Throughout the first few weeks of the 2024 NFL regular season, the Minnesota Vikings have been one of the best teams in the league, with head coach Kevin O’Connell being able to overcome the departure of veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins and the season-ending injury to rookie quarterback JJ McCarthy.
Although many believed the Vikings could be headed toward a rough finish to the 2024 campaign since the team would have to lean on Sam Darnold as their starter under center, Minnesota has played top-notch football while the former USC star has resurrected his career on the professional level.
Heading into Week 7’s matchup against the Detroit Lions, the Vikings were sporting an undefeated record but were unable to get the best of Jared Goff and company, who came out on top on Sunday, handing Minnesota its first loss of the season.
Darnold is one of two quarterbacks from the 2018 NFL Draft class that has been able to resurrect his career, as former No. 1 overall pick Baker Mayfield has done the same with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who Skip Bayless believes is the better of the two veterans right now.
“I believe in Baker Mayfield. … Give me Baker over Sam Darnold any day or any Sunday night,” Bayless said.
Give me Baker over Sam Darnold in any big-game clutch moment. pic.twitter.com/DpK4fGLZN4
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) October 20, 2024
Much like the Vikings with Darnold, Mayfield has the Buccaneers firing on all cylinders at the moment, with the 29-year-old leading Tampa Bay to a record of 4-2 ahead of their clash with Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Football.
Mayfield and company are coming off an impressive offensive performance against the New Orleans Saints, where they dropped 51 points on their division rivals to get their fourth win of the season.
