NFL Coach Hypes Darnold, 3-0 Vikings: 'S--t, They're for Real' After Win vs. Texans

One NFL assistant coach is fully buying into the Minnesota Vikings' 3-0 start to the 2024 season.

"They get the ball upfield as well as anyone, they do it by design and they make good use of their personnel to make explosive plays," the coach said to The Athletic's Mike Sando. "The combination of what Minnesota is doing defensively and what they are doing in the passing game … s--t, they're for real."

Fans took notice when Minnesota downed the reigning NFC champion San Francisco 49ers 23-17 in Week 2. The Vikings made an even stronger statement Sunday when they blew out the Houston Texans 34-7.

The defense held the Texans to 296 yards and got two interceptions on Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud. On offense, the efficient passing of quarterback Sam Darnold and effective running of Aaron Jones made for a devastating combo. Darnold went 17-of-28 for 181 yards and four touchdowns while Jones carried the ball 19 times for 102 yards.

Granted, Darnold's health is a major storyline coming out of Week 3.

The 27-year-old suffered a knee injury and was briefly replaced by Nick Mullens. He told Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio after the game the knee was "good" and that he's due to undergo an MRI on Monday.

Some of the excitement surrounding Minnesota will lessen if the team is forced to call upon its third-string quarterback with first-round draft pick J.J. McCarthy already lost for the year. A game of musical chairs at QB after Kirk Cousins' Achilles injury was a major contributor in the team's 7-10 record in 2023.

An NFL executive speaking to Sando was succinct when entertaining the possibility Darnold's MRI shows a serious injury.

"If something happens there, I think they are f--ked," the exec said. "You can't win with Nick Mullens. [Head coach] Kevin O'Connell proved last year he can do better than expected with some of those guys, but when you are down to quarterback three, you are in trouble."

The Vikings hit the road to play the Green Bay Packers in Week 4. If Darnold is healthy, then this NFC North clash is a chance for Minnesota to bolster its contender credentials. Should Mullens be pressed into starting duty, it could instead serve as a harsh reality check.