Sam Darnold's Playoff Flop: Will It Change His Future?

You might think Sam Darnold had it all figured out this season. After a rough start with the Jets and Panthers, he seemed to find his groove with the Vikings, throwing for plenty of yards and touchdowns. But two bad games can change everything. Back-to-back poor performances in high-pressure situations ended the Vikings' season with a whimper. Darnold took a record nine sacks in the playoff loss to the Rams. It's a shocking turnaround from his impressive 16 games this season. As he heads into free agency, this might make teams think twice about giving him a massive deal. NFL legend Troy Aikman thinks so too. He said the conversation about Darnold's future has completely changed. Just two weeks ago, it was all about redemption and success. Now, those last two games have left a bad taste in everyone's mouth. Darnold's past struggles with the Jets and Panthers are also coming back into focus. The Vikings have a tough decision to make. They like their backup quarterback, J. J. McCarthy, who missed the season due to an injury. They're also thinking about the future. Will they give Darnold a big contract? Or will they look elsewhere? These last two games matter a lot. They show that even after a great season, one bad moment can change everything.