It's Still Just Sam Darnold Right?

The Texans must make the quarterback of the Vikings revert to his old ways

This isn’t the same old Sam Darnold, at least not through two games this season.

Darnold might have just played the best back-to-back games of his career. Playing for his fourth team in his seventh season, Darnold passed for 476 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions, and boasts a completion percentage of 72 % over those two games. He’s fifth in quarterback rating and fourth in QBR.

“I feel like he's operating that offense really efficiently, really well,” said defensive coordinator Matt Burke. “I feel like they're philosophically similar to our defense, they don't do a ton, they don't do a lot of different things, but they do them well, and they kind of believe in what they are.”

Kevin O’Connell has unlocked a high floor for Darnold through two games. The Vikings are converting third downs better than last season and through two games they are seventh in the league on the money down. They’re eighth in scoring and averaging over five yards a carry. Some of the throws are maddeningly easy for Darnold to make. O’Connell has earned praise from the coaching staff, C.J. Stroud, and he was even impressive to the front office and ownership when he interviewed to be the head coach of the Texans.

O’Connell has revived Darnold. The well-traveled quarterback has never been this efficient and effective.