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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Sport
Oliver Connolly

Sam Darnold’s career season means the Minnesota Vikings face a tough decision

Sam Darnold Vikings Minnesota JJ McCarthy Baker Mayfield NFL Jets NFC Carolina Kevin OConnell
Minnesota’s Sam Darnold is just the third quarterback in NFL history to reach 3,500 passing yards, 29 TD passes and a 100-plus passer rating in his first 14 games with a team.
Minnesota’s Sam Darnold is just the third quarterback in NFL history to reach 3,500 passing yards, 29 TD passes and a 100-plus passer rating in his first 14 games with a team. Photograph: Stephen Maturen/Getty Images

Before this season, Sam Darnold’s strongest contribution to the NFL canon was “seeing ghosts”.

Darnold was one of several quarterbacks selected early in the first round to wash out with the New York Jets. After leaving Florham Park, he bounced between backup and bridge-starter roles in Carolina and San Francisco before winding up in Minnesota. Now he’s leading one of the hottest teams in the NFL. As injuries and attrition continue to knee-cap the Lions, the Vikings are making a late surge for the No 1 seed in the NFC – and potentially home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

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