Minnesota Vikings QB Sam Darnold picked up right where Kirk Cousins left off.
Darnold authored a near-perfect first half against the New York Giants, completing his first 12 pass attempts, including a three-yard strike to Justin Jefferson for a touchdown on 4th-and-2, to help the Vikings build a 14-3 lead at halftime.
The 12 consecutive completions to begin the game are a career high for Darnold.
Sam Darnold Completes First 12 Pass Attempts vs. Giants
Darnold was signed in March to replace Cousins, who had been the Vikings’ starter for the previous six NFL seasons. In those six seasons, Cousins was known for his accuracy, completing 67.9% of his passes for Minnesota.
In the opening two quarters on Sunday, Darnold saw just one pass hit the dirt. He finished the first half going 13 of 14 for 151 yards and the touchdown to Jefferson. Darnold dropped another pin-point-accurate pass to Jefferson earlier in the game, which netted the offense 34 yards.
The highlight of the half was the three-yard touchdown to Jefferson, not just because it occurred on 4th-and-2 but also because it capped an 11-play, 99-yard drive.
More Opportunities To Come
Darnold and the Vikings’ offense will have a chance to break the game open right away in the second half because Minnesota will open the third quarter with possession after deferring to open the game.
The Giants’ offense has stumbled out of the gate, which has only made life more difficult for New York’s defense as they try to contain Jefferson and slow down Darnold.