Story by
Only the Rams Can Save the Vikings This Weekend
- Story by
- Only the Rams Can Save the Vikings This Weekend
David Banks
If the Seattle Seahawks defeat the Los Angeles Rams at home in the NFC Championship this weekend, prepare yourself for an unending barrage about the Minnesota Vikings ' decision-making regarding Sam Darnold .
A Darnold win drags Minnesota back into the ridicule; a Rams win cools it down and keeps the slate cleaner.
Advertisement
The Vikings' front office has already taken a lot of heat for not re-signing Darnold, but the indictment will reach a new level if Seattle wins on Sunday.
A Rams Win Eases the Darnold Narratives
Darnold in the Super Bowl will ramp up the heat on Vikings boss Kwesi Adofo-Mensah .
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold sets his feet and scans the field under pressure at Levi's Stadium, navigating a tight pocket against San Francisco. During the January 3, 2026 matchup, Darnold operated within a quick passing script as Seattle tested protection schemes and timing routes early against a playoff-caliber defense. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-Imagn Images
Vikings Will Look Downright Dumb if SEA Wins
To start the season, Darnold balled out, putting the 2025 Seahawks on the map and making the Vikings' offseason decision look a little strange. Darnold later cooled off, but that hasn't mattered much for NFL-themed media that isn't afraid to uplift Minnesota's gaffe.
Advertisement
The Vikings almost certainly won't make any structural changes involving Adofo-Mensah after the Super Bowl — the team extended his contract seven months ago — but a Darnold trip to the Super Bowl will put his thought process and actions under the microscope and then some.
The fix? While some will still point to Darnold as "the one who got away," if the Seahawks lose or Darnold looks downright incompetent during the NFC Title game, the scorn won't be as loud as the alternative. The Vikings' leaders may be cheering for Darnold, wishing him all the best, but Darnold getting to the biggest game of them all will kick up all the criticism — all over again.
If you want to avoid two full weeks of the Vikings looking like idiots, it's a safe bet to cheer for the Rams.
Why Darnold Left
Advertisement
After compiling 4,319 passing yards and 35 passing touchdowns with the Vikings in 2024, Darnold had options. He ended up signing a contract worth $100.5 million over three years with the Seahawks, and Minnesota was not in the market to spend that much on a quarterback in an offseason when it committed to building the trenches and letting it rip at quarterback with J.J. McCarthy .
The Seahawks shipped Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders , welcoming Darnold with open arms. Through the second round of the postseason, the rest is history.
Of course, critics have already laid it on thick for the Vikings, questioning just how in the world it would let a 35-TD quarterback walk. In short, the franchise put too much trust in McCarthy, at least for now, and might have over-scrutinized how poorly Darnold played in the final two games last year when Minnesota needed him the most.
Darnold's Woes against the Rams
Advertisement
Now, Darnold has to slay a familiar dragon.
In 2024, the Rams tormented Darnold and the Vikings, beating them in a primetime Thursday Night Football game and ending their season in the Wildcard Round . In five career starts against Los Angeles , teams led by Darnold are 2-3 while he has delivered a 6-touchdown, 6-interception split. He also has 3 fumbles in those five starts.
Thankfully for his sake, the Seahawks defeated the Rams in an overtime contest one month ago, as Darnold delivered a familiar performance: 2 touchdowns and 2 picks. Perhaps the monkey is already off his back. Stay tuned.
The Athletic 's Michael-Shawn Dugar noted on the NFC Championship, "McVay versus Macdonald will be one of the biggest matchups in this game. The other will be Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula against Seattle quarterback Sam Darnold , who is dealing with an oblique strain sustained in Thursday's practice."
Advertisement
"Despite feeling 'great' against the 49ers , Darnold said the oblique strain is 'absolutely' something he'll have to manage the remainder of the season. Darnold had another Pro Bowl season but delivered two uneven performances against the Rams. He threw four interceptions in Week 11 and two more in Week 16."
The Rams are 6-4 against the Seahawks during the Stafford era.
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold addresses the broadcast moments after the final whistle at Lumen Field, reflecting on a high-stakes postseason performance. Following the January 17, 2026 divisional-round contest, Darnold spoke with Fox Sports' Erin Andrews as Seattle processed the outcome of a tightly contested playoff matchup. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Ng-Imagn Images
Dugar added, "In both games, Darnold responded and gave Seattle a chance to win the game. But he was also part of the reason the Seahawks needed come-from-behind drives in the fourth quarter and overtime. Though Darnold has played clean football in Seattle's past two games, those performances against the 49ers might not be instructive."
Advertisement
"Shula's Rams have demonstrated an ability to get to Darnold unlike any other defense he has faced this season."
A Production Slow-Down That Just Hasn't Mattered
Strangely, Darnold's production has slowed down immensely in the latter portion of the 2025 campaign, and nobody cares because the Seahawks keep winning. Powered by the NFL's No. 1-ranked defense per EPA/Play and DVOA , Seattle finished the season with a 14-3 record, the same record Darnold's Vikings had in 2024.
Los Angeles Rams defenders Josaiah Stewart and Byron Young walk off the field as the postseason atmosphere settles at Soldier Field, helmets still on and emotions visible. The January 18, 2026 divisional-round finish marked the end of a physical playoff battle, closing another demanding chapter for the Rams' defensive unit. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images
Here's Darnold's performance this year per EPA+CPOE:
Sam DarnoldEPA+CPOE Ranking:
Week 1-13: 3rd
Week 14-18: 21st
Advertisement
Seahawks fans will hope for two outcomes regarding Darnold: a)He returns to his early season form when the stakes are their highest — unlike last year b)He plays average while his defense and playmakers run the show.
Sportsbooks expect Darnold's team to prevail over Los Angeles by two or three points.
