Sam Darnold: Another Minnesota Vikings Cinderella Story

Sam Darnold is off to a blazing start this year, bringing the team to 3-0 for the first time since 2016. Of the nine previous times a Vikings team has started 3-0, they have made the playoffs 7 times. This bodes well for an underdog team that is showing their chemistry and willingness to work hard for a win. Through this process, Darnold has positioned himself as a top Quarterback (QB) in the league, and it is hard for me to not see this Vikings offense making a playoff run. Darnold has also inserted himself into the MVP conversation, with a solid case due to his bounce back from previous failures and his ability to lead his team to some incredible wins.

A confident pocket passer with enough mobility to extend a drive, Darnold’s playstyle elicits comparisons to 2017 Case Keenum, who ended his own Vikings playoff run with arguably one of the best plays in the history of the NFL. Darnold and Keenum both have a cool, traditional playstyle, with sparks of brilliance and incredible plays that bring energy to the game and keep the momentum with their team. Both QBs are confident in the mid-range game and comfortable converting on third down, but still retain the ability to make big throws or run the ball for a first down themselves.

A host of injuries and Darnold’s promotion to starting QB caused preseason reports to be less than favorable for the team. These reports seriously underestimated Darnold, but for good reason. In his first five seasons, he played for two terrible teams: the New York Jets and the Carolina Panthers. His sixth was spent riding the bench behind Brock Purdy on the San Francisco 49ers.

While he came in without much to show statistically, the Vikings are by far the best team Darnold has been a long-term starter for, and they have equipped him with an offense that allows him to show his skill. Despite missing two key weapons—Jordan Addison and TJ Hockenson—in the first three games of the season, Darnold is riding high in the charts. ESPN ranks him as the fifth-best starting QB in the league, using QB ratings as their metric. This is a stat that considers the players’ total contribution to winning a game.

The combination of a competent receiving core, a strong offensive line and a QB-focused head coach in Kevin O’Connell has thrust Darnold from a mediocre second-string QB into elite company. If this level of performance continues, he will solidify his position and a big paycheck next season.

The Vikings look to play the Packers in Wisconsin this weekend, which should be a good game. With the Packers down one game in the NFC North, and the favorite, this will be a big week to see where the division stands.

I think this should be a win for the Vikings. The Packers got off to a slow start, while the Vikings have strong momentum that should flow into week 4. I also think that the chemistry that this Vikings team shows will make them hard to beat in a close game, and I can see the potential for a big, game-winning drive to close it out. The Packers, on the other hand, are working without their starting QB, and their lack of a receiving core will leave them with a hard fight against a Vikings secondary that has come out of nowhere to make some big plays so far this year.

I personally am excited to see a few former Packers show up big this week and tear it up in their former home stadium. Aaron Jones was electric last week, and it seems he is enjoying the team and atmosphere in Minnesota. Overall, it looks like it will be a close game, hopefully producing many great moments and a big win for the hometown team.

This is the opinion of Andrew Adams, SJU senior.