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Happy game day to all those who are looking forward to the Vikings (11-2) hosting the Bears (4-9) tonight on Monday Night Football and wearing white helmets for the first time in franchise history as part of the Winter Warrior uniform.

Minnesota already punched its postseason ticket last night via the Packers defeating the Seahawks in Seattle.

The Vikings also can control their own destiny to claim the NFC North by winning the remaining four games on their schedule, starting tonight against the Bears, who were eliminated from playoff contention on Sunday when the Commanders won.

The in-season Mailbag editions usually focus on the previous day's results, but there were ample thoughts this week regarding what the future might hold for Sam Darnold and the Vikings. I thought there was enough to center today's Mailbag around the NFC Offensive Player of the Week for Week 14 and then publish a Tuesday edition with reactions from tonight's game, so please send your thoughts after tonight's contest, even if it will be a late one.

To avoid too much repetition, I'm grouping thoughts from multiple fans before providing one response on the topic.

Before we get there, I'd like to join the long, long line of members in the NFL community (players, coaches, staff and fans) wishing a full recovery for Randy Moss, who announced he had surgery last week after receiving a cancer diagnosis.

I'd also like to congratulate former Vikings QB Teddy Bridgewater on leading his alma mater to the Florida High School Football title in his first season as head coach.

Please pass this on to Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O'Connell and the Wilfs and everyone else who contributes to decisions made by the Minnesota Vikings.

If there is any way possible to keep Sam Darnold around for one, two or three more seasons, please pursue that. Into the Vikings laps has fallen an experienced, mentally sturdy, 27-year-old quarterback with a big body and a big and accurate arm. It would be football malpractice to let this "Sam I Am" leave the building at season's end.

We know next to nothing about J.J. McCarthy, other than he has a knee with problems, potentially career-ending problems. Remember another former first-round draft pick who sustained a knee injury early in his too-short career, Sharrif Floyd? I don't care how well the Vikings think they can groom any new quarterback or "fix" existing broken quarterbacks like Daniel Jones, it is Sam Darnold who is making plays on the field, not the coaching or administrative staff of the Vikings.

Thank you for listening. By the way, Josh McCown is also a heckuva coach. All Vikings fans are glad that he too is in the building.

With every good wish,

— Roger Dier

And…

Suddenly, the Vikings have a huge dilemma at the QB position with Sam Darnold, J.J. McCarthy and now Daniel Jones in the mix. I was very excited about our future at QB when we drafted J.J. McCarthy and believe me I was pulling for that pick when the Vikings moved up a notch to pick him. The Vikings were high on him from the start and then the unfortunate knee injury.

Previously there has been talk that it was unlikely that Sam Darnold would be back after the 2024 season. I think it would be foolish for the Vikings to let Sam Darnold walk away in free agency. Hopefully the Vikings will find a way to keep him. If Sam would agree to work out a team friendly contract, it would be a great opportunity for J.J. to learn behind Sam. When J.J. McCarthy is ready that opens the door for a Sam Darnold trade to a quarterback-needy team for some worthwhile draft picks.

Just speculating in Rochester, Minnesota.

— David Bond

And…

I think it's time we start negotiating with Sam. Thoughts?

— Rod in Vinton, Iowa

And…

Do you believe the Vikings should now consider signing QB Sam Darnold to an extension because of his superb play?

There is no guarantee that rookie QB J.J. McCarthy will be healthy by next season!

Your thoughts!

Sincerely,

— Larry V. in Sioux Falls, South Dakota

And…

Darnold!!! Makes our Trojans proud!!! We Trojans fans always knew he was a Baller. Like many other QBs before him, it was unfortunate to have to play with lousy organizations and talent around him (49ers lone exception). Viking fans you have a real Baller!!! Good luck going to the playoffs!!!!

Skol!

— Armando Corral

Darnold is playing on a one-year deal and providing one of the greatest values for a team by a free agent. He threw for career highs of 347 yards, five touchdowns and a passer rating of 157.9 last week against Atlanta.

It's been interesting to see Darnold and the Vikings flip the script on what was said by some about them prior to the season. The talents that led him to be the No. 3 overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft have come to the forefront in multiple games, enabling him to run Head Coach Kevin O'Connell's system at a high level.

He's built off his varied experiences, even if earlier moments in his career were challenging and not the way he would have drawn them up. McCown's addition as quarterbacks coach was an extra layer of the Vikings creating a great nucleus around quarterbacks, especially with the relationship that existed from Darnold and McCown playing together for the Jets.

That nucleus and approach ought to provide some encouragement for Minnesota's future at the sport's most important position.

At 27, Darnold is only 3 years older than first-round picks Michael Penix, Jr., and Bo Nix with much more NFL experience.

Based on all he's done this season, his talents and his age, there are likely to be multiple teams interested in his services.

Darnold could have multiple factors to consider, including how much he likes playing for the Vikings and how lucrative the open market is for him.

The Vikings have the following options:

1. Set a walk-away price for a one-year or multi-year deal, which would keep in mind cap space for other parts of the roster. This is essentially what happened last year with Kirk Cousins. Minnesota planned for multiple scenarios. When Cousins departed for Atlanta, the Vikings quickly redirected spending toward other parts of the roster (including to Darnold) for one of the best collective free agency hauls in franchise history. The Vikings are likely to get a third-round compensatory pick for Cousins in this year's draft. A comp pick in 2026 likely would result if Darnold signed elsewhere, but that's a delayed offset for replacing a starting QB in back-to-back seasons.

