Sam Darnold issues tough self-critique after Vikings’ season finale

Last NFL season delivered impressive performances and pleasant surprises alike. Perhaps one of the least expected storylines at the start was Sam Darnold emerging as a key figure, leading the Minnesota Vikings deep into the NFC North race. Unfortunately, the goal of reaching the Super Bowl slipped away along the way, and the QB himself didn’t hide his disappointment over falling short.

The tough loss to the Rams in the Wild Card round marked the end of the dream for a Vikings team that, given the circumstances, may not have expected to make it that far. With Sam Darnold no longer on the roster, Kevin O’Connell and his squad will now look for redemption as they prepare for what’s ahead.

The NFC North once again shapes up to be one of the most competitive divisions in the league, which means the Vikings will need to learn from last season’s mistakes, make the right adjustments, and aim for better results this time around.

Darnold’s strong self-criticism

The serious injury suffered by J.J. McCarthy during the offseason forced the head coach to make a major decision: Sam Darnold would be the team’s starting QB. Looking back, the move clearly paid off, but the now-Seahawks quarterback still believes he could’ve done more to take the team even further.

Sam Darnold #14 of the Minnesota Vikings celebrates after throwing a touchdown pass against the Atlanta Falcons during the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 08, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

“I feel like I could have played way better, to be completely honest with you,” Darnold told Mike Silver of TheAthletic.com. “I feel I didn’t play up to my standard. I truly feel that way. I feel like if I would have just played better, I would’ve been able to give the team a chance.”

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Specifically, the talented signal-caller pointed to that game in Arizona, where his team ultimately fell to Sean McVay’s Rams by a score of 27–9, bringing their Super Bowl dreams to an end.

“I feel like L.A. did very similar things on third down to what Detroit did to us,” he also added. “They played man and tried to play some ‘robber’ stuff, and that just gave us some troubles. It gave me some troubles, personally.”

Improving the passing game

Not everything was negative for the now-Seattle quarterback. In fact, his stint with the Vikings left him with valuable lessons. One of the key takeaways: improving his passing game — something his new team will certainly benefit from if he manages to take that next step.

“[Kevin O’Connell] and those guys in Minnesota did such a good job — and we do a great job here as well — of giving me answers if they take options away,” Darnold told Silver. “Like, just go through your progressions and work your feet and if it’s not there take off and run — because there’s no one accounting for the quarterback, unless they play a spy or whatever.”