No one expected this type of performance from Sam Darnold this season. The former first-round quarterback, who has bounced around

Though they have lost back-to-back games after their 5-0 start, the Minnesota Vikings still look, on balance, like one of the NFL's best teams. Brian Flores' elite, amoeba-like defense has been the subject of the most intense fascination, but there has also been a great deal of attention devoted to play of Sam Darnold .

A Super Bowl bid seemed like the bar for Darnold to negotiate a future with the Vikings, however, even that may not be enough.