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Sam Darnold for MVP.
Sounds loopy, proper? It actually is not. Darnold has the Minnesota Vikings at 4-0. He leads the NFL in landing passes with 11 to go together with 932 passing yards and eight.8 yards per try, displaying his knack for the large play.
Darnold wasn’t flawless within the Vikings’ spectacular highway victory over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, throwing one choose and shedding a fumble within the second half, however he threw three landing passes. Darnold, who got here into the season with a profession completion proportion underneath 60%, is finishing 68.9% of his passes this season with a passer score of 118.9 when his earlier profession greatest was 92.6 in six begins for Carolina in 2022.
It helps that he has Justin Jefferson, one of the best pure receiver within the recreation, and an excellent offensive thoughts in Kevin O’Connell calling performs, however give Darnold credit score for resurrecting his profession. He was a former excessive first-round choose of the Jets, flopped there, was simply OK for the Panthers after which served as a backup for the 49ers. He got here into this season as a stop-gap; the plan was for him to maintain the seat heat till first-round choose J.J. McCarthy was able to play.
When McCarthy obtained harm in coaching camp, it was Darnold’s job and he is made probably the most of it. The place would the Vikings be with out him?
The protection has impressed underneath coordinator Brian Flores, however the offense has achieved its half as nicely. Darnold is the rationale why. The Vikings are as much as the No. 2 spot in my Energy Rankings this week as they head to London to play Jets, which makes it a revenge recreation of kinds for Darnold when you imagine in these issues.
O’Connell does not get his due for his vibrant offensive thoughts, however he additionally ought to get props for the way in which he calls a recreation. The person is not scared. Take Sunday. Darnold had two blunders within the second half, which had many in all probability screaming that he was turning again within the outdated Sam Darnold. It let the Packers again into the sport.
So what did O’Connell do after Darnold’s fumble led to a point-blank landing for the Packers that made it 28-22? He let Darnold throw it on six of the subsequent seven performs because the Vikings obtained a area objective to make it a nine-point recreation late. Teaching scared? Not in Minnesota, which is why Darnold is taking part in his greatest soccer.
Spinning it ahead, what does it imply for the long term? What if Darnold have been to win the NFL MVP and take the Vikings to the Super Bowl? McCarthy was purported to be the long run. That may not be the case if Darnold retains this up. He’s solely 27, so there may be nonetheless quite a lot of soccer left for him.
The primary month has been a heck of a resurrection of his profession. If it retains up, he simply may find yourself being the league MVP, one thing few, if any, noticed as a chance.
Largest Movers
|
Rk |
Groups |
 |
Chg |
Rcrd |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
|
They make it attention-grabbing each week, however they’re discovering a strategy to win video games. No less than Travis Kelce got here alive in opposition to the Chargers, however the lack of Rashee Rice (knee) can be robust to beat. | — | 4-0-0 |
2 |
|
They’re rolling on either side of the ball. They dominated the Packers Sunday for many of the recreation earlier than letting them again in late. They are going to be challenged by the Jets this week in London. | 1 | 4-0-0 |
3 |
|
They did not play nice in opposition to the Jaguars, however they discovered a manner. They’ve to begin scoring touchdowns. The offensive line is an issue. | 3 | 3-1-0 |
4 |
|
They bounced again from their dangerous loss to the Broncos with a dominating victory over the Eagles. They’re the staff to beat of their division as they head to Atlanta to play the Falcons. | 5 | 3-1-0 |
5 |
|
They seemed superb on offense in blowing out Seattle. However the protection continues to have issues. They should tighten up on the again finish. | 5 | 3-1-0 |
6 |
|
They’re 2-2 after their 0-2 begin and as soon as once more they’re wanting like an AFC contender. Derrick Henry actually offers this offense one other dimension. | 7 | 2-2-0 |
7 |
|
They misplaced for the primary time at Baltimore and did not play nicely. They have been beat up on each strains. Now they head to a tricky recreation at Houston in opposition to the Texans. | 5 | 3-1-0 |
8 |
|
It is time to imagine on this group. Jayden Daniels has turned this staff into one of the best staff within the NFC East. Wow. | 9 | 3-1-0 |
