Re-evaluating Sam's Super Bowl

[Mick063]

Sam isn't finished writing his story. If he finishes next season with 12+ wins, 4,000 yards and 30 TDs, then he absolutely belongs in the top tier discussion.

 

[Bobblehead]

Gonzalez absolutely was the MVP of the game. Without him it would have been a drubbing of XLVIII proportions with Darnold having an MVP stat line.

Well thought the passes he knocked away were the ones that Sam was short with.. No leading the passer..
But, yes he played exceptional.

 

[glenwo2]

Well thought the passes he knocked away were the ones that Sam was short with.. No leading the passer..
But, yes he played exceptional.

First play to Shaheed.

Ball was thrown PERFECTLY.

It was not short.

It was on-target.

Gonzo made a spectacular play.

The other pass in the endzone...definitely on Sam.

Oh and yeah...the attempt to Kupp also.


But definitely...Gonzo was a beast in this game and was the only Pats player who made any sort of impact for the Patriots.

Glad he's in the AFC. lol

 

[LeveeBreak]

and was the only Pats player who made any sort of impact for the Patriots.

Milton had himself a game as well.

But to your point, individual performances don't mean squat when the opponent plays as a unit.

 

[Natethegreat]

If he's top 10 but not top 6-7, he'd be in the highest tier of average in a normal distribution. If you got him 9th/10th, that would put him just above the strict average (middle ~38% of people or QBs ranked about ~11-21) but still technically average in that system. Semantics, splitting hairs, and all that, but I like how that works. The definitions and parameters are simple and set. Would just need people to get past the idea that average is synonymous with mediocre which probably won't ever happen lol.

And again the post said BELOW average. Which by your definition of average would mean bottom 6-7 QB in the league.

 

[BirdsCommaAngry]

And again the post said BELOW average. Which by your definition of average would mean bottom 6-7 QB in the league.

I haven't responded to a post saying he was below average, a link about someone saying he was below average, nor is the OP about someone making that claim. If someone agrees with the tweet or w/e was linked of someone saying Sam is below average, I'd suggest replying to them about that instead of someone who was talking about something else regarding Darnold.

The only claims I've made are more QBs should be considered average, Sam Darnold should currently be considered average, and being average shouldn't be considered bad. My support for that claim is more or less that this kinda seems like how sciency people would figure it and to me, it makes more sense than football fan vibes. There's plenty to go after there and none of it is related or in response to the wild idea that Darnold is somehow a below average QB in 2026.

 

[uscfan]

Comes in at number 7 (Tier 2) per this NFL.com expert.

Ranking all 63 starting quarterbacks from the 2025 NFL season

Even Tier 3 seems better than "average" to me.

 

[glenwo2]

Milton had himself a game as well.

But to your point, individual performances don't mean squat when the opponent plays as a unit.

You're right on about Milton.

Only reason he didn't single-handedly break the sack record (basically) in this game is because Sam was being a Matador to Milton's "Bull" all game long.

 

[glenwo2]

I haven't responded to a post saying he was below average, a link about someone saying he was below average, nor is the OP about someone making that claim. If someone agrees with the tweet or w/e was linked of someone saying Sam is below average, I'd suggest replying to them about that instead of someone who was talking about something else regarding Darnold.

The only claims I've made are more QBs should be considered average, Sam Darnold should currently be considered average, and being average shouldn't be considered bad. My support for that claim is more or less that this kinda seems like how sciency people would figure it and to me, it makes more sense than football fan vibes. There's plenty to go after there and none of it is related or in response to the wild idea that Darnold is somehow a below average QB in 2026.

So I kind of get what you're saying but Sammy D isn't your typical "average" QB to say the least.

 

[LeveeBreak]

So I kind of get what you're saying but Sammy D isn't your typical "average" QB to say the least.

View attachment 79017

Sam can make every throw and won a bunch of games for us this year. This average tag comes from some odd belief he’s only a game managers. He manages when the plan calls for it and he’s Superman when he gets the call.

It’s more accurate to say Sam “can be a game manager when needed”…but that isn’t even close to his only role. I’d also argue that some of his throws during the SB were ones game managers don’t make.

Dude is top 10 easy and could be top 5 after 2026.

 

[Natethegreat]

I haven't responded to a post saying he was below average, a link about someone saying he was below average, nor is the OP about someone making that claim. If someone agrees with the tweet or w/e was linked of someone saying Sam is below average, I'd suggest replying to them about that instead of someone who was talking about something else regarding Darnold.

The only claims I've made are more QBs should be considered average, Sam Darnold should currently be considered average, and being average shouldn't be considered bad. My support for that claim is more or less that this kinda seems like how sciency people would figure it and to me, it makes more sense than football fan vibes. There's plenty to go after there and none of it is related or in response to the wild idea that Darnold is somehow a below average QB in 2026.

You replied to my post which was in response to a post calling Sam Darnold below average.
I probably should have quoted the post I was referring to to avoid confusion.
Sam Darnold at this point in his career is definitely not below average. I'd say he is top ten. In my eyes that is an above average QB.
By your definition he might still be in the average category and thats not an insult to you and how you view the term average.
I get what your viewpoint is. I'm just saying I was responding to an absurd take calling Darnold below average.

 

[hox]

If the NFCCG was the "real" Super Bowl, then Sam is the Super Bowl MVP.

That being said, the Patriots secondary and pass rush is BETTER than the Rams'

Sam didn't play his best game vs the Patriots, but he didn't fold under pressure either. He handled it well.

 

[glenwo2]

If the NFCCG was the "real" Super Bowl, then Sam is the Super Bowl MVP.

That being said, the Patriots secondary and pass rush is BETTER than the Rams'

Sam didn't play his best game vs the Patriots, but he didn't fold under pressure either. He handled it well.

Pass rush was better than the Rams, no doubt, though Sam handled that very well.

The secondary is where the Pats really reigned Supreme when compared to the Rams.

Makes me glad that Gonzo is in the AFC. lol