While the New York Jets continue to bolster their reputation for ruining quarterbacks, this season created a lot of hope for their former 2018 No. 3 overall pick Sam Darnold.
After getting out of New York, and following brief stints in Carolina and San Francisco, it was starting to look like the 27-year-old gunslinger had finally found a home in Minnesota. Unfortunately for Darnold and the rest of Skol Nation, the Minnesota Vikings’ one-and-done performance in the Wild Card Round says otherwise.
Sam Darnold Struggles Mightily, Sacked 9 Times vs. Rams
Against the Los Angeles Rams, Darnold was sacked nine times as his offensive line seemingly fell apart in front of his eyes. A -0.85 expected points added (EPA) per drop back when under pressure compounded those issues, and Darnold was also below par from a clean pocket, with a -0.02 EPA/DB.
He finished the game with 4.1 net yards per pass attempt and had a -0.90 EPA/DB when inside the opposing half.
Overall, the last two weeks have been rough for Darnold, to say the least. Week 18 (63.5) was his worst performance of the season, and the Wild Card game (65.3) was his third-worst, according to PFN’s QB+ metric. They were his second and third performances of the year that were graded as a D and the fourth and fifth to be graded below a C-.
Two bad performances under the bright lights of what was essentially two playoff games are going to have a major impact on how Darnold is viewed this offseason, especially with fans and media outside of those who regularly saw him play. That is somewhat unfair on a quarterback, though, who was ranked 12th overall in the regular season in QB+ (79.0).
If the narrative that develops this offseason is that Darnold should not be a starter anywhere, that is somewhat unfair. He entered the playoffs with just four performances graded as D+ or below compared to six B- or above grades. The performances in those two big moments are certainly a concern, and there are other poor outings this season as well.
J.J. McCarthy Ready To Take the Reins?
After what we just witnessed, the Vikings need to at least see what they have in J.J. McCarthy in 2025. The Vikings drafted McCarthy with the No. 10 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The now-21-year-old was slated to be Minnesota’s starting quarterback and usher in the next era of Vikings football.
Unfortunately, the rookie suffered a season-ending injury during the preseason, allowing Darnold to revive his career.
McCarthy suffered his injury during his preseason debut against the Las Vegas Raiders on Aug. 10 at U.S. Bank Stadium. Darnold started the game and played one series, giving way to McCarthy to handle the rest of the first quarter and much of the game.
The Los Angeles Rams finished with 9️⃣ sacks against the Vikings. 🔥
This ties an NFL record held by five other teams, most recently the Titans in the 2021 playoffs vs. the Bengals. pic.twitter.com/RTR43RAsmI
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) January 14, 2025
McCarthy threw an interception on his third attempt, but he ultimately completed 11 of his 17 passes for 188 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. He demonstrated poise and athleticism by moving around in the pocket and scrambling twice for 18 yards, helping him avoid sacks.
Unfortunately, McCarthy’s season-ending injury overshadowed his on-field production. It’s still unclear when exactly he injured his knee. Two days after the game, McCarthy missed the Vikings’ night practice. Then, the team announced that he would undergo a procedure to determine why he was experiencing discomfort in his right knee.
Ultimately, the exploratory surgery became a season-ending meniscus repair, which landed McCarthy on injured reserve. Now, at the end of the 2024-25 season, and in light of Darnold’s poor performance on Monday Night Football, what will the Vikings’ offseason look like?
‘Amor Fati’ — Hope on the Horizon
According to McCarthy, who took to X (formerly Twitter) to speak on the loss: “Amor Fati.” For those not in the know, “Amor Fati” is a Latin phrase that in English means “love of fate.” The cryptic tweet carries some sticky vibes, ready to be interpreted in myriad ways. Is McCarthy speaking on the fate of the team in general or hinting at what the future holds once he’s cleared to start?
Amor fati
— J.J. McCarthy (@jjmccarthy09) January 14, 2025
While we might not get the answer to that question directly, one thing is certain: the Vikings have decisions to make at the QB position this offseason.
Unless Darnold is happy playing backup to the second-year man (given McCarthy is good to go), he needs to try and find a new home. Yet, the options where Darnold can walk in and start are limited. He may find himself in another bridge-QB role alongside a young QB — either in Tennessee, Las Vegas, or New York, with either the Giants or, perhaps, a reunion with the Jets.
As for the Vikings, there’s no reason to think McCarthy won’t be fully healed from the meniscus tear that kept him sidelined this year. After having had a season to sit and absorb the game at the highest level, there is also no reason to think this team won’t improve in 2025 and for the foreseeable future.