The Minnesota Vikings had a tough exit within the 2024 NFL Playoffs, with Sam Darnold getting sacked 9 instances within the 27-9 loss to the Los Angeles Rams within the Wild Card spherical. After a 14-3 common season, it’s a bitter exit, and Darnold mirrored on the sport, noting that he may have carried out higher in terms of managing stress.
“It is as much as me to have the ability to really feel that and both step up, transfer, go run for a primary down or simply merely throw it away,” Sam Darnold stated, through Kevin Seifert of ESPN. “I felt like there have been numerous sacks that I used to be accountable for, the place I used to be simply holding onto the soccer and taking sacks the place I may have dirted it at somebody’s toes or just thrown it over somebody’s head.”
Darnold elaborated on why he was unable to evade and stop the 9 sacks from taking place, saying that he was simply unable to get the ball away when stress mounted.
“Simply an in-the-moment determination, making an attempt to get away and wasn’t in a position to get the ball out,” Darnold stated, through Seiftert.
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Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell famous that “there have been some completions available” from Darnold all through the sport. He stated that Darnold may have carried out a greater job checking down and holding the Vikings on schedule.
“You have to discover a technique to test the ball down and simply maintain transferring the ball ahead,” O’Connell stated, through Seifert. “Completions have adverse impact on defenses. They only do. These moments while you’re holding that ball, and your response is attempt to make a play.”
The Vikings have a choice to make now, as Darnold is scheduled to be a free agent this offseason. After what was total an incredible season, the Vikings may justify bringing him again, however the performances towards the Rams and Detroit Lions over the past two weeks give some doubt as as to if the staff ought to pay him, particularly with JJ McCarthy seemingly being wholesome subsequent season.
It is going to be fascinating to see how the Vikings deal with issues, and if the efficiency in these two large video games impacts the choice in any respect.