What Is Sam Darnold's Future In Minnesota? Recapping The Rams Playoff Win Over The Vikings | 1/14/25

[@Chalk89]

I couldn’t imagine being a Vikes fan and being mad. The season flipped drastically when JJ McCarthy got hurt but still won 14 games with a guy who most thought was done for as a starter. If they move on from him and JJ turns out to be another college star turned mediocre pro, KOC, GM will be gone.

[@OneCommonTable]

The coach told you want he is going to do with this line, "...will always be special to me." Sam is gone.

[@dbags317]

So the rams watched the lions and concluded the best course of action was to pressure the quarterback? Amazing!

[@Windupchronic]

I’ve never seen a QB play themselves out of a job so quickly. He went from possibly a big money contract, maybe the #1 seed in the NFC, to watching from home and maybe getting cut, all in eight days.

[@xavierjohnson4496]

Calm down. He was bad. He lost money. But he's still at least getting franchise tagged or a baker style 3 for 100 deal. Believe that. Tape don't lie. He can start from many teams in this league.

[@Jon-ug3le]

Do you watch football? Have you looked at the Raider, Saints and Titans QB rooms?

[@archie15900]

@@Jon-ug3le For frig's sake, can't you people read? She never said he'd never play again, she said he most likely played himself out of a job. Fact! There was QB controversy in Minnesota because of how well he played and there were talks they were going to try to re-sign him but there really is no controversy now because undoubtedly they'll go with JJ next season and they have Daniel Jones under contract as back up..."don't you watch football?". Why sign Darnold to have him sit? And yeah, those teams you mention are options but as she said, he's not going to get the same money as he was projected to get before his poor play the last 2 weeks. He will undoubtedly get signed but not for the same payday. And it's not like she's the only one saying that.

[@archie15900]

@@xavierjohnson4496 She said he played himself out of a job (with the Vikings), she didn't say he couldn't start for other teams (I wouldn't say many based on one good season out of 6, and he definitely needs a good o-line in front of him) and you're bring up money....all she said was he's not getting that big contract that was projected before the last two games, and that's a fact as you just admitted.

[@emersondemathias]

Blame Offensive Coordinator as the mastermind of this collapse

[@trevormiles4952]

Dan 😂🤣😅😆 there goes another million and another million

[@jslane41]

Paulie with the mic drop at the end... 🤛🎤🤣🤣🤣

[@George50809]

The best game of the weekend will be the Ravens and Bills.

[@richarddecredico6098]

That game is more on KOC than Darnold .. that was seriously terrible coaching and play calling.

[@Chalk89]

I was wondering the same - Darnold was I believe seventh in passing attempts this season. Why in the world is that the case considering how seldom they were behind in games? Aaron Jones is a capable back, use him!

[@richarddecredico6098]

@@Chalk89 KOC (ex QB) is obsessed with passing, even when it is not working .... 6 sacs in the first half and he still had Darnold taking deep drops insane play calling for a playoff game

[@ibrahimbawi]

Aaron had quad injury so he is not 100%. The other 2 RBs can’t block so their use is limited. Front office needs to spend money on interior OL, RB, CB, DL.

[@arkangelarkangel1302]

There isn't one... but I also see guys like Justin Herbert who are legitimate guys during the season and are yet to prove it in the playoffs, reminds me of early Peyton Manning, so I genuinely don't know what Vikings should do, because if they get rid of him and Darnold looks good on another team and JJ flops, then its on the Vikings... I mean Herbert has been good in the regular season and has flopped twice, Lamar has been MVP, gets to the playoffs, wins a game or 2, and hasn't gotten to the Superbowl, are you getting rid of Lamar... NO.

[@therazband3007]

Horrible offensive line gave no protection to Darnold. Minnesota’s coach was clearly out-coached by LA’s coach

[@oceanhedonist265]

3 things in life that are certain: 1-Death 2-Taxes 3-The Minnesota Vikings not winning a Super Bowl 😂

[@albertpoulos902]

So agree

[@Hiluxtaco]

It doesn't work that way, Paulie. NFL QB's need REPS. Without them, J.J. McCarthy will not play any better than Darnold did against the Rams..

