In a high-stakes Week 17 showdown at U.S. Bank Stadium, Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold delivered a career-defining performance, throwing for a personal-best 377 yards and three touchdowns to lead his team to a narrow 27-25 victory over the Green Bay Packers. The win pushed the Vikings to an impressive 14-2 record and set up a dramatic Week 18 finale against the Detroit Lions for the NFC North crown and the NFC’s top playoff seed.
Darnold’s heroics, complemented by a blitz-heavy defense energized by the deafening home crowd, have fueled a season of redemption and resurgence for the 2018 third overall pick. The 27-year-old, enjoying a career renaissance in his debut season with the Vikings, now boasts 35 touchdown passes on the year—the fourth-most by a quarterback in his first season with a new team in NFL history.
Facing a determined Packers defense, Darnold was nearly flawless, completing 33 of 43 passes with one interception. He connected with Jalen Nailor, Jordan Addison, and Cam Akers for touchdowns, showcasing his chemistry with a dynamic offense. His poise under pressure was on full display during the game’s critical final moments.
After the Packers trimmed the lead to 27-25 with 2:18 remaining on a touchdown pass from Jordan Love to Malik Heath, the Vikings needed Darnold to seal the win. Head coach Kevin O’Connell trusted his quarterback to make the plays, and Darnold delivered. Bootleg completions to C.J. Ham and Cam Akers for key first downs forced Green Bay to exhaust their timeouts, while a tight-window throw to Justin Jefferson helped Minnesota milk the clock and secure the victory.
“I’ve dreamed of moments like this,” Darnold said after the game, visibly emotional after being drenched in water and hoisted into the air by his teammates in the locker room. “To do it in front of this crowd, with this team, means everything.”
Darnold’s 35 touchdown passes this season put him in elite company. He surpassed Brett Favre (33 in 2009) and Vinny Testaverde (33 in 1996) for fourth place among quarterbacks in their debut seasons with a new team. Only Matthew Stafford (41, Rams, 2021), Tom Brady (40, Buccaneers, 2020), and Peyton Manning (37, Broncos, 2012) have thrown more.
The trajectory of Stafford and Brady’s seasons—culminating in Super Bowl victories—has sparked optimism in Minnesota, where fans are dreaming of a deep playoff run.
For the Packers (11-5), the loss was another frustrating chapter in their rivalry with the Vikings. After falling 31-29 to Minnesota earlier this season in a game that began with a 28-0 deficit, Green Bay again mounted a late comeback only to come up short.
Running backs Josh Jacobs and Emanuel Wilson scored second-half touchdowns to fuel the Packers’ surge, capitalizing on a missed field goal by Vikings kicker Will Reichard that could have extended the lead to 20 points. Love finished with 228 yards and a touchdown but was unable to overcome the Packers’ struggles against top NFC competition—they are 0-5 this season against the conference’s top three teams.
The stakes couldn’t be higher for both teams in Week 18. The Packers will host the Chicago Bears with hopes of securing a stronger playoff position, while the Vikings travel to Detroit for a Sunday night showdown against the Lions. The winner will claim the NFC North title and the coveted first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
“This is what it’s all about,” Darnold said. “One game, everything on the line. We’ll be ready.”
