GLENDALE, Ariz. — The look on Zygi Wilf’s face says it all. It was as if the owner and chairman of the Minnesota Vikings had just watched a horror movie with a gruesome ending. He came out of the locker room and stood for a few seconds, staring blankly at the crowd gathered in front of him. His son Jonathan pointed him down a long hallway. And he slowly entered another offseason.
How did it end so suddenly? How did a 14-win Vikings team fluctuate so quickly from a potential No. 1 seed to losing in the wild-card round? These questions changed Wilf’s mind.
But none of them were as confusing as this question. What happened to quarterback Sam Darnold?
Two weeks ago, Darnold’s Vikings teammates were spraying water bottles at him as part of locker room celebrations after a win at U.S. Bank Stadium. Now they’re zipping up their suitcases and heading to the bus after Monday night’s 27-9 loss to the underdog Los Angeles Rams at State Farm Stadium.
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The dichotomy between the two scenes was as stark as it was confusing. From the first snapshot, the 27-year-old Darnold appeared to have completed a career transition and revitalized the organization in the process. In the second, it felt fair to wonder how much of Darnold’s impressive play this season was a mirage.
“I think it’s very important for all of us to think about Sam’s work,” Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said after the game. “It didn’t work out in the end, and I think Sam was the first to say it (he could have done better).”
After a loss like this, there are usually multiple culprits. The offensive line is another clear line for Minnesota. The Rams sacked Darnold nine times, setting an NFL playoff record. Additionally, according to Next Gen Stats, 12 Rams defenders had at least one pressure, the most in a game since Week 6 of 2021.
Hoecht threw “LA” after the Rams’ latest sack.
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Allocating cap space and draft capital to interior offensive linemen will be a priority this offseason. O’Connell offered as much Monday night.
Still, those concerns pale in comparison to the significance of what happens at quarterback and what it means for everything else. This is why Darnold’s decline over the past two weeks has been so shocking.
After leading the Vikings to a 14-2 record in the first 16 games and playing well enough to be legitimately considered an NFL MVP candidate, Darnold suffered a major setback in the regular season finale, 31-9 in Detroit. Against the Lions, he completed just 18 of 41 passes for 166 yards, resulting in his third-lowest passer rating (55.5) and his highest dropout percentage of the season (34.2).
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These problems continued against the Rams. His numbers, including 25-for-40 passing for 245 yards, a touchdown and an interception, belied Darnold’s comfort level. He misplaced his throws several times. Darnold, who has shown pinpoint accuracy quite often this season, throws behind receivers. He spun in the pocket but failed to get the ball out. His eyes often scanned too quickly from right to left. His feet constantly rotated back and forth. He tried to avoid pass rushers who caught him almost every time.
Darnold’s system malfunctioned in almost every way. When it wasn’t his vision, it was his footwork. What wasn’t his vision or footwork was his arm.
“I threw way too many pitches more than I normally could,” he said later.
If he had said that early in his career in New York or Carolina, some people would have laughed. But taking over O’Connell’s scheme and development process this season, he has proven in a meaningful sample size that he can develop into a rhythm, deliver the football accurately and withstand pressure.
Darnold also showed resilience, throwing five interceptions while navigating a difficult midseason stretch against the Colts and Jaguars. The way he responded to those tough shooting sessions showed what he could do, scoring 18 touchdowns and two interceptions in the next seven games.
late December, athletic‘s Dianna Russini said, “After speaking with team sources, one thing has become clear: The Vikings want Darnold back in Minnesota in 2025.” Separately, another Vikings employee texted: “I hope we can keep him.” Darnold’s MVP odds have improved. In the team’s final home game of the season, against the Packers, he completed 33 of 43 passes for 377 yards, three touchdowns and one interception and was soaked by his teammates in the locker room afterwards.
Sam Darnold’s experience continues. pic.twitter.com/k5db9DYdtp
— Alec Lewis (@alec_lewis) December 30, 2024
Considered a year of transition toward a more flexible future with rookie quarterback JJ McCarthy under center, this 2024 Vikings season has surpassed even the rosiest expectations.
“Outside of these walls, no one believed in him,” Aaron Jones said of Darnold at the time. “No one gave him a chance. But he’s proving everyone wrong.”
It was a crescendo, a byproduct of an infrastructure optimized for Darnold’s image. Vikings staffers at the time said rhythm and timing played a key role in Darnold’s success and reiterated how important it was for his feet and eyes to be in sync.
Buried in jargon was an important reality. Darnold trusted the play calls and read them so much that sticking to specific timing was more important than observing the field and making decisions based on what he saw. The best way to sum up his struggles in Detroit and Arizona was a disruption in timing. The Lions and Rams have both impacted Darnold’s ability to climb into the pocket, and both teams have looked to assess situations downfield and make throws, mixing numerous stunts and exotic pressures to keep Darnold from getting comfortable.
There have been numerous cases since Monday night. Early in the second quarter, Darnold sat back and watched the right sideline. Rams defensive lineman Braden Fiske pushed Vikings left guard Blake Brandel toward Darnold. Darnold stepped aside and kept an eye on receiver Jordan Addison while receiver Jalen Nailor was open across the field. Darnold threw a pass in Addison’s direction. But the ball was late and fell behind Addison. Rams cornerback Kobe Durant blocked it..
Later in the quarter, the Rams attacked safety Quentin Lake from deep. He passed right guard Dalton Risner, forcing Darnold to take a step forward and shift his vision from right to left. Unsure of what he was seeing, he turned to his right. But before he could release the ball, another offensive player, Rams cornerback Akello Witherspoon, stabbed him in the back. Darnold fumbled and Rams edge rusher Jared Verse recovered and rumbled 57 yards for a touchdown, extending Los Angeles’ lead.
Jared Verse Scoop and Score!
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“There are a few examples where I feel like when I go back tomorrow and watch the tape in an air-conditioned room, I’m going to be like, ‘Oh my gosh, why didn’t I do this or that?’” O’Connell said. “But it’s hard now. It’s hard to see how quickly things happen out there.”
A good quarterback, especially in the modern NFL, has an arm and athleticism, but it’s the heart that separates the top QBs. Matthew Stafford’s operational ability on the other side of the field proved that and popular opinion about the Vikings’ future Monday night. Franchising or extending Darnold, who is set to become a free agent, doesn’t fit the team’s situation. There are needs elsewhere, especially inside the offensive line.
Of course, moving on from Darnold will raise questions. How ready is McCarthy? What veteran options could the Vikings pair with McCarthy? And how does O’Connell feel about having to build an entirely new quarterback option?
These are very different questions than the ones Wilf had on his mind as he made his way inside the stadium Monday night. But following a very successful season that ended in a disappointing flash, a roller coaster ride for a quarterback who was unable to close out the progress he had made, they will soon step up to his plate.
(Photo: Christian Petersen / Getty Images)
