Days after the season ended, the remaining NFC North teams suddenly met the same fate as the Packers. In the blink of an eye, the NFC North was eliminated from the playoffs.

"Sam Darnold is a huge reason why we won 14 games. And his teammates know that, we know it," Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell said this week. However, Darnold and the Vikings were denied a 15th win when the Detroit Lions ran away with the NFC North title in a ...

The Vikings lost 27-9 in a game that was virtually out of reach at halftime. A lot went wrong for the Vikings on Monday, obviously, but Sam Darnold notably had his second consecutive dud. Not only did he turn the ball over twice, but he matched an NFL playoff record by taking nine sacks in this game. The Vikings lost 82 yards on those sacks.

Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold struggled in a season-ending loss to the Rams, sparking a fanfare on social media.

This ESPN football analyst defends Sam Darnold after Vikings lost to Rams in wild-card game.

Yes, the same Sam Darnold who completed 33 of 43 passes for 377 yards and ... but a big part of their strategy to beat their NFC North rival was to put up a wall around Darnold. “When a team ‘max’ protects as much as they did, they’re scared ...

The dynamic 14-3 Minnesota Vikings’ season came to an end on Monday night, not with a bang but a whimper, as they were blown out 27-9 by the Los Angeles Rams. In an instant, one of the best campaigns in Vikings history was snuffed out in the Wild Card round in a rather uncompetitive fashion.

What a difference a couple of weeks make. The Minnesota Vikings went from a Super Bowl contending, 14-game winner playing for the NFC North title with the conference's No. 1 seed and a wild-card bye on the line -- before Week 18's 31-9 defeat by the Detroit Lions -- to an early playoff exit because of a 27-9 loss to the Los Angeles Rams .

The Minnesota Vikings and coach Kevin O'Connell agreed to terms on a multiyear contract extension on Tuesday, following a 14-3 regular season that defied external widespread preseason projections of at least a losing record if not a last-place finish in the NFC North.

After a career renaissance with the Vikings, Sam Darnold is set to hit free agency. Will he take the starting reins for the Steelers or Giants? Serve as competition for Anthony Richardson on the Colts?

The Chicago Bears are nearing a deal to make Ben Johnson their next head coach. With rising star Caleb Williams under his guidance, could Johnson position himself as the top coach in a highly competitive NFC North?