INGLEWOOD, CALIF. — The rumors about that possible Vikings-Rams quarterback trade suddenly make sense.
The Rams might indeed want to acquire Sam Darnold, to be their quarterback of the future.
Thursday night, the Vikings lost 30-20 to the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium. The game effectively ended when Darnold was sacked for a safety on the Vikings’ last drive, as his facemask was wrenched violently to bring him to the ground but no penalty was called.
That’s when Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson made one of the most spectacular throws of the game, hurling his helmet about 30 yards along the sideline.
Somehow, Darnold was not hurt on the safety, and overall he was excellent, completing 18 of 25 passes for 240 yards and two touchdowns.
Because Vikings fan paranoia remains the defining characteristic of our state, and Darnold had played poorly for a half in London before the Vikings finally lost a game on Sunday, fans put two and two together, and figured that Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell might want to trade for Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford.
Had Darnold disintegrated on Thursday, as he has previously in his career, the rumor might have morphed into a possibility, if not a reality.