[@robertburns2223]

Good report. But oh my gosh, this is all I hear about quarterback, quarterback, quarterback, quarterback, not once has anyone mentioned that the offensive line never got a block not none of the offensive lineman got a block. They literally walked right past the offensive lineman. Give me a break. Perhaps the offensive line has to step up and perhaps they have to enforce the one yard neutral zone the Rams were ease up on that neutral zone getting heads getting the first step you got enforced the neutral zone. It’s a 1 yard neutral zone enforced the rules and the offensive lineman‘s gotta get a block. That’s all I’m saying yeah save that we gotta throw the ball away but then again you gotta have some routes out there. You gotta have some slats. You gotta get a man out there in the flats you know the offensive coordinator is gotta put his quarterback in a successful position His wide receivers gotta get some separation. You can’t be let the defensive backs hold your wrist. Hold your arm you gotta fight back sometimes the wide receivers gotta pull a Gronk and knock the hell out of those defensive backs because they’re holding them the whole game and they just let them be held These wide receivers. They gotta get their shit together and they got a fight for that ball and you can’t use sometimes you gotta take a penalty and you gotta go smack the hell out of that defensive back upside its head. You take that one penalty but you gotta let that defensive back. No, you’re not holding me. It’s not always all you guys talk about is quarterback, quarterback, quarterback it’s a team game and coaches and other players gotta get the quarterback gotta give him some help. Wide receivers got a smack the defensive back upside the head coaches gotta put a faster place 2.5 2nd Pl. Off of lamb and gotta throw a block running back got a chip my gosh the Rams were teeing off, but that’s what it’s all about is the script. Everybody played their role and Sam O’Donnell takes the blunt of the criticism because he’s the quarterback. The Rams win the game State Farm stadium gets all the publicity after they canceled all the policies for the fires in LA it’s all scripted. Sam Donna will still get his $40 million franchise tag next year blah blah blah. The NFL is a joke hail to the red skins hail victory.😊

[@stephenkemp3372]

He was getting chased all day

[@SatishVenkat1]

But still wouldn’t throw it away and avoid the sack.

[@timcepin3386]

My source states that he won’t be signing a new contract with the Vikings.

[@craigwoodward7638]

Heres a thought, what if J.J McCarthy is s#*t?

[@theharryoshow4646]

Stat Of The Day...The Vikings have lost more NFL playoff games than any other team in history...32.😆

[@Jon-ug3le]

How you rip on Sam Darnold and not mention the play-calling and defense shows how little you guys understand about football.

[@edsteadham4085]

Defense was fine. Gave up 20 points, 2 tds on a short field. Sam stunk. Play calling was suspect. Perhaps you know so little about football that you don't realize that when a qb gives up a strip sack td, an int in midfield, misses 3 or 3 throws and holds on to the ball too long and took 3 or more sacks than he should have....that the QB is at fault.

[@richarddecredico6098]

100% this .... that game was on the head coach and his idiotic obsession with passing under CIRCUMSTANCES THAT HIS O LINE CANNOT HADLE

[@Jon-ug3le]

@ I played DIV2 QB. There was zero blitz package offense,. After the Lions game I expected to see short passes including slants, picks and crosses that forced Darnold to release the ball in3 seconds. In every loss this year they got in trouble by playing deep dig routes ot satisfy their expensive WR. Sam has thrown 8 of his 12 interceptions targeting Jefferson. KOC loves the deep ball and frankly the o-line is fine for everything but run blocking and 8 second routes. Notice that the Rams like the Lions stayed in Man coverage the entire night allowing 4 DB's to double or rotate to Jeffersons side. KOC never adjusted, not against the Lions or Rams. Next year the new QB will be worse, he has 70% of the arm strength and zero exp unless you are one of those that thinks preseason counts.

[@richarddecredico6098]

@@user-dz3ie5me2t not talking about the game at that point .... first half when Darnold took SIX SACS is where the coaching sucked ass ... especially since Darnold is known to hold the ball long time looking for big plays they never called plays to take the heat off, like screens, draws, or running between the tackles to counter the cb blitzes

[@richarddecredico6098]

@@Jon-ug3le excellent points ... KOC never adjusted across TWO GAMES match up Darnold with Steichen (who made Hurts look elite) in Indy and he is going to do well

[@nolongerblocked6210]

Darnold doesn't deserve this, the majority of this was the offensive line... they sucked horribly in back to back games! The only thing "figured out" in Detroit, & mimicked in the Playoff game, was the defense getting pressure from the front 4 without blitzing & dropping the other 7 into coverage. That's not some blueprint, it's common sense

[@demetriusbean8931]

Sam Arnold is bascially what Kirk Cousins was last year. 14 wins by either quarterback doesn't give u anything.

