Inside The Vikings

Sam Darnold sets a Vikings record in latest impressive performance

Darnold has multiple TDs and a passer rating of at least 100 in all four games this year.
Will Ragatz|
Sep 29, 2024; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (14) cheers as he leaves the field following the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.
Sep 29, 2024; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (14) cheers as he leaves the field following the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. | Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

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Minnesota Vikings

Sam Darnold is proving, week after impressive week, that there's nothing fluky about the way he's playing and producing to begin his Vikings career.

Darnold threw three more touchdown passes in the first half of the Vikings' wild 31-29 victory over the Packers on Sunday, giving him a league-leading 11 on the season. He also set a franchise record by becoming the first Vikings quarterback to open a season with a passer rating of at least 100 in four consecutive games.

More specifically, Darnold's passer rating has been at least 109 in each of the first four games, including a season-high 123.4 in Green Bay. The only other players to have a passer rating of 109+ and multiple touchdowns in at least four straight games to open a season are Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Matt Ryan, and Russell Wilson. There's nine Super Bowl rings and eight MVPs among that group.

"My confidence level in him is really high," Kevin O'Connell said.

Darnold also hit season highs in completions (20) and yards (275) in this game. He looked to be on his way to a truly massive statistical performance, but the Vikings' offense as a whole hit a snag after opening up a 28-0 lead in the first half.

Still, for the second time in three weeks, the Vikings found themselves leaning on their quarterback when they needed a big-time drive to put a game away. Much like Darnold delivered to go up 23-14 against the 49ers in Week 2, he came through and helped his team go up 31-22 in the fourth quarter on Sunday. Darnold completed four straight passes for 60 yards on that drive to take back the momentum from the Packers and a raucous Lambeau Field crowd.

"I think you have to have that mindset," Darnold said. "You can’t think about what might happen or what has happened, them coming back. You always have to continue to have that mindset of one step in front of the other, one foot in front of the other. As long as we continue to have that mindset as an offense, as a whole team, I feel like we'll be alright."

The 4-0 Vikings just continue to rattle off wins, and their quarterback is a big reason why. Darnold has been everything they could've hoped for when they signed him this offseason — and then some.

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Will Ragatz
WILL RAGATZ

Will Ragatz is a senior writer for Vikings On SI, who also covers the Twins, Timberwolves, Gophers, and other Minnesota teams. He is a credentialed Minnesota Vikings beat reporter, covering the team extensively at practices, games and throughout the NFL draft and free agency period. Ragatz attended Northwestern University, where he studied at the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. During his time as a student, he covered Northwestern Wildcats football and basketball for SB Nation’s Inside NU, eventually serving as co-editor-in-chief in his junior year. In the fall of 2018, Will interned in Sports Illustrated’s newsroom in New York City, where he wrote articles on Major League Baseball, college football, and college basketball for SI.com.

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