The Vikings’ impressive season concludes with a disappointing playoff defeat against the Rams, ending their championship hopes.
He struggled big time, losing two turnovers and getting sacked a record nine times in their 27-9 loss to the Rams. It was a tough night for him and the team. Darnold ended up with decent stats—25 completions on 39 attempts for 245 yards, a touchdown, and an interception—but it just wasn’t enough.
Coach Kevin O’Connell had been praised for his play-calling, leading the Vikings back to the playoffs after a rough previous season. Darnold, who had a rocky start to his career, really turned things around this year, especially after rookie J.J. McCarthy got hurt. He even made the Pro Bowl, which was a big deal.
But then came the last couple of games. The Vikings had a chance to secure the top seed in the NFC but lost to the Lions. That put them on the road for the playoffs instead of playing at home. They ended up facing the Rams in Arizona due to wildfires in Southern California.
Things went south quickly in the game. Darnold was sacked six times in the first half alone, which is just brutal. One of those sacks led to a fumble that the Rams returned for a touchdown. The Vikings tried to be aggressive, but it backfired when they turned the ball over on downs.
By halftime, they were down 24-3, and it just felt like the game was slipping away. Darnold finally threw a touchdown in the third quarter, but it was too little, too late. The Vikings’ season ended in disappointment, and fans are left wondering what could have been.
