Through six games, Sam Darnold has given the 5-1 Vikings more than they should or could have expected from the quarterback spot.
It also is undeniable that his first three games were better than his next three games.
And it is interesting that while Darnold is No. 7 in passer rating (104.0) in the NFL, he is No. 18 in QBR, an ESPN statistic that aims to get a clearer picture of a quarterback’s impact on winning beyond raw numbers.
Vibes are unscientific and unspecific, but the vibes on Darnold feel like they are shifting. You hear Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell talk more frequently lately about missed opportunities on offense, many of which circle back to Darnold.
You sense the Vikings let one slip away against a very good Detroit team, unable to take advantage of two huge plays (stopping a fake punt and scoring another defensive touchdown) because they couldn’t make enough small ones.
In that game, Darnold finished a very respectable 22-for-27 for 259 yards along with one TD and one interception. The eye test was a little less impressive, but the game also seemed like the baseline for what the Vikings should reasonably expect from Darnold for the rest of the season.
As such, this question is the biggest one in Minnesota sports right now: How much above or below the level he played at in the Lions game will Darnold play the rest of the season?
He gets a quick opportunity to start answering that question Thursday in Los Angeles against the Rams. Traveling two time zones west on a short week doesn’t seem like a recipe for offensive efficiency or precision, but Darnold said Tuesday there is an advantage to playing again so soon.