In a dazzling display of offensive prowess, Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold lit up the field last Sunday, tossing five spectacular touchdown passes. This electrifying performance prompted my son to ponder a curious inconsistency: How can Jared Goff be lauded as an MVP contender while Darnold is relegated to the sidelines of the conversation?
His inquiry struck a chord; indeed, if Goff is in the running, why isn’t Darnold? The odds tell a stark story—Goff sits snugly at 10-1, whereas Darnold lingers further down at 50-1. Yet, the stats tell a different tale: Darnold boasts an impressive tally of 3,299 passing yards, placing him sixth in the league, alongside a formidable 28 touchdowns which catapult him to fourth overall. Goff, by comparison, has clocked in slightly lower with 3,265 yards and 25 touchdowns.
Furthermore, despite Goff’s run of high passer ratings, his full-season metric of 109.1 is but a whisper above Darnold’s respectable 108.1. What’s the crux of the matter? The Vikings, with an almost bewildering 11-2 record, are quietly vying for the coveted No. 1 seed in the NFC. Should they arrive at that pinnacle, how could Darnold not be deemed a frontrunner for MVP?
Of course, one cannot overlook Josh Allen of the Bills, who holds the title of current favorite for good reason. And let’s not forget Saquon Barkley of the Eagles, who could shake things up if he shatters the single-season rushing record. But this discussion transcends mere favorites; it’s about the candidates who are genuinely reshaping the narrative of this season.
Darnold ought to be more than a long shot; he should be recognized as a serious contender, standing shoulder to shoulder with Goff in the spotlight of MVP discussions. After all, he has achieved what no Vikings quarterback has since Daunte Culpepper accomplished in that fateful Week 1 of the 2004 season—throwing five touchdown passes in a single game.
