Sam Darnold, Vikings Crush Texans for Strong 3-0 Start

MINNEAPOLIS — The atmosphere at U.S. Bank Stadium was electric when Sam Darnold emerged from the Vikings’ medical tent, his injured left knee cleared for play. As he made his way back onto the field, having missed just one play during the third quarter of the Vikings’ commanding 34-7 win over the Houston Texans, the crowd erupted in an enthusiastic cheer, typically reserved for the team’s top stars.

Darnold, now in his seventh season in the NFL, has quickly won over the local fan base.

“The fans’ reaction meant everything to me,” Darnold said after matching his career-best with four touchdown passes in the game. He currently leads the NFL this season with eight touchdown throws, significantly contributing to a team that many considered an underdog, now making headlines as one of the season’s early surprises.

The Vikings have achieved a historic feat by becoming the first team in nine years to start a season with a 3-0 record, despite not being favored by more than a single point in any of those games, according to ESPN BET. This success has resulted in a dramatic rise in their Super Bowl odds, jumping from 100-1 to 35-1, while Darnold’s MVP odds have likewise escalated from 100-1 to 35-1.

“This is a special team,” stated running back Aaron Jones, who rushed for 102 yards and caught an 8-yard touchdown pass.

In his first year with the Vikings after spending seven seasons with the Green Bay Packers, Jones has expressed growing confidence about the team’s competitive spirit this month. Before their opening game against the New York Giants, Jones predicted that Darnold would make a significant impact in the league. Following Darnold’s impressive performance against the Giants, he shared the excitement with his mother regarding the unique environment he experienced with his new team.

“It’s definitely different from anything that I’ve been a part of,” Jones reflected. “I can’t pinpoint exactly what that difference is, but I’ve been on good teams before.”

“After the first game, I felt the vibe in New York and told my mom, ‘This is fun. I don’t feel any stress here.’ It’s something special, and I am truly enjoying it.”

At the season’s start, ESPN Analytics gave the Vikings only a 14% chance of reaching the playoffs, marking the lowest odds since 2015, the year such projections began. This skepticism was not solely because of Darnold but also stemmed from their challenging schedule, featuring some of the NFL’s best teams early in the season. Thus far, the Vikings have convincingly defeated the Giants, triumphed over the San Francisco 49ers, and overwhelmed the Texans. Their combined 55-point margin of victory across the first three games is the second best in franchise history, surpassed only by the 1975 team.

“We had a hunch that this would happen,” said wide receiver Justin Jefferson, who caught six passes for 81 yards and a touchdown before halftime. “We couldn’t predict we’d go 3-0, but we knew if we prepared well and executed as a team, people would start recognizing our potential.”

Darnold did incur a minor injury—a jammed finger—after catching a late pass in the first half, but he was relieved to find no significant damage following X-rays. He also enjoyed watching the game’s final quarter with a sense of assurance, something unusual in his NFL career.

Indeed, the Vikings’ victories, including a 22-point win over the Giants and a 27-point win over the Texans, mark their largest margins of victory since Jefferson joined the team in 2020. This strong performance is reflected in the fact that eight of the Vikings’ wins since Jefferson’s arrival have come by more than a single score.

A portion of their success can be attributed to the defense, which has made history as the third squad in the modern NFL era to register at least five sacks and one interception during the first three games of a season. The home-field advantage also played a role, as the Texans were penalized for five false start infractions at U.S. Bank Stadium.

As the Vikings prepare for their upcoming Week 4 clash with the Green Bay Packers, all eyes will be on Darnold. He mentioned that he would undergo further evaluation on his knee and was unsure how it might affect his practice schedule. However, he remains enthusiastic about the team’s forward momentum.

“Right now, everything revolves around high-level football,” he noted. “We need to keep pushing each other through the week to excel on Sundays, as there’s still plenty of room for improvement. Even if the score looks good, it doesn’t reveal the complete story.”