Maybe the biggest strength for veteran quarterback Sam Darnold is his incredible arm talent.

It has been a blessing and a curse for the Vikings this season.

Though his ability to push the ball downfield has resulted in a number of explosive plays, Darnold has also made a number of big mistakes when trying to do too much.

That was on full display last week in Jacksonville as Darnold threw a few costly interceptions in or near the red zone that effectively took points off the board. In the end, the Vikings did not score a touchdown as they limped to a 12-7 win over the Jaguars.

Naturally, the Vikings hammered home the importance of ball security this week, especially when it comes to Darnold dropping back to pass.

Asked about Darnold’s struggles of late, head coach Kevin O’Connell noted that the Vikings produced 402 yards of total offense against the Jaguars.

“We’re doing a lot of little things that normally lead to having good chances to win,” O’Connell said. “The turnovers are keeping these games very close and relying on other aspects of our team to overcome for that.”

The fact that the Vikings saw so much split safety coverage against the Jaguars seemed to test Darnold’s patience in the pocket. He was forced to hit the checkdown more often than not. That might have contributed to him taking some unnecessary risks over the course of the game.

“It’s about taking what the defense gives me,” Darnold said. “It’s a cliche for a reason.”

In that same breath, Darnold made clear that he still plans to be aggressive, emphasizing that he’s willing to take chances downfield if they present themselves.

“Just understanding what the defense is doing and understanding the flow of the game,” Darnold said. “Then doing the right thing with the ball every single play.”

The most impressive thing about Darnold is the way he has responded to some of the emotional swings that pop up during a game.

“He stays composed,” star receiver Justin Jefferson said. “He doesn’t let those bad plays get to him.”

Asked what Darnold needs to do to show improvement moving forward, O’Connell kept it pretty simple with the Vikings preparing for a matchup against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday afternoon at Nissan Stadium in Nashville.

“Just trust what’s gotten him here,” O’Connell said. “That’s throwing the ball at a really high level, making really good decisions and using his athleticism when he needs to.”

Related Articles

How the Wood Gym in Knoxville helped build Vikings safety Harrison Smith

Vikings at Titans picks: Another quick stop in the AFC South for an easy ‘W’

Vikings at Titans: What to know ahead of the Week 11 matchup

The Loop NFL Picks: Week 11

As Vikings’ opponents focus on Justin Jefferson, he focuses on winning