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Sam Darnold continued his strong start to the 2024 season on Sunday.
Darnold showcased his accuracy and kept plays alive with his legs during the Minnesota Vikings’ 31-29 win over the Green Bay Packers.
He finished 20-of-28 for 275 yards and three touchdowns to go along with an interception. Darnold also added 15 rush yards on seven attempts.
The 27-year-old now has 11 passing touchdowns to open the year, becoming the first quarterback to surpass the double-digit mark this season.
Justin Jefferson was his top target against the Packers, as the star wide receiver hauled in six catches for 85 yards and a touchdown. After recording 59 yards in Week 1, Jefferson has surpassed the 80-yard threshold in three straight contests.
Fans and pundits were amazed by Darnold’s performance.
The win was far from easy, even though the Vikings scored 28 unanswered points to open the game and maintained a 28-7 lead through three quarters. The Packers responded with a pair of touchdowns and a two-point conversion to cut the deficit to six points in the fourth.
Minnesota was able to push its lead back up to nine points with a 33-yard field goal from rookie kicker Will Reichard. The Packers scored another touchdown with just under a minute left in the fourth quarter, but they were unable to recover an onside kick.
Jordan Love made his first start for Green Bay since he suffered a knee injury in Week 1, finishing 32-of-54 for 389 yards. He showed some signs of rust, recording four touchdown passes as well as three interceptions.