Who wins Superbowl?

[kmillard]

Good for Mr Sam Darnold, Super Bowl winner!
Our last QB who started in a Super Bowl for the Vikes is now 86 years old.

[MaroonBells]

I know Walker won the MVP, and neither QB played particularly well, but I think the biggest advantage in that game was Sam Darnold over Drake Maye. As substandard as Darnold was, he still led 5 scoring drives, didn't turn the ball over and took only one sack. That made all the difference. 

It made me think that even if McCarthy has a Maye-like level of improvement in his 2nd season, it's going to be very hard to count on a QB that young in a big game like this. Maye is a good young QB, but his inexperience was on full display last night.

[pattersaur]

I know Walker won the MVP, and neither QB played particularly well, but I think the biggest advantage in that game was Sam Darnold over Drake Maye. As substandard as Darnold was, he still led 5 scoring drives, didn't turn the ball over and took only one sack. That made all the difference. 

It made me think that even if McCarthy has a Maye-like level of improvement in his 2nd season, it's going to be very hard to count on a QB that young in a big game like this. Maye is a good young QB, but his inexperience was on full display last night.

Yeah while I think many Vikings fans were lamenting that it could've been us in there with Darnold-- understandably-- I was mostly thinking that if it was the 2026 Vikes playing last night, we'd have looked a lot like New England. And yeah, it's easy to forecast your scenario where we do see a leap but then hit a wall in the playoffs. Maye was terrible for almost their entire playoff run.

[purplefaithful]

Poor Maye, he was way in over his head...I know Maye can use his legs well, but me thinks the impromptu that Caleb or Daniels brings may have faired better.

All I know is NE, CHI and (probably) Wash have their QB's of the future. I suppose you can put Denver in that mix too.

More to come on PEnix and JJM in 26.

[purplefaithful]

Good for Mr Sam Darnold, Super Bowl winner!
Our last QB who started in a Super Bowl for the Vikes is now 86 years old.

I was thinking after the game ended;

I was a teen when the Vikings played the Raiders in the Rose Bowl, now I'm on Medicare. 

Must have been all those scenic Cali shots during the game that dusted off the olde memories from Pasadena in 77.. Oh those shots of the mountains.

My wife didnt believe me that I've been waiting that long - and still counting.

[kmillard]

I was thinking after the game ended;

I was a teen when the Vikings played the Raiders in the Rose Bowl, now I'm on Medicare. 

Must have been all those scenic Cali shots during the game that dusted off the olde memories from Pasadena in 77.. Oh those shots of the mountains.

My wife didnt believe me that I've been waiting that long - and still counting.

I was 2 and blissfully unaware of the Vikings at that point)

[Vikesrock]

I say Vrabel outcoaches McDonald and Maye is a bit better then Darnold.  New England starts a new dynasty 34-27.

Wow was I wrong...

[purplefaithful]

Wow was I wrong...

You can't teach experience and his o-line did him no favors...

I do believe this though and that is I think Caleb or Daniels might have fared better with their escapability. 

I like Maye's progress and upside, but I also think both those guys are special, if they can stay healthy.