Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold began trending during Super Bowl 59 for the wrong reasons.
The Philadelphia Eagles made Patrick Mahomes look mortal, sacking him a career-high six times in a 40-22 victory. While Mahomes padded his stats late in the game, it was largely over early after he threw two interceptions and was held to just one touchdown through three quarters.
Unfortunately, Mahomes’ performance conjured memories of Darnold’s collapse late in the season — and Vikings fans took the opportunity to vent.
During the Super Bowl on Feb. 9, the top post on Vikings Reddit read: My wife on Mahomes: “he’s Darnolding!”
“Damn those last 2 games were so bad that he’s become a verb,” one fan commented, referring to Darnold’s final two games of the Vikings’ season where he was sacked 11 times and threw just one touchdown.
“I feel like we’re watching us vs the Lions or Rams,” another commenter wrote.
While Vikings fans can empathize with the collective disappointment of a no-show from their team, many took the opportunity for some catharsis in comparing Mahomes to Darnold.
The sentiment surrounding the game was familiar to Vikings fans, who have witnessed their teams fall flat in big moments many times throughout franchise history.
“They’re pulling a Vikings in big games impression,” one commenter wrote. “Absolutely getting demolished.”
Speaking of seeing ghosts.
While Darnold was the butt of many jokes at Mahomes’ expense, the Vikings quarterback is poised for a major payday.
He earned the first Pro Bowl nod of his career, throwing for 4,319 yards passing and 35 touchdowns in the regular season. Darnold is considered the No. 1 quarterback entering free agency.