The NFL season is full of surprises, but one of the most unexpected storylines so far in 2024 has been the rise of Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold. Once labeled a bust by his former teams, the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers, Darnold has silenced his critics by leading the Vikings to a perfect 3-0 start heading into their Week 4 matchup against the Green Bay Packers.
Darnold’s performance on the field has been nothing short of impressive. In his first three games with the Vikings, he has thrown for 657 yards and an impressive eight touchdowns, all while completing 67.9% of his pass attempts. Not only that, but the 27-year-old has made history by becoming the first quarterback in Vikings history to win his first three games of the season and throw multiple touchdown passes in each of them.
When asked about Darnold’s hot start, Vikings head coach had nothing but praise for his quarterback, saying, “Sam has been playing at a really high level and has been a huge part of our success so far this season. We knew he had the talent, and he’s really starting to show it on the field.”
Throughout their 64-year history, the Vikings have seen their fair share of talented quarterbacks, from Fran Tarkenton to Brett Favre. But none of them have been able to accomplish what Darnold has done in just three games.
The Vikings have started the season 3-0 on ten different occasions, but this year’s start feels different. In past seasons, the team has struggled to maintain their early success, but Darnold’s consistency and leadership have given fans hope that this could be their year.
Looking back at previous seasons, it’s clear that Darnold’s performance is truly special. In 2016, the Vikings started 5-0 but missed the playoffs, with quarterbacks Sam Bradford and Shaun Hill only managing to throw three touchdowns in the first three weeks. In 2009, a 40-year-old Brett Favre showed flashes of brilliance but couldn’t sustain his success. And in 1998, Randall Cunningham didn’t hit his stride until Week 4, despite the team finishing with an impressive 15 wins.
As the Vikings prepare to face off against the Packers in Week 4, all eyes will be on Sam Darnold to see if he can continue his meteoric rise and lead his team to victory once again. The future looks bright for the Vikings, thanks in large part to their unexpected star quarterback.
