Darnold = MVP

[Frank12]

If Darnold keep playing at this level and we win our division and win a couple of playoff games, I don't see why he couldn't win it. He was in the conversation last year and is playing even better this year..

 

[Frank12]

Caleb this week. My only concern with Sam is when playoff pressure comes into play. Hoping he can overcome mental errors of the past. Big fan.

He was sacked 9 times in the playoff game just about every QB would have a bad game getting hit that much in one game...

 

[Shane Falco]

I'd say Drake Maye is playing pretty similar to Darnold so far this season. Both QB's are phenomenal right now.

 

[soxhawk]

He was sacked 9 times in the playoff game just about every QB would have a bad game getting hit that much in one game...

Of course. I'm not referring to any particular game in the past. I'm referring to a potential high pressure game in the future.

 

[Frank12]

Of course. I'm not referring to any particular game in the past. I'm referring to a potential high pressure game in the future.

I believe he wont have any problems with those games, He's developed and looks to be a muched better and more confident QB..

But, we'll never know until we get to those games...

 

[Runscott]

Well considering that last season was his FIRST EVER Playoff pressure because...you know....it was his first ever playoff game (yet some are acting like he's 0-11 instead of just 0-1), I think he will overcome those errors because he's not stupid.

He learns.

The Detroit game was 'playoff pressure', so many of us looked at it as 0-2. It was more glaring given how great he was prior to that. It was like he hit a wall as soon as he had pressure. This year he looks better (to me, anyway) than he did last year up until the Detroit game. I think the Rams games will answer our questions, but I'm very optimistic. He had a lot of time to think about those last two games last year, and it didn't seem to affect his confidence.

 

[glenwo2]

The Detroit game was 'playoff pressure', so many of us looked at it as 0-2. It was more glaring given how great he was prior to that. It was like he hit a wall as soon as he had pressure. This year he looks better (to me, anyway) than he did last year up until the Detroit game. I think the Rams games will answer our questions, but I'm very optimistic. He had a lot of time to think about those last two games last year, and it didn't seem to affect his confidence.

Oh no question he learned from last season.

Before last season, he was playing out the string in NY and CAR so he wasn't used to such a situation.

You learn through experience so I fully expect him to be locked-in mentally this time.

that said, however, while the detroit game was 'playoff pressure', it still remained a Regular season game at the core of it.

So as far as the Playoffs go, Sam is still 0-1, not 0-2.

It took Peyton Manning 4 tries before he won his first Playoff game.

I believe Sam gets his first on his 2nd try.

 

[RiverDog]

IMO the term "most valuable" means the player that was most instrumental to his team's success. It would be damn difficult to justify naming a player from a non playoff team as most valuable, because where would they have been without him? Answer: Just like they were with him, ie out of the playoffs.

If the Hawks, or any other team as far as that goes, doesn't at least go deep into the playoffs, ie conference championship game or better, I can't see any player off that team being named MVP.

 

[Ruminator]

MVP indeed:

 

[glenwo2]

Sam Darnold and...JOHNNY UNITAS????



That's wild.

 

[bileever]

One should never look at one or two games and make pronouncements about a QB's ability in a big game. Just like I don't think Lamar Jackson or Josh Allen are not great QBs just because they've never made it to the Super Bowl. That would be foolishness.

Sam Darnold has played in one playoff game. Yes, it was a big game, but his performance in that game doesn't define him. The Vikings loss was a complete team loss. The Rams were up 24-3 at halftime. They sacked him 9 times. He still went 25 for 40 (62.5%) for 245 yards.

Patrick Mahomes looked pretty awful in last year's Super Bowl. That game doesn't define him, either. It's not that simple.

 

[Ruminator]

Judging by this chart, it might be safe to assume that #1 is a slight upgrade from #27:

 

[glenwo2]

Judging by this chart, it might be safe to assume that #1 is a slight upgrade from #27:

View attachment 75498

Remember when PFF at the beginning of the season had Sam at #27 and Geno at #10?

Remember when I complained about that and some people here were like "well I AGREE that Geno is #10"?

Pepperidge Glenwo2's Farm remembers.

 

[evergreen]

People like to blame him for those losses. Like he was supposed to win those games. That was the biggest game in Detroit's history up until then. Minnie went for it on 4th down instead of taking the short field goals. I think 12 points may've changed the game a bit. I'm sure Minnie was in a bad space after that loss to Detroit. Against the Rams he faced the second (barely) best team in the league that has a nasty D line. People need to be able to see what really happened.