Darnold, Vikings proceed to shock amid 3-0 begin

MINNEAPOLIS — The roar started simply as Sam Darnold walked out of the Vikings‘ medical tent, his injured left knee wholesome sufficient to proceed taking part in.

As he walked again onto the sector, having missed one play of the third quarter in Minnesota’s 34-7 victory over the Houston Texans, the gang at U.S. Financial institution Stadium erupted in an ovation usually reserved for the workforce’s greatest and hottest gamers.

Now in his seventh NFL season, Darnold has discovered a fan base that’s overjoyed to see him play.

“The followers’ response meant every part to me,” Darnold mentioned after tying a profession excessive with 4 landing passes. He leads the NFL with eight landing throws this season and has been the only largest think about a largely neglected workforce that has been one of many league’s early surprises.

The Vikings are the primary workforce in 9 seasons to start out 3-0 with out being favored by a couple of level in these video games, in response to ESPN BET. Their Tremendous Bowl odds have grown from 100-1 to 35-1, and Darnold’s odds to win the MVP award have risen from 100-1 to 35-1.

“It is a particular workforce,” mentioned operating again Aaron Jones, who rushed for 102 yards and in addition caught an 8-yard landing go.

Jones, in his first yr with the Vikings after seven seasons with the Green Bay Packers, has spoken with rising confidence concerning the workforce’s competitiveness this month. Previous to their Week 1 sport on the New York Giants, Jones predicted that Darnold would shock the league. After Darnold accomplished his first 12 passes in opposition to the Giants en path to a 28-6 victory, Jones mentioned he spoke along with his mom concerning the atmosphere he was experiencing along with his new workforce.

“It is undoubtedly completely different from something that I have been part of,” Jones mentioned. “I can not put my finger on what it’s that is completely different. As a result of I have been part of some good groups.

“After the primary sport, simply with the vibe in New York, I used to be like, ‘Mother, I do not know what it’s. It is no stress. That is simply enjoyable.’ I do not know if it is the fellows right here. I can not put my finger on it, however it’s particular and I like it.”

ESPN Analytics gave the Vikings a 14% likelihood to make the playoffs at the beginning of the season, their lowest likelihood by far since ESPN started projecting playoff chances in 2015. These expectations had been partly primarily based on Darnold, but in addition a schedule that had the Vikings dealing with a number of the NFL’s prime groups within the first quarter of the season. They’ve now dismantled the Giants, soundly defeated the San Francisco 49ers (23-17) and throttled the Texans in successive trend. Their plus-55 margin of victory by way of three video games is the second greatest in franchise historical past, behind solely the 1975 workforce.

“We knew it was going to occur,” mentioned receiver Justin Jefferson, who caught six passes for 81 yards and a landing, all within the first half Sunday. “After all we won’t predict the longer term, that we had been going to go 3-0. However we knew if this workforce was going to return ready like we knew we’ll come, and are available out right here and dominate the way in which we now have been, we knew that individuals are going to start out speaking about us extra.”

Jefferson jammed a finger on his proper hand after catching a go late within the first half. He mentioned he had X-rays that confirmed no severe harm, and he benefited from what he mentioned was one of many few occasions in his NFL profession when he might comfortably watch the fourth quarter of a sport figuring out the Vikings would win.

Certainly, the Vikings’ 22-point win over the Giants and Sunday’s 27-point win had been the Vikings’ two largest margins of victory since Jefferson was drafted in 2020. And they’re two of the eight video games the Vikings have received by a couple of rating since he arrived.

A few of that may be attributed to the Vikings’ protection, which is the third unit within the NFL’s fashionable period to report no less than 5 sacks and no less than one interception within the first three video games of a season. And a few credit score can go to Sunday’s crowd at U.S. Financial institution Stadium after the Texans had been flagged for 5 false begin penalties.

Darnold, nevertheless, will draw nearly all of public consideration because the Vikings flip the web page to a Week 4 showdown on the Green Bay Packers. He mentioned he’ll have his knee evaluated Monday and is not but positive whether or not it’s going to restrict him in follow this week, however is raring to maintain transferring ahead.

“The whole lot is high-level soccer proper now,” he mentioned. “I believe we have got to proceed to push one another on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, to have the ability to go on the market on Sunday and carry out at a excessive stage, as a result of there’s nonetheless room for enchancment. Even the scoreboard does not inform the entire story. There’s lots of room for enchancment.”