Fields, Darnold are the NFL's surprise undefeated QBs

After the Minnesota Vikings opted to move on from quarterback Kirk Cousins this offseason, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O'Connell shared a vision.

The general manager-head coach duo planned to sign a veteran to a reasonable one-year deal and, perhaps more importantly, identify their next franchise quarterback in the first round of the NFL draft.

In March, the team signed 2018 first-round pick Sam Darnold to a one-year deal worth $10 million. A month later, the Vikings traded up one spot to select Michigan's J.J. McCarthy with the No. 10 pick.

Joined by peers Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, Michael Penix Jr., and Bo Nix, McCarthy's draft class featured the most quarterbacks ever selected in the first round.

McCarthy opened training camp as the backup quarterback, but multiple league sources indicated it was only a matter of time before the leader of Michigan's 2023 national championship team would eventually supplant the 27-year-old Darnold.

However, McCarthy tore the meniscus in his right knee in the Aug. 10 preseason opener. McCarthy's injury required season-ending surgery, sparked temporary panic from Minnesota's fan base, and shifted the spotlight back to Darnold.

A source close to Darnold said the journeyman was fully aware of the notion floating across social media that the Vikings' season might've ended before it began. In six seasons since the Jets drafted him third overall in 2018, Darnold struggled to compile any sustained success; he owned a 21-35 record over six seasons with the Jets, Panthers, and 49ers.

Darnold, the source said, got ahead of the news by playfully messaging a group of close friends viral memes poking fun at the fact he had effectively become the Vikings' new starting quarterback - and the misery many expected would follow.

"(Darnold) was definitely aware of the narrative that went around when you heard the name Sam Darnold," the source said.

Such was the mood of a quarterback eager to continue writing his own story.

Less than two months later, Darnold has emerged as one of the league's best comeback tales, supported by a strong Brian Flores-coached defense. Darnold leads the league in passing touchdowns (eight), ranks second in passer rating (117.3), and sits fourth in yards per attempt (8.4). After dismantling the Houston Texans on Sunday, Darnold and the Vikings have evolved from a novelty act to real contenders in an ever-changing NFL landscape.

Darnold turned in his best performance of the season in Week 3 despite having two of his top three pass-catchers (wide receiver Jordan Addison and tight end T.J. Hockenson) sidelined. He tossed touchdown completions to four different players, including wide receivers Justin Jefferson and Jalen Nailor, running back Aaron Jones, and tight end Johnny Mundt.

Darnold's transformation has been facilitated by O'Connell's trust and his offensive scheme that anticipates how opposing defenses will counter.

For Jones' touchdown reception Sunday, the Vikings executed a speedy operation out of the huddle with Jones lining up wide right. O'Connell dialed up a mesh concept as Mundt ran a short crosser from left to right, freeing up Jones, who sprinted underneath. Jefferson scored the first TD thanks to Darnold's ability to escape the pocket, extend the play, and identify and target one of the NFL's top receivers in single coverage in the corner of the end zone.

Further, O'Connell's willingness to diversify his personnel groupings generates an element of unpredictability. The Vikings rank fifth in 21 personnel usage (two running backs, one tight end) at 17.6%, according to TruMedia; the current league average is 7.6%.

Darnold also benefits from quality pass protection. Prior to arriving in Minnesota, Darnold had been undone by poor protection and his own slow decision-making. He often cratered under pressure.

But over three consecutive weeks, Minnesota offensive tackles Christian Darrisaw and Brian O'Neill have quieted top pass-rushers - including Houston's Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr., who combined for one sack of Darnold.

"I don't really have a lot of interest in talking about the past with Sam Darnold," O'Connell told reporters earlier in September. "I think we all need to just start being totally present and when he plays well like he has, we just talk about a guy playing the position at a high level and we move on.

"The consistency of it is what we're all going to be looking for. I think Sam's doing the right thing … Clearly, his teammates are confident in his physical ability, his preparation. Let's just keep seeing what it looks like - I have a lot of confidence in what that will look like."

When blitzed, Darnold has completed all eight of his passes for 207 yards and three touchdowns, per Next Gen Stats. He is the only NFL quarterback (minimum five attempts) to complete 100% of his passes against the blitz this season.

Not only has Darnold been elite against the blitz, but he's also prioritized ball security while O'Connell allows him to process at a comfortable speed.

Among qualified quarterbacks, Darnold's had just two turnover-worthy plays - either pass attempts with a high percentage chance of being intercepted or a play where the passer does a poor job of taking care of the ball and fumbles - according to PFF. The Eagles' Jalen Hurts has the most turnover-worthy plays with eight, followed by the Colts' Anthony Richardson and the Cowboys' Dak Prescott (seven each), then the Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes and the Bears' Caleb Williams (six each).

