One of the more public potshots Darnold has had to endure came from Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson, whose 2-7 team will host Minnesota this weekend. Reporters spoke with Pederson during a media session on Thursday, Nov. 7, and asked to what he would attribute Darnold's maturation as a QB.

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 .