In a crucial NFL regular season game, Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold struggled with accuracy against a fierce Detroit Lions defense on the road.
With the No. 1 seed and NFC North title at stake, Darnold completed just 18 of 41 passes for a season-low 166 yards and a 43.9% completion rate. ESPN reported Darnold had eight overthrows in a rough first half where the Vikings settled for field goals twice and failed on two fourth-down attempts.
Darnold couldn’t regain his form from a 14-win regular season, leading to a crushing 31-9 defeat to Detroit on January 5.
When asked if the crowd impacted him postgame, Darnold dismissed the idea that the moment was overwhelming.
“No,” he answered succinctly.
Despite denying nerves, Darnold’s 34% off-target rate was his second-worst, reminiscent of his tough days with the New York Jets.
“The only other game where Darnold surpassed a 34% off-target rate was with the Jets in 2019 against the Patriots, where NFL Films captured him saying he was ‘seeing ghosts,’” ESPN’s Kevin Seifert noted.
Sam Darnold Keeps Postgame Comments Minimal
Darnold has been brief at press conferences during his comeback season at age 27.
Sunday followed that pattern as the Vikings secured the No. 5 seed and now face the Los Angeles Rams on “Monday Night Football” in the NFC wild-card round.
His five-minute session summed up simply: “I missed some throws.”
“Losing sucks,” Darnold admitted. “But at the end of the day, it is what it is. I missed throws and we lost to a good team.”
Minnesota’s failure to finish was rare. They didn’t score on four red-zone trips, including three goal-to-go situations, and missed a field goal — a combination not seen in 30 years, per OptaStats.
“We didn’t execute in areas we typically have,” head coach Kevin O’Connell said. “A couple more red-zone plays could have changed the game and our momentum.”
Vikings Face Uphill Battle in Playoffs
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell watches his team against the Chicago Bears.
Winning a 15th game would have given Minnesota a clearer Super Bowl path.
A bye week would have allowed rest, leaving them two home wins away from the Super Bowl.
Now, the Vikings must win three games, likely all away, starting with the Rams — a team that beat them in Week 8, days after Minnesota’s first loss to Detroit in Week 7.
“This doesn’t change who we are,” O’Connell told ESPN. “You don’t win nine straight and let one loss define you. But improvement is necessary. Sometimes you take a hit and have to respond.”
