N/S Who do you love more in tonight’s Rams/Vikings wildcard game? (19 Viewers)

[2009ring]

He was literally signed as their backup and this guy's acting like he's been their starter for 3 years.

 

[Saintman2884]

Darnold has still

I said it here many times the vikings will get eliminated from the p l layoffs early and that Darnold was a fluke. Both were correct.

Darnold cost himself a huge contract. If he played well and team won, he was going to land a huge contract.

Unlike Mayfield, the stars had to align perfectly for Darnold. He will not be a long term success like Baker seems to be headed for.

Even if Darnold had played better and Minnesota had won a much closer game, I don't see them marching into Philly and beating up on the Eagles and while L.A. will likely give them a very competitive, hard-fought game, they don't win next week, either IMHO. Darnold's biggest development issue is that he never evolved from college-to-pros his ability to improvise or not panic in the pocket or try to run/scramble if his first-or-second reads aren't there. Kirk Herbstreit pointed out that mental flaw in his game when he was a junior at USC and he's never been able to correct it. I think this sort of season proved what Sam Darnold's sort of ceiling would be with a great, supporting cast and that he's not a reliable QB in big games or the post-season and O'Connell kinda proved that 2022 wasn't this random event because he had a much better, proven commodity in Kirk Cousins and still lost to NYG at home. I also think Darnold played with a bit more of an edge and seemed more focused, determined and less mistake-prone earlier in the season and by the end of the season, maybe he got a little too comfortable in his position and forgot he could still lose this starting job and while he'll never admit it, the cumulative pressure finally got to him.

Mayfield may have a lot more long-term success but then again, he went to a still-talented, potent and strong Tampa team that had a lot of weapons in 2023 even after Brady's retirement. As long as his main weapons remain in place like Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Cade Otton, Mayfield stands a great chance of keeping them relevant as a playoff contender but some of the pieces on their defense are getting older and near-retirement and if Buccaneers want to regain their 2020 SB contender status, how they replace or re-fill those defensive gaps will depend heavily on that. Mayfield, despite his on-field heroics and outstanding statistical bonanza, does have a nagging Favre-like tendency of blowing or nearly blowing up close late games by trying to play "hero ball" when it's not really necessary. Their were a few games over the past two seasons where his antics or impulsiveness almost cost his team the win.

 

[Saintman2884]

He was literally signed as their backup and this guy's acting like he's been their starter for 3 years.

He was signed as a backup, not expected to perform or do more then hold a clipboard. He gets lucky when Vikings 2024 1st round draft pick gets injured in the postseason, gives him a second (or third chance) with the best overall supporting cast Darnold likely ever played with. Darnold wants to show Jets how much they screwed up by re-doubling his focus, determination, work ethic by playing lights out for most of the season until the very end when his first taste of success maybe loosens up that edge he began the season with and then he and team subsequently fall apart, partly due to NFL defenses rediscovering how to beat and rough him up.

Darnold, IMHO, is the type of QB who mentally if you can get to him early enough in a game whether its a few sacks, hits, knock-downs, or hurries he'll break somewhat before halftime. His overall mental toughness took a real beating with the Jets and he's never fully recovered plus on most passing plays, if his first-or-second reads aren't there, he tends to get happy feet or panics. He's never come close to seeing an NFL field entirely like Brees, Brady or Manning did and he's not really a runner/scrambler where he can extend plays, so he's kind of screwed.

 

[Grumpy Old Manatee]

Late to thread, had to get fitted for a new Tin-Foil hat last night. But can you imagine how Saints fans will feel if The Rams win the Super Bowl and they have to watch Goodell present the Lombardi to Sean Mcvay in the Superdome in NOLA?

 

[kcirdor]

Easy for me. Old time fan, loathe the Rams. I have zero against the Vikings. Hope y’all crush em.

I mean, we have more playoff loses to the vikings than any other team.. so it cant be zero.

 

[Zztop]

Rams. Old division rival, and that ref-no-call that cost the Saints a superbowl.

