Coming into this season, quarterback Sam Darnold was thought to be a bust and nothing more than a decent backup.
He was thrust into the starting role for the Minnesota Vikings when rookie J.J. McCarthy suffered a season-ending injury during the preseason, and just about everyone predicted doom and gloom.
But now, with a 14-2 record, the Vikings are in position to win the NFC North and claim the top seed in the conference.
To win the division and clinch home-field advantage through the conference championship game, Darnold and his teammates need to defeat the Detroit Lions, who also have a 14-2 record, on “Sunday Night Football.”
Despite that opportunity, ESPN pundit Stephen A. Smith doesn’t seem to believe in Darnold.
“We’re talking about Sam Darnold … The man hasn’t thrown for 300 yards since Nov. 24 against Chicago. … Let’s not act like this is the second coming of Dan Marino,” Smith said on “First Take,” via JPAFootball.
Stephen A Smith on Sam Darnold:
“We’re talking about Sam Darnold, the man hasn’t thrown for 300 yards since November 24th against Chicago. Let’s not act like this is the second coming of Dan Marino.”pic.twitter.com/6LvFOHBv4i
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) January 2, 2025
Darnold’s numbers are as good as those of any other quarterback in the NFL this season: 4,153 passing yards, 35 passing touchdowns and a 68.1 percent completion rate.
But for those who may be expecting him to be an elite QB from here on out for the rest of his career, one has to wonder if his play this year is sustainable.
There have been quarterbacks who have struggled for several years, went to a new team and played well for a year or two, only to then regress afterward.
It will be interesting to see how Darnold deals with NFL defenses adjusting to what he has done this season starting in 2025, especially if the soon-to-be free agent is wearing a different uniform.
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