Vikings QB Sam Darnold Pulls Shocking PFF Grade vs Titans

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Sam Darnold: Minnesota Vikings at Tennessee Titans
Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Vikings improved to 8-2 after defeating the Tennessee Titans 23-13 Sunday. Tennessee may be 2-8, but its defense has not been the reason for its underwhelming record. That made playing well even more important for Vikings bridge QB Darnold.

The 2018 1st round pick had a lackluster performance against the Jacksonville Jaguars in week 10, and the offense needed him to bounce back against a much more formidable defense than what he struggled against just seven days ago.

Sam Darnold has a bounce-back game vs Titans

Kind of like what we saw vs the Detroit Lions in week 7, after he struggled in London vs the New York Jets last month, Darnold bounced back and executed the Vikings offense effectively against the Titans on Sunday, completing 20/32 passes for 246 yards and two passing touchdowns.

Darnold also added a rushing touchdown on a QB sneak in the second quarter. Not only did he look better throwing the ball, but on multiple occasions, Sam Darnold channeled his inner Fran Tarkenton to extend plays. On a third down to finish the first quarter, Darnold escaped pressure and found receiver Trent Sherfield Jr. for a 16-yard completion.

Later in the drive, Darnold again evaded pressure on 3rd-and-7, scrambling for a six-yard gain. The Vikings converted the ensuing 4th-and-short, and the drive culminated in the rushing touchdown mentioned above.

Darnold’s mobility helped him avoid negative plays. He was sacked twice in 11 total pressures, an 18.2 pressure-to-sack-rate (P2S%), tied for his third-best mark of the season. This kept the Vikings out of 3rd-and-long situations, which plagued the team in their loss to the Rams last month.

PFF loved Darnold in week 11

According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), no one performed better than quarterback Sam Darnold. He posted a career-high 90.8 PFF grade (90.4 pass grade), miles better than anyone else on the Vikings offense. The closest was RT Brian O’Neill, who came out with a 74.5 offensive grade.

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As good as his day was, it could have been even better. PFF tallied five drops by Vikings receivers, none more significant than a 46-yard bomb that went right through the hands of Jalen Nailor. Securing the catch would have given the Vikings a three-score lead early in the fourth quarter, essentially icing the contest.

Darnold was also credited with one fumble, which occurred when a toss to Aaron Jones slipped through the running back’s hands and was recovered by the Titans. Darnold almost fumbled in the fourth quarter, when taking a sack, but officials ruled that he had possession, when his knee went down, before losing control of the ball.

Let’s give the Minnesota Vikings interim QB1 his flowers

Overall, it was one of his cleanest games of the season, after Sam committed six turnovers over the previous two weeks. This was all done against a Titans defense that has allowed the fewest passing yards of any team all season.

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Many fans are still waiting for the former third-overall pick to return to the 1st round bust everyone remembers from his Jets and Carolina Panthers days. While he has had moments of questionable decision-making, Darnold continues to demonstrate that he can quarterback the Vikings’ offense at a high level.

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