The Minnesota Vikings open their season on Sunday against the New York Giants. Very few national analysts give them a real chance. That’s mainly because they believe in Sam Darnold. However, no one has ever seen Sam Darnold in a situation like this.
Vikings players already show confidence in Sam Darnold
There is arguably no bigger reason for the Minnesota Vikings to be competitive in 2024 than the play of Sam Darnold. He has been in several bad situations. That ideal scenario is what makes people believe it could work. While there are many doubters, his current teammates are not among them. Kevin Seifert, senior editor at ESPN, has heard from many who believe Darnold is ready to play.
“Sam can really turn it around,” said Aaron Jones. Offensive Coordinator Wes Phillips said he had “came out and was able to throw the football extremely well.” Defensive coordinator Brian Flores was also impressed. Wide receiver Brandon Powell called Darnold a gunslinger and said: “He has a little swing on the ball.”
“I feel like with this opportunity he’s going to prove a lot of people wrong and show what kind of quarterback he really is. All of my quarterbacks that I’ve had have had a clean slate. It’s about proving yourself and showing what you can do now. It’s not about what you’ve done in the past. It’s about the now. So I really believe in him. We’ve had a chance to work with him, play with him, and he’s a special talent. A lot of people underestimate him. Early favorite for Comeback (Player) of the Year.”
Aaron Jones on Sam Darnold (ESPN)
Of course, Joe Flacco ruined Darnold’s chance to win Comeback Player of the Year, but his comeback could be similar to Baker Mayfield’s. For the first time in his career, Darnold is in a great position to show off his skills at their peak. Darnold’s own defense was impressed with his performance.
“We’re throwing a lot of different looks at each other. And I can see the mental gymnastics that he’s constantly working on, and when he gets mad at himself, when he guesses wrong, to see what we’re facing and control his offense as best as possible. We’re throwing everything we’ve got at him, so it’s been good to see how he responds to that bell, game after game, period after period, practice after practice. We might get him one game, but he’ll get us the next. I think that’s been cool to see.”
Harrison Phillips on Sam Darnold (ESPN)
It’s not until outsiders see it that they’ll believe it. The idea behind Darnold’s success isn’t hard to understand. The execution is what all national analysts expect, and it all starts on Sunday.
Related: Two-time NFL MVP Sam Darnold has a good chance of having a successful week…
How much better are the Minnesota Vikings for Darnold?
If you can throw to the best wide receiver in the league, you’re always in a good position. The Minnesota Vikings also have an established offensive line, and Sam Darnold is getting Jordan Addison as well. Throw in Aaron Jones behind him, and it’s not hard to see why the playmakers are so exciting. It’s even more jarring when you consider what he had to work with before.
Darnold won the first game of his career, but the Jets’ special players were brutal.
- RB Isaiah Crowell
- RB Bilal Powell
- RB Trenton Cannon
- WR Quincy Enunwa
- WR Terrelle Pryor
- WR Neal Sterling
- TE Eric Tomlinson
After failing in New York and signing with the Panthers, Darnold won his first game there, too. Coincidentally, it was against the Jets. The lineup was better. However, the organizational structure was just as bad.
- RB Christian McCaffrey
- WR DJ Moore
- WR Robbie Anderson
- WR Terrence Marshall Jr.
- TE Ian Thomas
None of those situations compare to his time with the Vikings. Darnold himself has also achieved considerable maturity. His development during those two turbulent stints has helped him become the player he can be today. Alec Lewis of The Athletic recently pointed out how important that is.
“This is how it would end if it were a Disney movie: Darnold finally takes a sip of the perfect coaching cocktail and the whole world understands the recipe.”
Alec Lewis on how Sam Darnold writes a fairytale ending (The Athletic)
We’ll soon find out what the Vikings’ coaching cocktail looks like for Darnold. We’ll also see how important all of these hypotheses actually are. If Darnold is confident in taking a Vikings team on this journey, it should be an entertaining one.
Related: 4 bold predictions for the Minnesota Vikings’ season opener against the Giants
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