ON TODAY'S SCORECARD
Turn Out The Lights
Just two weeks ago, Sam Darnold was in the midst of a dream season and lined up for a career payday.
Two disastrous performances later in the biggest games of his career, and his football future is suddenly murky.
Darnold was outmatched and overwhelmed Monday night in the first playoff game of his career.
The result was a 27-9 win by the Los Angeles Rams over his Vikings, which eliminated Minnesota from the postseason. The loss concludes a 14-win Vikings season with a crashing thud and without a playoff win.
The Rams entered Monday's game with a clear game plan: pressure Darnold early and often and see how he responds. It worked from the Vikings' opening drive. Darnold was indecisive throughout the night and frequently inaccurate when he managed to get rid of the ball.
Darnold finished the night completing 25 of 40 passes for 245 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He took nine sacks for a loss of 82 yards and one lost fumble. It was Darnold's second consecutive dreadful performance when the season's lights were brightest.
Opening lines:
• Rams at Eagles (-6)
• Commanders at Lions (-9)
• Texans at Chiefs (-8)
• Ravens (-1) at Bills |
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GRINDING OUT THE PROFITS
Play It Again, Sam
For the second straight postseason, the Chiefs, Texans, Bills
and Ravens are in the AFC Final Four. Last year, Baltimore and
Buffalo hosted games; this year, it's Kansas City and Buffalo |
STAT OF THE DAY
5
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The Washington Commandeers have
won their last
five games on the
final play from scrimmage.
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QUOTE OF THE DAY
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“That was for the people of Los
Angeles
who are struggling right
now.
We're living it
every day. It's been
a whirlwind. But to come
out here
and play like we did, in all phases,
I'm really proud of this group.”
- Matthew Stafford, quarterback of the
Los Angeles Rams
after they upset
Minnesota to advance to the NFL
Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs
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TRENDING TODAY
A Murderer in the Hall of Fame
We could have titled this piece “Another Murderer in the Hall of Fame.”
It’s where the bust of the late O.J. Simpson can be found. It’s also where former Kansas City OL Jim Tyrer could posthumously reside should the NFL decide whether the nine-time Pro Bowler belongs in Canton.
The backstory: Tyrer’s election to the Hal of Fames is a contentious and complex.
On Sept. 15, 1980, while his kids were sound asleep, Tyrer shot and killed his wife, Martha, before turning the gun on himself. The murder-suicide abruptly ended any talk of the Chiefs legend making the Pro Football Hall of Fame, which once seemed like a certainty. Now, half a century later, he's a candidate again.
Back on the ballot: Tyrer, widely considered one of the best left tackles in NFL history, is among the five "Seniors category" finalists in the Class of 2025.
He'll need at least 40 of 49 votes today to be inducted, and he might get them thanks to two factors that complicate his candidacy.
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SPORTS CHAT WITH MARC
Ronnie from the Big Apple wants to know - I’m reading a lot about Duke’s freshman phenom, Cooper Flagg. How good is this guy?
Marc Says: If you were to ask Dick Vitale, he would tell you he’s right there with the three best players he’s ever seen in person: LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Magic Johnson. Draft analysts are comparing Flagg, who only just turned 18, to Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett, citing his versatility, shot-blocking prowess, and playmaking ability. He is averaging 23.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 4.0 assists in ACC play (six games) on 59/55/88 shooting splits… all while playing elite defense for the red-hot Blue Devils, who haven't lost since November. Flagg is the current favorite to win the Wooden Award, which is something only three freshmen have ever accomplished: Kevin Durant (2007), Anthony Davis (2012), and Zion Williamson (2019). Now that’s saying something. |
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question or comment to Marc!
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