Darnold's Revenge Tour Rolls On

Good morning. This is the Opening Drive, the weekly newsletter that brings you the best of the NFL so you’re always the smartest one at the water cooler.

The Vikings are 4-0 while Sam Darnold is putting together an MVP-season, the Eagles get embarrassed, tensions are rising between Aaron Rodgers and Robert Saleh, the Bengals get their first win (finally), Jayden Daniels shines again, and are Daniel Jones and Trevor Lawrence the same quarterback? 🤔 

Let’s dive in.

QUICK HITS

• Vikings outlast Packers' 4th-quarter desperation, defeat division foe to remain undefeated (Fox News)

• Derrick Henry rushes for 199-yards, Ravens obliterate Bills 35-10 (PFT)

• Jayden Daniels dazzles as Commanders dominate Kyler Murray, Cardinals (Bleacher Report)

• Eagles embarrass themselves in Tampa vs. Bucs (NBC Sports)

• Aaron Rodgers, Robert Saleh disagree on cadence causing false starts in Jets' loss to Broncos (Yahoo Sports)

• Joe Flacco leads the Colts to win over Steelers (PFT)

• Bengals edge Panthers for first win of the season (Cincy Jungle)

• Houston, We Have a Problem: Jaguars Blow Lead to Drop to 0-4 (SI.com)

• Falcons' Kirk Cousins 'happy' to beat Saints but 'there's a lot to fix' (NFL.com)

• Matthew Stafford and Rams can’t deliver late in loss to Chicago Bears (LA Times)

• 49ers get back on track with 30-13 win over Patriots (PFT)

• Cleveland Browns fall to 1-3 with loss to Las Vegas Raiders (Akron Beacon Journal)

• Exciting rookie Jayden Daniels shines again, Commanders take over 1st place of NFC East (Yahoo Sports)

• Jets' Aaron Rodgers says he's 'banged up a little bit' after limping late in 10-9 loss to Broncos (CBS Sports)

• Chiefs rally past Chargers for another tight win, regroup after injury to Rashee Rice (Yahoo Sports)

• Chiefs WR Rashee Rice carted off with knee injury vs. Chargers after colliding with Patrick Mahomes: 'It's not good' (Yahoo Sports)

• Report: 'Hope' is Colts' Anthony Richardson Misses 'Little' or 'No' Time With Injury (Bleacher Report)

• Jets, Giants make history: New York teams fail to score a TD at home in same week for first time (CBS Sports)

• Sam Darnold has entered the MVP conversation (Fox Sports)

• Brett Favre diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (FOS)

• Dan Campbell's home address was leaked by his daughter's high school classmate (SI.com)

• NFL partners with FEMA to prepare stadiums for use as emergency shelters (PFT)

• ESPN Gains Support of Six AGs in Appeal of Venu Sports Decision (Sportico)

• Atlanta is expected to land the Super Bowl in 2028 (SBJ)

WHO’S UP? WHO’S DOWN?

Who’s up?
Sam Darnold (and the Vikings). Just when it seemed Sam Darnold's NFL career was destined for the scrapheap, the much-maligned quarterback has engineered an improbable renaissance in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. After flaming out with the Jets and a forgettable stint in Carolina, the 27-year-old signal-caller spent last season as an understudy to Brock Purdy (and HC Kyle Shanahan) in San Francisco. That tutelage has paid dividends, with Darnold emerging as the unlikely catalyst fueling the Vikings’ stunning 4-0 start.

When rookie first-round pick JJ McCarthy went down with a season-ending injury in the preseason, the Vikings turned to Darnold as a stopgap solution. But the USC product has exceeded all expectations, leading Minnesota to victories over playoff contenders like the 49ers and Packers. On Sunday, Darnold torched Green Bay's secondary, tossing three touchdowns as the Vikings raced out to a 28-0 lead before holding off a furious Packers rally for a 31-29 win.

"I'm just focused on being present and taking it one play at a time," said the humble Darnold after outdueling Jordan Love. "The past is irrelevant. This is my opportunity."

With a prolific supporting cast headlined by Justin Jefferson and a stifling defense, Darnold has been the perfect caretaker, protecting the ball and making timely plays. His dramatic career revival has the Vikings looking like a legitimate force in the NFC. Who could have seen this Darnold resurgence coming? In Minnesota, they're just happy their reclamation project is paying dividends.

Who’s down?
Trevor Lawrence. On the other side of the coin, sits the 0-4 Jaguars. The Jags were supposed to be a contender this season, but through four games they look more like pretenders. After Sunday's gut-wrenching 24-20 loss to the Houston Texans, the Jaguars find themselves at 0-4 and in crisis mode.

At the center of the early-season debacle is quarterback Trevor Lawrence. The former No. 1 overall pick has been a shell of himself, struggling mightily with accuracy and decision-making. Lawrence is completing only 53.3% of his passes and his completion percentage over expectation is minus-12.8% — third-worst in the NFL. For a player the Jaguars just invested $275 million in, Lawrence's poor play is extremely concerning.

"Normally when you give the quarterback the extension after year 3, they play with tremendous confidence," one league source said. "He's not playing like they invested in him."

The offensive ineptitude goes beyond just Lawrence. Jacksonville ranks 30th in scoring offense, failing to eclipse 17 points in a game. Offensive coordinator Press Taylor's play-calling has drawn criticism, though head coach Doug Pederson deflected hot seat talk after the Texans loss.

While the offense sputters, the Jaguars' big-money defense has underwhelmed too, surrendering the fourth-most points in the league. First overall pick Travon Walker has just 15.5 pressures, well below expectations.

Tensions are rising in Jacksonville's power structure as well. Sources describe a "strained relationship" between Pederson and GM Trent Baalke amid the team's struggles. With an 0-4 hole looking increasingly difficult to overcome, drastic changes could be coming if the Jaguars don't right the ship quickly.

BEST LOOK 🔥 

Atlanta’s throwback helmet may be the best alternate helmet in the league.

STAT OF THE WEEK

Poor Danny Dimes…

MEMES OF THE WEEK

Cheeseheads down big 🧀 

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