(Video) Jordan Love throws interception straight away on return while Sam Darnold continues to defy odds for Vikings
As Packers' Jordan Love struggled after throwing 4 interceptions, Sam Darnold made grounds to record a 4-0 start to the season.
Jordan Love and Sam Darnold (Via Imago/SI)
After how last season went, the Green Bay Packers assumed Jordan Love would remain consistent heading into the 2024 season. However, after a 2-2 record, the season isn’t going that well for Love and Green Bay. Meanwhile, their week 4 opponents, who took a chance by naming Sam Darnold as the starting quarterback over J.J. McCarthy, are truly thriving with a 4-0 record.
Both the losses that the Packers endured this season were under Love as the starting quarterback. After missing the week 2 and 3 games (both ended in victory) due torn medial collateral ligament (MCL), Love’s performance was lackluster in his first game back against the Vikings, where he showed up in Brett Favre‘s jersey to honor him.
He appeared washed out on Saturday, recording three interceptions to his four touchdowns. The first took place on the game’s second drive when Minnesota’s Kamu Grugier-Hill picked off his pass, which was aimed at wide receiver Christian Watson on third down.
His second interception showed the sheer miscommunication in the Packers’ offense as the pass aimed for receiver Romeo Doubs sailed over tight end Luke Musgrave and ended up in the hands of Vikings’ veteran cornerback Shaq Griffin. The third interception came straight away when he threw a pass at Dontayvion Wicks deep downfield but Vikings CB Byron Murphy jumped up to intercept the ball in the end zone.
Sam Darnold shines with three touchdowns for undefeated Vikings
Despite the 389 yards and four touchdowns, Love couldn’t succeed in leading his team to a victory. On the other hand, the Vikings’ star Darnold posted 275 yards and three touchdowns, yet he succeeded in a close 31-29 feat; all thanks to the good work he did in the first two quarters.
Entering his fourth game of the season, Darnold took the lead at 14-0 by tailing his 10th touchdown (season) in the very first quarter of Saturday’s game. It happened after he connected with wide receiver Jordan Addison for a 29-yard touchdown.
Later in the opening quarter, he succeeded in another TD together with tight end Josh Oliver. His final touchdown was in connection with star Justin Jefferson for a 14-yard touchdown in the second quarter. These three first-half touchdowns brought the Vikings the advantage, meanwhile, their opposing offense was struggling to put numbers on the board in the first half.
Leading the NFC North with an undefeatable record of 4-0, the season seems to be going quite well for the Vikings and quarterback Darnold who might make them a Super Bowl contender, if everything goes well like this. In the process, he might just seep into the MVP conversation as well.
Pratyusha Srivastava
(1639 Articles Published)