Heading into the 2024 season, Justin Jefferson had played 60 games for the Minnesota Vikings, and in 38 of those, he either scored a touchdown or surpassed 100 receiving yards. On Sunday afternoon, he increased that number to 39, scoring a touchdown midway through the second quarter in Minnesota’s 28-6 win over the New York Giants.
As Jefferson left the field, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell noticed something—his star wide receiver was clearly happy with the veteran quarterback who threw him that three-yard touchdown pass.
“I saw Justin’s face after that drive,” O’Connell said postgame, via Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com, “and I think he felt pretty darn good about who’s throwing him the football.”
That quarterback is journeyman Sam Darnold, who joined the Vikings on a one-year, “prove-it” deal during the offseason. While Darnold is considered a temporary solution until the Vikings transition to their 2024 first-round pick, JJ McCarthy, on Sunday, he looked like a capable starter.
“I don’t think anyone’s shocked by how Sam Darnold played today,” O’Connell said. “I’m certainly not. I tried to hint at it during training camp, and I’m just proud of him.”
Building confidence is key for Sam Darnold and the Vikings
“The biggest thing is just playing with confidence,” Sam Darnold said. “I think that’s key. We’ve got a great offense and a great system. If I play on time and execute, we’ll be in good shape.”
Confidence was also a theme for Justin Jefferson after the game.
“That’s something we’re going to need all season,” Jefferson said. “I’m giving him that confidence, that energy to throw me the ball even when I’m double-covered—because I was doubled on that [44-yard] play. He threw it to a spot, and I went to get it. That’s going to happen a lot this season. He has to understand that even when I’m doubled, I’m still open, and I’ll make the play.”
Both Jefferson and Darnold are clearly feeling confident, but the Vikings will face a tougher challenge in Week 2 when they host the NFC Champion San Francisco 49ers next Sunday.
