Minnesota Vikings Redemption Season For Sam Darnold And Brian Flores Hits High Gear

For one play on Sunday, the whole amazing, stunning, attention-grabbing redemption story with the Minnesota Vikings seemed to be falling apart with Sam Darnold down on the turf and trainers huddled around him.

For one play, all the Vikings have done these first two weeks of this NFL season seemed to have collapsed – as had the Minnesota quarterback.

MINNEAPOLIS - Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones (33) catches a pass from quarterback Sam Darnold (14) against the Houston Texans in the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sept. 22, 2024. Photo: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images

Except that is not how storybook endings are written. And the Vikings right now are living a storybook story.

So the quarterback who is authoring an amazing career renaissance went back to the sideline, got his sore ankles checked out, and grabbed his helmet to get back in the game.

Darnold was back one play later and by the time the game was over, the damage done was against opponent Houston.

Vikings 34.

Texans 7.

MINNEAPOLIS - Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) is sacked by Minnesota Vikings linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel (43) during the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sept. 22, 2024. Photo: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

The Vikings got their 34 points behind 4 TD passes from Darnold. They have allowed only 30 points in three games.

You know what that makes the Vikings, other than one of few undefeated teams remaining in the league? The NFL's best redemption story.

They have a quarterback, you'll recall, that was a tremendous draft bust with the New York Jets. And was a tremendous trade bust with the Carolina Panthers. And was just an afterthought when he went to the Rams last year.

Darnold, the quarterback brought in to bridge the