 

[SweetT]

Puke or Diarrhea

I once did both simultaneously. Don’t ask why

And how the heck did the Vikings get so skull dragged? Thought they would put up more of a fight.

 

[Complex Kid]

Poor guy must be in mourning

 

[jasonsw]

Darnold has still



Even if Darnold had played better and Minnesota had won a much closer game, I don't see them marching into Philly and beating up on the Eagles and while L.A. will likely give them a very competitive, hard-fought game, they don't win next week, either IMHO. Darnold's biggest development issue is that he never evolved from college-to-pros his ability to improvise or not panic in the pocket or try to run/scramble if his first-or-second reads aren't there. Kirk Herbstreit pointed out that mental flaw in his game when he was a junior at USC and he's never been able to correct it. I think this sort of season proved what Sam Darnold's sort of ceiling would be with a great, supporting cast and that he's not a reliable QB in big games or the post-season and O'Connell kinda proved that 2022 wasn't this random event because he had a much better, proven commodity in Kirk Cousins and still lost to NYG at home. I also think Darnold played with a bit more of an edge and seemed more focused, determined and less mistake-prone earlier in the season and by the end of the season, maybe he got a little too comfortable in his position and forgot he could still lose this starting job and while he'll never admit it, the cumulative pressure finally got to him.

Mayfield may have a lot more long-term success but then again, he went to a still-talented, potent and strong Tampa team that had a lot of weapons in 2023 even after Brady's retirement. As long as his main weapons remain in place like Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Cade Otton, Mayfield stands a great chance of keeping them relevant as a playoff contender but some of the pieces on their defense are getting older and near-retirement and if Buccaneers want to regain their 2020 SB contender status, how they replace or re-fill those defensive gaps will depend heavily on that. Mayfield, despite his on-field heroics and outstanding statistical bonanza, does have a nagging Favre-like tendency of blowing or nearly blowing up close late games by trying to play "hero ball" when it's not really necessary. Their were a few games over the past two seasons where his antics or impulsiveness almost cost his team the win.

I think also Mayfield has more determination and dog in him. He has that alpha personality to him. With Darnold i just don't see it. Plus Mayfield doesn't let you know you have him psychologically.

 

[jasonsw]

Poor guy must be in mourning

Yeah they go through so much torture. Many times over, they get a miracle qb. Then clock strikes playoffs and Minny turns back.into a pumpkin

 

[Complex Kid]

Yeah they go through so much torture. Many times over, they get a miracle qb. Then clock strikes playoffs and Minny turns back.into a pumpkin

To be honest even though we have lost to them in the playoffs more than anyone else it's why I can't really hate them (at least as much as the Rams, 49ers or Falcons). We beat them in the big one and they have had so many heartbreaking losses. Four Super Bowl losses, The Gary/Morton Anderson game after going 15-1, losing to us in the NFC championship.

 

[BooBirdSaint]

Darnold went from hero to zero quickly. I believe I heard Troy and Buck speculating that Darnold's play over the last two games cost him opportunities. We will see as this league is starved for quality backups especially at QB.

 

[jasonsw]

Darnold went from hero to zero quickly. I believe I heard Troy and Buck speculating that Darnold's play over the last two games cost him opportunities. We will see as this league is starved for quality backups especially at QB.

It cost him that mega contract. Some team will give him a two or 3 year deal still

 

[BooBirdSaint]

It cost him that mega contract. Some team will give him a two or 3 year deal still

A bit off topic, but do you believe Darnold is a starter in this league? Or was his turnaround something else? 2024 was undoubtedly his best ever career wise. Cannot argue with his stats 361 of 545 passing and 4320 yds 35:12 TD:INT... IDK those numbers are better than 3/4 of the league.

 

[saintmdterps]

I don't dislike the Vikings but I loathe the Rams because of NFC west and 2018 worst no-call in NFL history. And don't tell me the NFL didn't conjure up that no-call. I'm not ready to hear it.