"The hype for Sam Darnold has been extraordinary over the past two weeks, and although he's put together back-to-back impressive seasons with two different teams, he has a long history of not succeeding in the NFL, especially against the Patriots, that is being overlooked. He might be a different player, and in the best situation he has been throughout his entire career, but it's not wise to dismiss what he's done in the past and pretend it couldn't become a factor in his future, like on Super Bowl Sunday."
"Since being drafted by the Jets in 2018, Darnold has played against the Patriots just four times and lost every matchup by being outscored 123-23. Although he last lined up against New England in 2021, he has since spent time with four teams, including an impressive run with the Vikings in 2024 that ended in the Wild Card round against the Rams, losing 27-9 after winning the NFC North with 14 wins. It was a meltdown of the ages for Darnold, after a season that had many touting him as one of the next best quarterbacks in the league, regardless of how long he had already been playing."
Sam Darnold has generated heavy hype after back-to-back impressive seasons with different teams, but historical struggles remain relevant. Darnold has faced the Patriots four times since 2018 and lost each matchup, with a cumulative score deficit of 123-23. He last played New England in 2021 and has since played for four teams, including a standout 2024 season with the Vikings that ended in a 27-9 Wild Card loss to the Rams after a 14-win regular season. Past meltdowns against high-pressure opponents raise concerns about repeating struggles in a Super Bowl setting.
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