Vikings QB Sam Darnold was on his way to a big payday this offseason. But two bad games may have cost him his job — and millions.

The Minnesota Vikings were blown off the field by the Los Angeles Rams in a 27-9 beatdown. Sam Darnold was sacked nine times, threw an interception, and lost a fumble. It was a nightmare, but it shouldn't be the only takeaway from a great season.

At the dawn of the new year, Sam Darnold was a folk hero in Minnesota. Not only did the quarterback -- no longer locally branded a reclamation project, but rather a full-blown, high-octane Pro Bowler -- sweep the rival Green Bay Packers to give the Vikings their best regular-season record in 16 years,