucial games, his future in football is now uncertain.
Darnold had a tough time in his first playoff game, as the Minnesota Vikings lost 27-9 to the Los Angeles Rams, ending their season. The Rams’ plan was clear: put pressure on Darnold early and see how he handles it. The strategy worked. Darnold struggled throughout the game, often being inaccurate and indecisive when he did get the ball off.
The Rams made their move quickly, sacking Darnold on Minnesota’s second play, which led to a three-and-out. A second sack during Minnesota’s next drive forced the Vikings to settle for a field goal. Darnold’s third drive ended with an interception when Cobie Durant read Darnold’s pass to Jordan Addison and intercepted it near midfield.
The Vikings’ next possession went even worse. Cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon blitzed off the left edge and sacked Darnold, causing him to fumble. Rookie linebacker Jared Verse picked up the ball and ran it back 57 yards for a touchdown, extending the Rams’ lead to 17-3.
By halftime, Darnold had been sacked six times, setting a record for the most sacks in the first half of a playoff game since 1988. The Rams scored again before halftime after the sixth sack, making the score 24-3.
In the second half, Darnold played a little better and led the Vikings to a touchdown in the third quarter. However, it was too late to mount a comeback. A sack in the fourth quarter ended any hopes of a miracle, and the Rams won the game easily.
Darnold finished the game with 245 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He was sacked nine times for 82 yards and lost a fumble. This poor performance came after a similar struggle the week before, when the Vikings lost to the Lions 31-9 in a game that determined the NFC North and playoff seeding. In that game, Darnold completed just 18 of 41 passes for 166 yards with no touchdowns.
What do the Vikings do now?
After two tough losses in important games, the Vikings are heading into the offseason with a big question about their quarterback position. Should they try to re-sign Darnold, or let him go as a free agent and give the starting role to J.J. McCarthy?
Darnold wasn’t supposed to be in this situation. The Vikings had drafted McCarthy in the first round last year from Michigan, planning for him to be their future quarterback. They signed Darnold as a veteran to back up McCarthy until he was ready to start.
But McCarthy’s rookie season was cut short by a meniscus injury, and Darnold stepped in as the starter. In his previous chances as a starter with the Panthers and Jets, Darnold had struggled after being picked No. 3 overall in the 2018 draft.
This time, in his third chance as a starter in his seventh NFL season, Darnold had a great season. He led the Vikings to a 14-3 record, the third-best in the league, and made his first Pro Bowl. He completed 66.2% of his passes for 254.1 yards per game, with 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
It was a great comeback story, but the 2024 season ended with a major problem that the Vikings can’t ignore. This will likely cost Darnold money and possibly cost him another year as the Vikings’ starting quarterback.
