Before the end of the 2024 season, there was speculation that the Minnesota Vikings could bring Sam Darnold back for another year. The seventh-year quarterback was on his way to his first Pro Bowl and had the Vikings in position to have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
PFF’s Brad Gagnon believes the Week 13 matchup between Darnold and McCarthy is one of the 12 best quarterback matchups of the season. He ranked it 11th on his list last week.
Why it’s cool: McCarthy should be deep into his first full season as a starter in place of Darnold, who stood out as Minnesota’s quarterback throughout 2024 before leaving town for big money in Seattle. Both quarterbacks will feel they have a lot to prove in this spot.
Prediction: The Vikings are simply the better team, McCarthy should be settled in by this point, and I don’t really believe in Darnold. This should be a Vikes win, causing the franchise to feel comfortable with its decision to stick with its 2024 first-round pick.
Of course, the singular game won’t solely determine if the Vikings made the right decision to move on from Darnold. But it could offer some validation, much like the Vikings’ 42-21 win over Kirk Cousins and the Atlanta Falcons in Week 14 of 2024.
