Darnold gels with Jefferson, buoys Vikes' hopes

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The Minnesota Vikings had simply accomplished their longest drive in 16 years on Sunday afternoon at MetLife Stadium — one punctuated by a pair of laser throws from quarterback Sam Darnold to receiver Justin Jefferson — when coach Kevin O’Connell stole a understanding look at Jefferson.

“I noticed Justin’s face after that drive,” O’Connell stated, “and I feel he felt fairly darn good about who’s throwing him the soccer.”

In his Vikings debut, Darnold produced among the finest video games of his profession by connecting on his first 12 throws and ending with 19 completions in 24 makes an attempt for 208 yards and two touchdowns. Have been it not for a third-quarter interception attributable to a success as he threw, his passer ranking would have been a career-high 130.6.

Exterior uncertainty about Darnold’s aptitude as a full-time starter is basically why the Vikings are a consensus choose to complete final within the NFC North. However a minimum of on today, Darnold utilized the Vikings’ playmakers whereas avoiding the errors that plagued him earlier in his profession throughout stints with the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers.

“The most important factor is simply enjoying with confidence,” Darnold stated. “I feel that is the largest factor. We have got an important offense. We have got an important system. If I simply play on time and do all of the issues we have to do to execute, we’ll be alright.”

Jefferson has been exhorting Darnold to be assured all through coaching camp, to belief not solely his arm and his reads but additionally in Jefferson himself. The pair demonstrated their progress on a second-and-10 play from the Vikings’ 10-yard line halfway by the second quarter. Regardless of two Giants defenders chasing Jefferson down the sphere, Darnold lofted a protracted move — one which O’Connell stated was “exceptional” — towards the left sideline. The ball led Jefferson into an open area, and he hauled it in for a 44-yard achieve. It was the largest play of a 99-yard drive, the workforce’s longest since Week 13 of the 2008 season, and led to a 3-yard landing between the pair on fourth down.

“That is going to be one thing we’ll want all through the season,” Jefferson stated, “so I am simply giving him that confidence, giving him that juice to throw me a ball each time I am doubled — as a result of I used to be doubled on that [44-yard] play. That was him throwing it to a spot and me going to get it. That is going to occur a majority of the time this season. He is acquired to know, even once I’m doubled, I am nonetheless open and I will make that play.”

Vikings gamers and coaches have been cautious to not make an excessive amount of of Darnold’s efficiency, which got here towards a protection that appeared outmatched at a number of positions within the secondary. In idea, the Vikings’ Week 2 sport towards the San Francisco 49ers will present a stiffer check.

Darnold, in any case, signed a one-year contract in March price $10 million to carry down the place till whomever the Vikings drafted in April — Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy at No. 10 total, because it turned out — was able to take over. McCarthy was surging in coaching camp when he suffered a season-ending ankle harm, presumably leaving the place to Darnold for the whole season.

The bar was low for him to exceed expectations. For Sunday a minimum of, he reached it.

“I do not assume anyone’s shocked that Sam Darnold performed the way in which he did right now,” O’Connell stated. “I do know I am definitely not. I attempted to foreshadow as a lot as I might all through coaching camp, and I am simply pleased with him.”