[@oceanhedonist265]

The Carolina Panthers didn't think much of him. That should tell you all that you need to know. 🤷

[@oddlygoodvibes]

His future is what it always was. He was a bridge guy that exceeded expectations, but showed in his last two games with the Vikings why he was never more than that. Tag and trade if you already have a trade set up or let him walk failing that. We desperately need help in the trenches for the 22 y/o draft pick we have in the room that outplayed Sam in the preseason. Anyone who believed differently at any point is delusional.

[@therazband3007]

Yeah and the offensive line gets no blame for being manhandles by the Rams defense. And the Minnesota coach was completely out coached.

[@oddlygoodvibes]

@therazband3007 the offensive line is why he can't stay here. We don't have the money to fix that problem if we overpay a bridge guy. A QB that you're going to pay 40 million a year has to overcome deficiencies like poor offensive line play. And no, I don't blame KOC. He had an offensive line that wasn't built to run block. Can't trust the run when the o line can't block. He has a QB that can't throw middle of the field quick passes, he couldn't in training camp and he still can't now. Can't call quick game when your QB can't make the throws. Good coaches tailor their calls to what the players on the field can do and that led to 14 wins. How many coaches given Sam Darnold as their starting QB can even keep their job let alone get 14 wins. I know of two that lost their jobs entirely and only one that got 14 wins out of him.

[@George50809]

Now they get to play at Philadelphia.

[@mmkay32]

If I’m GM (im a Vikings fan), I’m sorry but this league is too competitive and especially with this team, who has never won a championship, and is/has been waiting since its inception, I cannot bring him back. Especially in a ~100m cap hit to the team. At the end of the day in my eyes it’s NO GOOD what you do in the regular season if you CANT do it in the playoffs. Simple as that. What matters, and this is what’s obvious to me, is what you can do in the postseason, and Sam has shown he CANNOT do it in big moments. Look at the season Mahomes has had for example. It’s been a very lackluster regular season for him. Yet, his team is in the playoffs and when he’s in the postseason he can win ANY game and all of his teammates, coaches, analysts, fans know it and that’s why the Chiefs are still the favorites to win it all even after the mid-level season Mahomes has had until now. It doesn’t matter, it’s different when the games mean the most for him, he can win them all. And that’s what the Vikings need to find.

[@nolongerblocked6210]

Typical delusional fan. You're precisely why they never win, no patience & expect everything immediately. Comparing Sam to Mahomes, Mahomes who also didn't win a championship his first year starting, is the most laughable thing you said. Under your genius decision making you'd have kicked Mahomes to the curb too & kept looking for someone else bcuz he didn't win everything his first season. You're only blaming Sam, not a horrible offensive line that allowed 60 sacks across the year or the ridiculous headcoach who sees his offensive line is a sieve but keeps calling 5 or 7 step drop back pass plays repeatedly or the defense that allowed the Rams to control the game

[@NateZNK]

Was this Darnold’s first playoff game? If so I think he gets a pass on a bad game. I mean he played great this year and made some big time throws. And he lost his left tackle this season. And the Rams defense is pretty damn good! I don’t think McCarthy is the player that they think is either. Do you let Sam go and then find out J. J. is terrible? Sounds like a big gamble to me.

[@edwinjean1242]

How do you look as well Justin Jefferson in the face and say thst it is unatainable for you to reach 1000 yards next year because McCarthy is not proven snd he will now be your quaterback.

[@prateshramjohn]

Rams defense won the game. If they that way for the rest of the playoffs, they are in the SB.

[@Kyeuss]

Assuming they keep playing teams as hapless as the Vikings. They’re going to get blasted by Philly, and I HATE Philly. But a way better o line and run game than Vikings. Vikings D didn’t even play bad but kept getting screwed by the offense

[@rolmodel12.]

Problem with this take is the other o-lines coming up. Philly and Detroit both have way, WAY better lines than Minnesota. They both also have better RB's. Aaron Jones is good, but he is not in the same tier as Barkley or Gibbs. Not even close. If they play as well as they did against the Vikings, they have a chance - but, they are not automatic.

[@RobertRezac]

Same old song and dance. USC quarterback may give you one decent season. Then they collapse. Hell most won’t give you a season.