MINNEAPOLIS, MN (trfnews.i234.me) – Sam Darnold is finally proving why he was a top pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. After a rocky start to his career, Darnold has found new life with the Minnesota Vikings and head coach Kevin O’Connell’s quarterback-friendly system. On Sunday, Darnold matched a career-high with four touchdown passes, leading the Vikings to a commanding 34-7 victory over the Houston Texans.
Through three games, Darnold has completed 67.9% of his passes for 657 yards, eight touchdowns, and just two interceptions, showcasing poise and confidence in and out of the pocket.
The Vikings defense set the tone early when linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill picked off C.J. Stroud’s first pass of the game, breaking Stroud’s streak of 266 passes without an interception. The Vikings capitalized, with Darnold finding Justin Jefferson for the game’s first score.
Despite a brief injury scare in the third quarter, Darnold returned after one play and led Minnesota to another scoring drive. The Vikings are now 3-0 for the first time since 2016, emerging as one of the early season surprises.