Sam Darnold, the Vikings’ unexpected hero of 2024, had his worst performance of the season when something was on the line. Normally steadfast in the pocket, Darnold wasn’t only blitzed out of his shoes by an aggressive Cover 0 defense from Aaron Glenn — but more worrying was the instances where Darnold responded to perceived pressure when it didn’t exist.

Sam Darnold's first performance in the spotlight was a dud. He has a chance to redeem himself Monday night in Arizona. Why it matters: The Vikings' out-of-nowhere 14-3 season will only continue if the team beats the Los Angeles Rams in a game that had to be moved out of Southern California due to devastating wildfires.