9 |
|
Justin Fields performed nicely within the second half in defeat in opposition to Indianapolis, but it surely simply wasn’t fairly sufficient. The protection allow them to down within the loss to the Colts. | 4 | 3-1-0 |
10 |
|
Jordan Love was again, but it surely was clear he was rusty early within the loss to the Vikings. The protection actually wasn’t pretty much as good because it has been, which is a priority. | 2 | 2-2-0 |
11 |
|
They simply have too many accidents on protection proper now to cease anyone. The Lions beat them up fairly dangerous Monday night time for his or her first loss. The offense at the very least performed nicely. | 7 | 3-1-0 |
12 |
|
They beat up on a New England staff they have been purported to beat. However the accidents are nonetheless impacting this staff, which is why we’ve not seen their greatest. | 3 | 2-2-0 |
13 |
|
At 2-2, they nonetheless do not look proper and now they’ve main accidents on protection. If Micah Parsons is out for any size of time, they’re in large bother. | 3 | 2-2-0 |
14 |
|
It wasn’t fairly in opposition to the Rams, however the offense confirmed indicators of life. Was that really a working recreation? That can make life a lot simpler for Caleb Williams. | 4 | 2-2-0 |
15 |
|
Beating the Saints in dramatic trend will get them to 2-2 as they able to tackle the first-place Bucs this week. They do have to get extra from the offense as they’d each a defensive and special-teams rating to beat the Saints. | 5 | 2-2-0 |
16 |
|
They’ve large issues. The accidents are one factor, however Jalen Hurts is not taking part in nicely and the protection is again to being dangerous. The warmth is on Nick Sirianni. | 9 | 2-2-0 |
17 |
|
Sean Payton has this staff 2-2 with a rookie quarterback. Why? The protection is taking part in excellent proper now and carrying this group. | 5 | 2-2-0 |
18 |
|
The loss to the Broncos is a nasty look. A lot for the concept that the offense had come alive. The warmth is on Robert Saleh. | 7 | 2-2-0 |
19 |
|
Their quick begin now looks like a very long time in the past after two division losses. The accidents on the offensive line are regarding. | 7 | 2-2-0 |
20 |
|
They blew a 10-point lead in shedding to the Chiefs to fall to 2-2. Justin Herbert and the passing recreation simply do not look crisp. | 6 | 2-2-0 |
21 |
|
Anthony Richardson’s damage is regarding, however Joe Flacco got here in and did some good issues in beating the Steelers. Two straight victories has them feeling good. | — | 2-2-0 |
22 |
|
Successful at Carolina for his or her first victory was large for this group. The protection nonetheless has main points, however they’re alive. | 6 | 1-3-0 |
23 |
|
They discovered a strategy to win a recreation in opposition to the Browns with out Davante Adams and Maxx Crosby. That is large. The protection had an excellent day. | 7 | 2-2-0 |
24 |
|
The protection simply is not good proper now, which places quite a lot of stress on the offense. The loss to the Commanders was the primary the place they actually seemed overmatched. | 1 | 1-3-0 |
25 |
|
The accidents have been simply an excessive amount of for this group. They’re nonetheless competing, but it surely’s not ok. | 6 | 1-3-0 |
26 |
|
They simply do not do sufficient on offense and now Malik Nabers is harm. This staff is heading for modifications after the season. | 2 | 1-3-0 |
27 |
|
They head to their bye off their first victory. However they achieve this with a possible quarterback controversy looming with Will Levis banged up and Mason Rudolph taking good care of the soccer when he took over in opposition to Miami. | 5 | 1-3-0 |
28 |
|
With out Tua Tagovailoa, they’re misplaced. It does not matter who performs quarterback if it is not Tua. The protection has points as nicely. | 3 | 1-3-0 |
29 |
|
At 1-3, they don’t seem to be an excellent staff proper now. Accidents to the offensive line have made shifting the soccer a problem and Deshaun Watson is not getting it achieved. Is it Jameis Winston time quickly? | 3 | 1-3-0 |
30 |
|
They’re restricted on offense, which confirmed up in opposition to the 49ers. That can proceed to remain that manner due to an absence of expertise. It is onerous to attain with dangerous line play. | 3 | 1-3-0 |
31 |
|
The Andy Dalton bump got here to a halt as a result of the protection had points in opposition to the Bengals. However the offense is best with Dalton than when Younger was within the lineup. | 2 | 1-3-0 |
32 |
|
At 0-4, they give the impression of being to be achieved. The schedule does soften the subsequent few weeks, but it surely’s debatable whether or not they can flip it round. Trevor Lawrence must get out of his funk. | 1 | 0-4-0 |
