The Minnesota Vikings kick off their season on Sunday against the New York Giants. Although the Purples are favored this week, very few national analysts are giving them a real chance this season. That’s mainly because they believe in Sam Darnold. However, no one has ever seen Sam Darnold in a situation like this.
If the Minnesota Vikings are competitive in 2024, it will be thanks to Sam Darnold. While there are plenty of Darnold doubters, his current teammates are not among them. Kevin Seifert (ESPN) learned this firsthand when he surveyed Vikings players to get their initial reactions to the Vikings’ new QB1 in training camp.
Vikings players already show confidence in Sam Darnold
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.”
Another new Viking, running back Aaron Jones, praised Sam to a new degree, naming him an early candidate for Comeback Player of the Year.
“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 showcase what he can do at the peak of his career.
The Vikings defense has been impressed with Sam’s approach during training camp, and it’s important to remember that he sees more exotic tactics and blitz packages every day in practice against Brian Flores than he does most weekends.
“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)
Related: Two-time NFL MVP Sam Darnold has a good chance of having a successful week…
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.
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 shocking considering what he had to contend with before. Darnold won the first game of his career despite the Jets’ specialty position players being absolutely 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)
Related: 4 bold predictions for the Minnesota Vikings’ season opener against the Giants
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.
Read more: Minnesota Vikings News
