GLENDALE, Ariz. — Sam Darnold did practically every little thing proper in a renaissance season, resurrecting his profession as a starter whereas pushing Minnesota to one of many NFL’s greatest information.
A deep playoff run was the anticipated subsequent step.
A disappointing evening within the desert as a substitute rammed Darnold and the Vikings proper out of the postseason.
Darnold was ineffective for many of of his first playoff begin, shedding two turnovers whereas matching an NFL file by taking 9 sacks within the Vikings’ 27-9 loss to the Los Angeles Rams within the NFC wild-card spherical on Monday evening.
“I clearly didn’t play properly sufficient the previous couple weeks,” mentioned Darnold, who completed 25 of 39 for 245 yards with a landing and an interception. “Simply left too many throws on the market that I normally make. I’ve acquired to take higher care of the soccer.”
This was not the ending the Vikings had in thoughts.
Coach Kevin O’Connell garnered loads of reward in his third season, utilizing artistic play-calling to steer Minnesota (14-4) again into the playoffs after going 7-10 a 12 months in the past.
Darnold was the catalyst for O’Connell’s offense after being forged right into a backup position.
The third total choose within the 2018 NFL draft spent three mediocre seasons because the New York Jets’ starter, performed two seasons with Carolina and was the backup to Brock Purdy in San Francisco final 12 months.
Not surprisingly, Darnold arrived within the Twin Cities with out a number of fanfare, however he rapidly pulled Vikings followers onto his bandwagon after rookie J.J. McCarthy suffered a season-ending knee harm within the preseason. He set profession highs in each key statistical class to earn his first Professional Bowl nod and have become the primary quarterback to win 14 video games his first season with a crew.
“I believe it’s crucial all of us take into consideration Sam’s physique of labor, what he was ready to do that 12 months when not very many individuals thought he would be capable of,” O’Connell mentioned.
For all Darnold did proper, his season — and Minnesota’s with it — got here to a crashing shut in two disappointing losses.
Every week in the past, Minnesota had an opportunity to lock up the highest seed within the NFC in opposition to Detroit. Darnold labored, usually holding the ball too lengthy whereas ending 18 of 41 for 166 yards passing and no touchdowns. The Vikings misplaced 31-9 and had been pressured to play on the highway as a substitute of at dwelling, going through the Rams in a recreation that was moved to Arizona due to devastating wildfires in Southern California.
One other dismal day doomed Darnold — and the Vikings — within the desert.
Darnold once more held the ball too lengthy and have become the primary quarterback this century to be sacked six occasions within the first half of a playoff recreation.
Two got here at crucial moments.
With Minnesota trailing 10-3 within the second quarter, Darnold held the ball a break up second too lengthy and was stripped on a sack by Ahkello Witherspoon. The ball bounced proper to Rams linebacker Jared Verse, who scooped it up and raced in for a 57-yard landing.
“All of the performs he does make off schedule, a number of guys across the league could make these performs, however there’s a degree of understanding the scenario of hey, we will’t enable such a game-changing play to occur,” O’Connell mentioned.
Hoping for a spark simply earlier than halftime, O’Connell opted to go for it on fourth-and-2 from midfield on the following drive. Minnesota as a substitute gave the spark to the Rams, turning it over on downs when Darnold was sacked.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford adopted with a 13-yard landing move to backup tight finish Davis Allen for a 24-3 halftime lead.
“When there are individuals coming off the sting, it’s as much as me to discover a window to throw it,” Darnold mentioned. “I felt like there have been a number of sacks I used to be chargeable for.”
Darnold managed to beat some badly missed throws within the third quarter to search out T.J. Hockenson on a 26-yard landing move. The Vikings’ 2-point try failed, leaving them in a 27-9 gap — and on their approach out of the playoffs.
