But give O'Connell credit for remaining aggressive. The Vikings leaned on Darnold on the game's critical drive in the fourth quarter, as he completed four consecutive passes to set up Will Reichard's field goal. O'Connell also went for it on fourth and 1 up nine points, looking to put the game away instead of just going up 12.

One of the early surprises of the 2024 NFL season has been the rebirth of quarterback Sam Darnold. After spending last year as a backup with the San Francisco 49ers, he signed with the Minnesota Vikings and has them off to a 3-0 start.

Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell always had the belief of Sam Darnold, even when he was at USC. A revelation this season has been Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold and his scorching start. Darnold's play has him connected to NFL MVP chatter.