GLENDALE, Ariz. — Sam Darnold had a stellar resurgence this season, helping guide Minnesota to one of the league’s top records as he stabilized his role as a starting quarterback.
Following such a strong performance, the expectation was a deep playoff run.
However, a disheartening night in the desert dashed those hopes and led to an early playoff exit for both Darnold and the Vikings.
In his first playoff start, Darnold struggled significantly, committing two turnovers and matching an NFL record by being sacked nine times during a 27-9 defeat against the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC wild-card round.
“I clearly didn’t play well enough the past couple weeks,” he reflected, completing 25 of 39 passes for 245 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.
“I just left too many throws out there that I usually make. I’ve got to take better care of the football.”
This outcome was not what the Vikings envisioned at season’s end.
Coach Kevin O’Connell gained a lot of recognition in his third year for his innovative play-calling that led Minnesota (14-4) back to the playoffs after a disappointing 7-10 season a year prior.
Darnold, who previously spent time in backup roles, was a key player in O’Connell’s offense.
The former third overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft dealt with mediocrity during his stints with the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers, later serving as a backup in San Francisco.
Upon joining the Vikings, he wasn’t widely recognized, but quickly garnered fan support, especially after rookie J.J. McCarthy suffered a season-ending injury during the preseason.
Darnold went on to set career bests in all major stats and earned his first Pro Bowl selection, achieving the distinction of winning 14 games in his debut season with a new team.
“It’s very important to recognize Sam’s body of work and what he accomplished this year against the odds,” O’Connell noted.
Despite his remarkable season, Darnold’s playoff debut, along with the Vikings’ campaign, ended on a disappointing note with back-to-back losses.
Last week, Minnesota had the opportunity to secure the NFC’s top seed against Detroit but faltered as Darnold struggled, finishing just 18 of 41 passing for 166 yards without touchdowns.
The Vikings fell 31-9, forcing them to hit the road and face the Rams in Arizona, as the game was relocated due to severe wildfires in Southern California.
Darnold’s second playoff game also proved to be discouraging.
He held onto the ball too long, making him the first quarterback this century to endure six sacks in the first half of a playoff game.
Two of those sacks were particularly detrimental.
With Minnesota down 10-3 in the second quarter, Darnold hesitated for an instant too long and was stripped of the ball by Rams cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon.
The loose ball was scooped up by Rams linebacker Jared Verse, who ran it back for a 57-yard touchdown.
“While he makes a lot of impressive plays, he must understand the situation better to avoid game-changing mistakes,” O’Connell remarked.
In an effort to ignite a spark before halftime, O’Connell decided to go for it on a fourth-and-2 from midfield in the next series.
Unfortunately, this only provided a momentum shift for the Rams when Darnold was again sacked, leading to a 13-yard touchdown pass from Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford to backup tight end Davis Allen, extending the lead to 24-3 by halftime.
Reflecting on his performance, Darnold acknowledged, “When defenders are coming in fast, I need to find a way to deliver the pass.”
He managed to deliver a touchdown to T.J. Hockenson in the third quarter but a failed two-point conversion left the Vikings trailing 27-9 and on the brink of playoff elimination.