2. Re-sign him to a one-year deal (if he's open to that idea, but players often prefer long-term deals), which would allow more transition time for McCarthy, who will turn 22 in January and is on the mend. McCarthy underwent surgery this summer for a torn meniscus but had shown incredibly well in training camp and his preseason debut. After the initial surgery, McCarthy experience some swelling and received an injection — a nonsurgical procedure.

3. Re-sign him to a multi-year deal, which would likely further delay McCarthy becoming the starter and is not dissimilar to Jordan Love's career trajectory in Green Bay.

4. Utilize the franchise tag and have him play for the Vikings in 2025, which would come with a cost against cap space but would reserve his services for another season but offers long-term flexibility.

5. Use the franchise tag and trade him, which could help a team that is short on draft picks for the 2025 NFL Draft.

The Vikings have created a structure with multiple avenues, including the signing of Daniel Jones to Minnesota's practice squad to get a look at the former first-round pick of the Giants.

McCarthy impressed with his development on all accounts and has shared his happiness for Darnold and teammates while rehabbing.

There no doubt will be plenty of speculation around the Vikings future at the QB position but credit Darnold for being where his feet are and focusing on each week.

We just gave up 150+ yards on the ground and before Taki Taimani injured his ankle, he was starting to get a few snaps. In his limited appearances, I though he looked pretty good — especially on run plays. I haven't heard anything on his status since his injury and am wondering when he might be able to return and get a shot at being that run-stuffer this team sorely needs.

SKOL Vikes!

Lifetime fan,

— Guy Seela

O'Connell was recently asked about Taimani, the undrafted rookie who has played 70 defensive snaps across seven games this season.

"He is a guy that could come back. Just continues to work through the later parts of his rehab, just making sure he is 100% healthy when we need to call upon him," O'Connell said.

The Vikings defense entered Week 15 ranked second in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game (87.2) and fourth in rushing yards allowed per play (3.87).

That's after allowing 154 to Arizona and 158 to Atlanta in back-to-back home games.

Vikings Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores was asked about the trouble with Atlanta's run game last week. He credited the Falcons running backs, offensive line and plan of attack.

"Just some things we could have done a little bit better. I thought we could have tackled better," Flores said. "I think the one big run by [Tyler] Allgeier was a 25-yard run, we had him in the backfield. I mean there's some things that we could have easily done better to help ourselves in the run game, to not give them momentum in the run game, because once you get a big run, those are kind of the ebbs and flows of the game that we talk about. So we gave them a little bit of momentum on that. Look, great run by the kid, but we had three, four guys had him wrapped up in the backfield. … Just another coaching point that we can really emphasize, because you get what you emphasize.

"Fundamentals, tackling, getting off blocks and edges are so crucial to the run game, and when you don't do them, good backs, good o-lines are gonna get some yardage and get some chunk runs. So thankfully, it's a win where we kind of learn that lesson. It's a lesson that we know," Flores added. "It's not that we don't know it, but when you do it consistently for a good chunk of games, it's almost good to have a reminder that when you don't do it the right way, you better right the ship quickly."

Why is it that O'Connell often starts games a lot more conservatively than he finishes them? It seems like the first halves of the last few games, it's been a more vanilla scheme. And it's only when he HAS to that he starts opening it up. I know we have to establish the run to get to play actions, but I sure wish he would start opening up the Jets (literally) a lot sooner! Not complaining, mind you. Just curious.

Keep up the great work! Us Vikings fans here in Chicago rely on you!

— Steve Crescenzo

Appreciate the compliment and readership, as well as the continued opportunities to try to help bridge geographical gaps with Vikings fans in Chicago or anywhere, for that matter.

A phrase we've heard O'Connell say quite often is "the intent of the play" when he goes about installing it with the offense.

I do think O'Connell is involved in the chess match and has had success gleaning information early in games for use later during the "gotta have it" moments.

I also think this offense might just start to be coming into its own with more time on task for Darnold, Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson and Aaron Jones, Sr., along with others in the supporting cast.

Minnesota has been able to attack with a variety of personnel groupings.

My question pertains to Byron Murphy's one-handed interception in the Falcons game. Having caught the ball on the 2-yard line with his momentum carrying him into the end zone, could he have elected to turn upfield, and run the ball out of the end zone with the Vikings getting the ball at the point at which he would have ultimately been tackled? What are the rules governing such an event?

— Paul Ryals in Stanchfield, Minnesota

Yes, he could have, and it looked like he was thinking about it. Murphy was running so fast when he speared that pass with one hand that he had to track a wide path through the end zone to turn the other way. It looked like the Vikings were setting up blocks for the closest Falcons players, but more would have been on the way.

According to Next Gen Stats, Murphy covered 47.5 yards on the play and reached a maximum speed of 17.26 miles per hour. Those stats were superlatives among players on the field for that snap.

He might not have gotten the ball past the 20, given the ground he covered on the play, but it would have been more breathing room had he run the ball back out of the end zone. The Vikings offense, however, responded by driving 98 yards for a touchdown to put the game on cruise control.

The rule to spot the ball at the takeover point when a defender's momentum carries him into the end zone prevents a tackle of said player in the end zone from becoming a safety.