In the final game of the wild card round, the Los Angeles Rams handed an embarrassing defeat to the Minnesota Vikings. And with this, the playoff hopes shattered for the Vikes. Their poor showing in the 27-9 loss broke coach Kevin O’Connell, who didn’t spare the chance to blame the team for it.

During a post-game press conference, Kevin O’Connell talked to the media and acknowledged Sam Darnold’s poor performance. However, he also made sure to praise the QB for his wins this season, saying, “I think it’s very important we all think about Sam‘s body of work. What he was able to do this year, when not very many people thought he would be able to lead a team to 14 wins. It’s very rare for a quarterback in their first year — in fact, it’s the most wins by a first-year quarterback with a team — and just the way he came in committed himself to just a daily process to be the best version of himself.”

Well, now that sounds interesting and surprising at the same time. This is because agree or not, Sam Darnold didn’t play well today. But the major highlight of Kevin O’Connell’s presser was the team’s performance, as he said: “Very tough feeling in that locker room right now. This team was really 1-of-1 as far as the feeling that’s in there right now, the brotherhood. This team truly did a lot of special things this year, but we didn’t play well enough to win the football game.”

Sadly that

Kevin O’Connell papers over Sam Darnold’s embarrassing record

Kevin O’Connell talked about Sam Darnold’s great regular season. However, he also made sure to give a reality check to him, by saying, “It did not work out in the end, and he could’ve played better tonight. I’m sure he would tell you that he could have played better. I promise you I could’ve coached better. Could our team have rallied around a play here or there to try to keep that thing competitive? For sure, but the other phase of it for Sam is acknowledging the things that made him a (great) quarterback this year … Proud of him.” Thus O’Connell subtly addressed Darnold’s poor play, but he didn’t talk about the negative records he made on Monday.

In the same presser, Kevin O’Connell said that he and the franchise will make sure to be aware of how to build this team in the next year. Building a team is important for any failing organization, but Sam Darnold’s performance can’t be neglected. This is because, as shared by reporter, Andrew Siciliano, “Rams have tied the @NFL single-game postseason sack record with their 9th takedown of Sam Darnold”.  Yes, nine takedowns of the quarterback! In addition, Darnold was sacked six times by halftime — the first quarterback to suffer so this century.

Kevin O’Connell meant to say that the Vikings didn’t play well enough as a unit to win a playoff game. Something their opponents did even when their star WR had an off night. The team collectively didn’t play well and the coach threw the OL under the bus. But calling out poor blocking more than Darnold’s performance might not sit well with others. Especially now that Sam Darnold’s contract isn’t likely to be renewed. The fans and management seem set to place their faith in the 2024 draft, J.J. McCarthy.

Although, guess what? As reporter Kevin Seifert stated, “You probably don’t want to know this, but the last NFL QB to be sacked at least 6 times in the first half of a playoff game was …. the Vikings’ Wade Wilson in the 1987 NFC Championship Game. (H/T ESPN Research).” He, for one, played four more seasons for the Vikings. But despite O’Connell’s mellow criticism, one gets the feeling Darnold will not get a similar chance.