Sam Darnold gets MVP chants in Vikings win over Falcons
Vikings QB Sam Darnold speaks with reporters after throwing 5 touchdown passes in a 42-21 win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium. Minnesota has won six straight and is 11-2.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Sam Darnold is currently having the best season of his NFL career, but unless something changes quickly, he won’t be the league’s Comeback Player of the Year.
The award, handed out annually by the Associated Press, is meant to recognize "a player who has demonstrated resilience in the face of adversity by overcoming illness, injury or other circumstances that led him to miss playing time the previous season."
Darnold spent last season as the back-up to Brock Purdy, playing in 10 games and getting one start. With his current numbers, he’s in the MVP conversation.
Why it matters
Darnold is sixth in the NFL with 3,299 passing yards. He’s third with 28 passing touchdowns, and third among starting quarterbacks with a 108.1 rating. His 28 touchdowns through 13 games are a single-season career-high, and are nearly a third of his 91 career touchdowns.
He had a single-game career-high five touchdown passes in Kirk Cousins’ return to Minnesota. Most importantly, he has just 10 interceptions on the season and hasn’t had an interception in four straight games.
The conversation is also heating up on if he has a future in Minnesota. The Vikings drafted J.J. McCarthy No. 10 overall and is in line to be the 2025 starter if healthy. If Darnold can lead the Vikings to a playoff run, things could change.
What's next
The Vikings host the Bears for Monday Night Football. He threw for 330 yards and two touchdowns in an overtime win at Soldier Field on Nov. 24. In a logical world, Darnold is an eligible candidate for both MVP and Comeback Player of the Year with four regular season games left.