Darnold Delivers as Vikings Blitz to Victory
Quarterback Sam Darnold dominated in the Vikings’ win against Atlanta, throwing for 347 yards and five touchdowns while completing 22 of 28 pass attempts. He was perfect in the final two quarters, including a perfect 158.3 passer rating in the second half.
Coach Kevin O’Connell credited Darnold’s turnaround, saying it was one of those days where it felt like he should just “keep the gas pedal down.” Darnold made big play after big play, including a highlight-reel touchdown pass to Justin Jefferson.
The win marks the team’s first 40-plus point outing of O’Connell’s tenure, and Darnold’s performance is proof that the coach’s offense is QB-friendly. With 11 games with a 100-plus passer rating in 2024, Darnold is among a select group of quarterbacks who have achieved this feat.
After a rough start, Darnold has found his groove, with 11 touchdowns and no interceptions in the past four weeks. Coach O’Connell praised Darnold’s growth, saying he is building on a string of successes and is “someone he can build off of.”
The Vikings have won six consecutive games, improving to 11-2 and nipping at the Lions’ heels for the top spot in the NFC North. With Darnold playing at an impressive level, Minnesota looks to be a tough out come January.
