Packers will bring Darnold back to Earth

By GERY WOELFEL

The Packers will be facing a quarterback named Sam Darnold Sunday at Lambeau Field.

If you would have listened to radio talk shows in recent days, you would have thought they were talking about Patrick Mahomes or Josh Allen instead of Darnold.

You would have come away thinking Darnold and his Vikings crew are going to annihilate the Packers. Darnold is, after all, off to a torrid start. He’s looked great.

Going into Sunday’s encounter, which pits the 3-0 Vikings against the 2-1 Packers, Darnold has some elite numbers. He’s completed 67.9 percent of his passes, thrown eight touchdown and just two interceptions and a passer rating of 117.5, second-best in the NFL.

But while Darnold is on a roll, you have to remember he is a journeyman quarterback. There’s a reason for the Vikings being the fourth team he’s played for in his seven-year pro career.

Darnold’s first four years with the Jets, after they had made him the No. 3 overall pick in the 2018 draft, were abysmal. In three of those four seasons, he had more passes picked off than went for touchdowns.

His following two years with the Panthers were pedestrian: 16 TD passes, 16 interceptions. Last season, he labored for the 49ers as a backup: two TD passes, one interception.

So, yes, Darnold is on a heater these days, but history indicates he’ll be coming back to Earth soon. Like Sunday. Look for the Packers to blitz early and often and look for the Packers cornerbacks – Jaire Alexander and Eric Stokes – to play aggressive press coverage.

If the Packers get Darnold out of his comfort zone in the pocket on a regular basis, he’ll be exposed for what he is: a journeyman quarterback.

Prediction: Packers 27, Vikings 20.