Sam Darnold faced significant challenges during a crucial two-week stretch, as the Minnesota Vikings suffered back-to-back losses, causing their promising season to end prematurely. Following the Vikings' 27-9 defeat to the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Wild Card round on Monday, Darnold took responsibility for the outcome, noting that he was accountable for taking nine sacks in the game. "It's up to me to be able to feel that and either step up, move, go run for a first down or just simply throw it away," Darnold stated, reflecting on his performance. He acknowledged that he held onto the football at times when he could have opted for safer options, such as throwing the ball away.

In the game against the Rams, Darnold completed 25 of 40 passes for 245 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. This performance followed a disappointing showing in Week 18 against the Detroit Lions, where he went 18 of 41 for 166 yards in a 31-9 loss that determined home-field advantage in the NFC playoffs. Despite the setbacks, Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell praised Darnold for his contributions throughout the season as he prepares to enter free agency. The Rams' nine sacks during the game tied for the most recorded by a team in a single playoff game, with six of those sacks occurring in the first half. One pivotal moment came when a sack led to a fumble, which linebacker Jared Verse returned for a 57-yard touchdown.

Entering Week 18, it appeared the Vikings might use the franchise tag to retain Darnold, especially as the team held a strong 14-2 record and was in contention for the top seed in the conference. However, the last two games revealed inconsistencies in Darnold's performance, reminiscent of earlier struggles in his career. This has opened the door for speculation that the Vikings could allow him to test free agency. Minnesota's plan for the season included rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy, but after he suffered a torn meniscus in the preseason opener, he missed the entire year. McCarthy, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 draft, may emerge as the Vikings' primary starter in the offseason. With Darnold set to enter free agency for the third consecutive year, he faces the prospect of joining his fourth team since the beginning of the 2022 season.