It’s hard to even know where to start. Sam Darnold’s playoff debut was, well, a mess. A complete and utter disaster, honestly. And if you’re a Vikings fan, I’m guessing it felt like déjà vu from every heartbreak this team has ever delivered. But this one? This one hits different.
Two weeks ago, Darnold was riding the wave of a career-best season. Pro Bowl nod, 14 wins, and even whispers of a long-term extension. For a quarterback who had bounced from the Jets to the Panthers to Minnesota like an unwanted Christmas fruitcake, this was his moment. Except, now it isn’t.
The Vikings’ 27-9 loss to the Los Angeles Rams Monday night wasn’t just bad. It was ugly. Like, “close-your-eyes-and-peek-through-your-fingers” ugly. Nine sacks. A strip-fumble. An interception. And every single mistake seemed to pile up like a Jenga tower just waiting for the collapse.
The Rams Came to Feast
It started early. The Rams didn’t waste time testing Darnold. Second play from scrimmage? Boom—sacked. Third and 21? Forget about it. And that was just a preview. By halftime, Darnold had been sacked six times. SIX. I can’t be the only one who got flashbacks to that infamous 1988 NFC championship game stat they kept throwing around. Thanks for that, ESPN.
The Rams’ defense wasn’t just relentless; it was surgical. Cobie Durant read Darnold like a Dr. Seuss book, jumping a flat pass for a pick. And that strip-sack by Ahkello Witherspoon? Whew. I mean, the rookie Jared Verse basically waltzed down the sideline for 57 yards like he was on a Sunday stroll. By the way, Verse almost dunked on the goal post but admitted he was too tired. Mood.
Darnold’s Pro Bowl Shine Fades Fast
Here’s the thing: Darnold wasn’t supposed to be the guy. Remember J.J. McCarthy? You know, the rookie Minnesota drafted as their “QB of the future”? Yeah, his season ended before it even started, thanks to a meniscus injury. Enter Darnold, the veteran “bridge quarterback” who was supposed to keep the ship steady until McCarthy was ready.
And for most of 2024, he did. Heck, he did more than that. 35 touchdowns. 12 picks. A 66.2% completion rate. For a while there, it was looking like a legit redemption arc. Darnold was finally “the guy.” Until he wasn’t.
Last week, in a winner-take-all showdown against the Lions for the NFC North crown and No. 1 seed, Darnold…flopped. Hard. Completing 18 of 41 passes for 166 yards in a 31-9 blowout isn’t exactly the stuff of legend. And this week? Well, you saw what happened. Back-to-back duds when it mattered most.
What Now, Minnesota?
This is where things get messy. Darnold’s on a one-year deal, so technically, the Vikings could just walk away. Let McCarthy take over. But is McCarthy ready? We’re talking about a guy who hasn’t played a single NFL snap. Is that the gamble you make after a 14-4 season? Or do you re-sign Darnold and hope these past two weeks were flukes?
Look, it’s not like Darnold is a lost cause. Players have bounced back from worse. (Hi, Geno Smith!) But the Vikings have to ask themselves: Was this season’s success Darnold being good? Or was it everything around him clicking, masking his flaws until they couldn’t anymore? Because those nine sacks weren’t all on the offensive line. Some of that was Darnold holding the ball too long. Being indecisive. Looking spooked in the pocket.
The Fallout
For now, the Vikings’ front office has months to stew on this. Kevin O’Connell’s post-game comments didn’t exactly inspire confidence. “You’ve got to play to a certain standard,” he said, in a tone that screamed, Yeah, we’re not sure this guy is it.
Meanwhile, the Rams? They’re moving on to Philly, and you can bet they’ll be packing that relentless pass rush. Darnold? He’s left picking up the pieces of what could’ve been. A season that was supposed to cement his legacy as a comeback story now feels like a giant question mark.
And so, here we are. Another Vikings season, another painful exit. It’s the kind of loss that makes you question everything, especially your quarterback. Is this the end of Sam Darnold in Minnesota? Or is it just another chapter in his redemption story? Only time will tell. But for now, it’s back to the drawing board for the Vikings. Again.
PS: If I were Darnold, I’d take a long vacation and delete Twitter. Just saying.
PPS: Why do the Rams get to look this good when they’ve had such a weird, up-and-down season? Ugh.
PPPS: Someone please tell McCarthy to stay healthy.