Sam Darnold’s Punchy One-Word Reply After Vikings’ Loss to Lions!
In a pivotal NFL regular-season game, Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold struggled against the Detroit Lions’ defense, leading to a devastating 31-9 loss.
With the NFC North title and No. 1 seed on the line, Darnold’s performance was dismal—he completed only 18 of 41 passes for 166 yards, a season-low 43.9% completion rate. ESPN reported that Darnold had eight overthrows in the first half, and the Vikings could only manage two field goals while failing to convert on two fourth downs.
Darnold, who had led the Vikings to a 14-win season, never found a rhythm during the game, which echoed his 2019 “seeing ghosts” moment with the New York Jets. His off-target rate was the second-worst of his career. Despite the poor performance, Darnold dismissed the impact of the Detroit crowd, stating simply, “No,” when asked about it post-game.
The Vikings’ red-zone woes were historic, failing to score a touchdown on four red-zone trips, including three goal-to-go situations. This, along with missed field goals and failed fourth-down conversions, set a 30-year record.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell pointed out missed opportunities, noting that the game could have been different with a few more successful plays.
With their playoff hopes now tied to a wild-card matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, the Vikings face the difficult challenge of winning three straight road games, starting with a rematch against the Rams—whom they lost to in Week 8.
Despite the setback, O’Connell remained confident in the team’s resilience, stating that one loss wouldn’t change their approach or determination as they aim to bounce back.
