What could have been.

[DeepFreeze05]

[JR44]

It is all about having owners who know how to put the right people in charge of the franchise.  The GM and coach right now are both a complete disaster who wouldn't know what a Super Bowl QB looked like if they got to see them in practice and games for a full season.  Next year is going to be a complete mess if we think we are running back with this same crew.

[medaille]

To be honest, a lot of things went wrong, not just QB for us. I also think we could learn a lot from both offenses tonight, scheme-wise. I'm not sure KOC has the offense that can attack defenses in enough ways, yet. I think a good defense still just takes it away and we have no counterpunch. I'm just saying I don't think Darnold, here, would be equal to Darnold in Seattle.

[StickierBuns]

I salute Uncle Sammy, he played great. He's going to change the narrative and he deserves it. What's done is done. If the Vikings didn't draft a QB, I'm certain they would have resigned Darnold....and Sam would have wanted that. He looks like now what the Jets thought he could be when they drafted him...but he's 28 years old and been with several organizations to get there. What, 7 seasons?

Patience is no virtue of fans, that I get. But lets not throw the baby out with the bath water and watch JJ McCarthy win a Superbowl 4 or 5 years from now with another organization.

[Knucklehead]

Sammy would not have had the success here that he's had in Seattle. For one, Kubes is a superior play caller to KOC, especially in his use of the screen game. Seattle's RBs even without Charbonnet, are better than Minnesota's. Seattle's OL is also better than Minnesota's especially in pass pro. All factors that have led to the success of Sammy's season.

[MaroonBells]

Sammy would not have had the success here that he's had in Seattle. For one, Kubes is a superior play caller to KOC, especially in his use of the screen game. Seattle's RBs even without Charbonnet, are better than Minnesota's. Seattle's OL is also better than Minnesota's especially in pass pro. All factors that have led to the success of Sammy's season.

Wow, don't agree with any of that. For the Vikings in 2024, Darnold had more yards, TEN more TDs and far fewer turnovers than he did this season in Seattle. And 2025 would've been Darnold going into his 2nd season in KOC's offense too. He would've played great here again, probably quite a bit better than in Seattle is my guess. 

But again, while they could've found a way to keep him, it's pretty hard to justify paying a QB $100M over 3 years when you just drafted your franchise QB. That's what it would've taken to keep him. And even THEN, he'd still be competing in Minnesota. There was no competition in Seattle. So in other words, it likely would've taken much more money to get him to stay than what he got from Seattle.

[StickierBuns]

So prepare yourself Viking's fans: this whole offseason is going to suck on social media and national media. Vikings fucked up not resigning Uncle Sammy, org. is screwed with JJ McCarthy, KOC/KAM sucks, the Wilfs blow: pick your narrative. KOC does need to right the offensive ship for '26 however, all drama and angst aside...ideally with McCarthy as QB1. That'll show his instinct was right. But who knows?

Most interested to see who Minnesota brings in to compete with JJM for QB1.

[pattersaur]

So prepare yourself Viking's fans: this whole offseason is going to suck on social media and national media. Vikings fucked up not resigning Uncle Sammy, org. is screwed with JJ McCarthy, KOC/KAM sucks, the Wilfs blow: pick your narrative. KOC does need to right the offensive ship for '26 however, all drama and angst aside...ideally with McCarthy as QB1. That'll show his instinct was right. But who knows?

Most interested to see who Minnesota brings in to compete with JJM for QB1.

Yeah X is chock-full of armchair geniuses dunking on the Vikes today.

I'm not too worried about people on X, but what they're saying isn't not totally unfair. We did have Kubiak, Darnold, and Bradbury all here and they've all had more success very quickly without us. Of course none of the keyboard warriors were pounding the table for the Vikings to re-sign Darnold or Bradbury after we flamed out last season but nevermind all that...

Watching the Seahawks go to the SB I absolutely feel like it could've been us. They're built very similarly. Last year we had the QB but no O-Line and worse FG Kicking. This year we had a better defense and kicking, but no QB. The life of a Vikes fan.

Sidenote- Raiders fans have moved onto Mendoza but Geno Smith leaving the Seahawks and them becoming the "best" team, and going to the Raiders only to help make them the worst team, is a sharp turn of events ha.

[Zanary]

I'd say that cherry-picking memories for pity parties doesn't do much good.

Sam is on a team that is suited to his playing style, including good line protection and a running game that can be the focus of their offense.

We have many of the needed ingredients, but our offensive line had how many variations last season? Remember Atlanta running right through our defense? Remember the drops, the errors, the constant wishing for better CBs?

JJM earned most of the good and bad commentary that he gets, but it's romanticized fiction to put it all on the Sam to JJ change.

[Chuckf]

He's made some very big pass plays and leading his team.  Very, very little is a gross exaggeration

Add in  306 yards and 3 TD is very, very little???

25-36 is a 70% completion rate.   I would take that all day every day.

---

I think what this comes down to the decision was made, come hell or high water the organization was going to use the rookie contract of McCarthy to propel the Vikings to a Super Bowl by buying players. One could point to the Patriots right now as to the legitimacy of that strategy. However, the one BIG difference IMO is the drafting and FA pickups. Second is the coaching. Just how pray tell can Bradbury leave the Vikings and become a great player in NE? Ed Ingram the same thing. Vikings let Tonga walk as well. I have no way of knowing this but had the Vikings told Sam he was the starter going in and JJ the backup would he have stayed? Why not make it a priority to sign Darnold and if he falters and JJ is the guy so be it.