Darnold is finally playing up to his first-round pedigree, and his improvement has seemingly saved the Vikings' season. Minnesota is one of five NFL teams with a 3-0 record, although the team is is bound to hit some point of regression or adversity this year - Darnold himself was temporarily sidelined against the Texans with a knee bruise. How he handles those hurdles will determine how his narrative unfolds.

When he returned to the field Sunday, the sold-out U.S Bank Stadium crowd greeted him with a roar.

"The fans' reaction meant everything," he told reporters afterward. "Not just the reaction, but my entire time here in Minnesota has been amazing with the fans."

Fields of gold

Another comeback story is brewing in Pittsburgh.

Quarterback Justin Fields has found new life with the Steelers following his tumultuous three-year tenure with the Bears. Similar to Minnesota, Pittsburgh boasts one of the best defenses in the NFL, and Fields has engineered three wins to open the season.

Fields' ascension deserves praise given the quarterback controversy that hovered over Pittsburgh throughout training camp. A calf injury to veteran Russell Wilson allowed the Steelers to sidestep a real decision, handing Fields the starting job in Week 1.

The steadiness Fields has exhibited under head coach Mike Tomlin and coordinator Arthur Smith has been critical to Pittsburgh's success. Fields has so far compiled career bests in completion percentage (73.3%) and QB rating (95.3).

His completion percentage above expectation (6.6%) ranks third in the league behind Brock Purdy and Hurts. Last season, Fields recorded a 0.4% CPOE, ranking 16th in the NFL - also his first career season with a positive CPOE, according to Next Gen Stats.

Through three victories, Fields owns PFF's fifth-highest passing grade behind Derek Carr, Purdy, Aaron Rodgers, and Darnold.

"He's a different quarterback now," one NFL evaluator said of Fields. "The personnel around him is better in quality, but Tomlin and Arthur Smith have put him in a situation where he doesn't feel all this pressure to play hero ball. The intermediate game is … a new operation they've unlocked with him. … He still escapes pockets on occasion, but … it feels more out of necessity now. The defense is balling. … It's a really good situation there with a coach who has a reputation to unlock elite talents."

In Chicago, feeling pressure to carry the team, Fields was sacked on 12.4% of his dropbacks with 51 turnover-worthy plays over three seasons. This season, he's been sacked on 7.4% of his dropbacks with zero turnover-worthy plays. When he faced the Chargers' blitz in Week 3, Fields completed 8 of 9 pass attempts for 119 yards and one touchdown.

Fields' fourth-quarter touchdown completion to wide receiver Calvin Austin III on Sunday was perhaps one of the most impressive throws of his career. With the Chargers deployed in Cover 4 and sending five rushers, Fields quickly worked through three progressions before he fired a timely dart to Austin up the seam for a 55-yard touchdown.

Although Pittsburgh's coaching staff and front office haven't yet had to choose between a healthy Wilson and Fields as the starter, Fields has proven it's his job to lose.

Jaguars, Lawrence crumble in prime time

Jacksonville's horrid start to the season continued Monday night with an embarrassing 47-10 loss to the Bills. The Jaguars gave up the most first-half points (34) in franchise history as Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen rattled off four passing touchdowns.

The Jaguars looked unprepared, lazy, and inept. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who signed a five-year contract worth $275 million (his $55 million per year matches Joe Burrow's league-leading contract in average annual salary and total value), continues to struggle.

Lawrence's mechanics were all over the place as he completed 21 of 38 passes for 178 yards with one touchdown and one interception. His completion percentage (52.8%) is at its lowest point since Lawrence's rookie season, while his 61 turnovers in that span are the most by any player in the NFL.

After the Jaguars quickly fell behind the Bills, Lawrence's teammates showed minimal signs of fight. Jacksonville's pass-catchers also own the league's worst drop rate (16.1%). Defensively, the Jaguars failed to record a single sack against Allen.

The Jaguars have now lost eight consecutive Lawrence starts, dating back to Week 13 of the 2023 season. His last victory occurred Nov. 26, 2023, when the Jaguars defeated the Texans 24-21. Coincidentally, Jacksonville's next chance to secure its first win of the season is Sunday against Houston. The Texans are the fourth straight 2023 playoff team the Jaguars will face in 2024.

Although the first month of the schedule hasn't been friendly, there is no excuse for the latest ineptitude from head coach Doug Pederson's squad.

"There has to be changes," Pederson told reporters after Monday's loss. "Whether it's play design, personnel … everything is on the table, let's call it (that). Those are all things … I have to look at, we have to look at as a staff, and make the adjustments."

Josh Tolentino is theScore's lead NFL writer.