Sam Darnold, the Vikings’ unexpected hero of 2024, had his worst performance of the season when something was on the line. Normally steadfast in the pocket, Darnold wasn’t only blitzed out of his shoes by an aggressive Cover 0 defense from Aaron Glenn — but more worrying was the instances where Darnold responded to perceived pressure when it didn’t exist.

That fact was emphasized during the 2024 NFL wild-card round, as several individuals either elevated or diminished their legacy. It

The Minnesota Vikings endured a miserable start against the LA Rams, not helped by a series of sluggish decisions from the quarterback.

The NFL playoffs are underway. And while there’s a lot to talk about ahead of the divisional round games this weekend, there’s also a lot to chatter when it comes to teams already focused on the offseason.

If that was the end of Sam Darnold’s tenure with the Minnesota Vikings, he went out with a thud. The Vikings were eliminated from the playoffs on Monday night with a 27–9 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, bringing a surprisingly successful season to a disappointing end.

The Los Angeles Rams beat the Minnesota Vikings 27–9 Monday night to advance to the divisional round of the NFL playoffs. Darnold struggled big time, completing 25 of 40 passes for 245 yards, with one touchdown, an interception, and a fumble that was returned for a touchdown. He was also sacked nine times, which was an NFL playoff record.

The best way for Darnold to obtain stability and build a legacy in Minnesota immediately is to have playoff success. If Darnold has an uneven playoff performance and it coincides with a Vikings early exit, it’s fair to presume he’ll venture on a new journey this offseason.

Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold struggled in a season-ending loss to the Rams, sparking a fanfare on social media.

Like Wilson, Darnold struggled during his first few seasons in the NFL after being picked in the first round by the New York Jets.

The loss of a still-capable bridge/back-up quarterback could be mitigated by the presence of Daniel Jones. The 27-year-old joined the Vikings mid-season on a short-term deal after being released by the New York Giants.

Sam Darnold doesn't want to pass up the chance to make a deep run in the playoffs and sent a strong message for the Minnesota Vikings, putting the poor performance against the Detroit Lions in Week 18 of the 2024 NFL season behind them.

Former Carolina Panthers QBs Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield made quick departures in the NFL playoffs. Greg Olsen, the best lead football NFL analyst working today, never got started at all, with Tom Brady getting all the plum playoffs assignments for Fox Sports.