The Sam Darnold Cinderella story continued in Week 4, as the Vikings quarterback threw three touchdown passes to help the Minnesota Vikings beat the Green Bay Packers 31-29.
Sam Darnold‘s connection with Jordan Addison, who scored twice, fueled a fast start that saw them get out to a 28-point lead early in the game. While Green Bay mounted a second-half rally, the Vikings held firm to continue their undefeated start to the season.
Now 4-0 for the first time since 2016, Minnesota has trailed for less than 4 minutes all season but will need to avoid a midseason slump like the one that derailed their 5-0 start eight years ago.
PFF's dedicated team of graders was hard at work, analyzing every player on every play in real time. The grades and data will be available after a thorough review tomorrow at 12 p.m. EST.
In the meantime, we’ve gathered some high-level data and snap counts from the game to give you an early look. Our expert graders have also nominated the standout player of the game, highlighting exceptional performance on the field.
Sign up for PFF+ for in-depth analysis, PFF grades, Premium Stats, fantasy football tools, betting dashboards and much more!
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson made several key catches to help seal the victory. Targeted eight times, he hauled in six receptions for 85 yards, a touchdown and three first downs.
Jefferson also secured his lone contested catch, with two of his grabs going for 15-plus yards. When Sam Darnold targeted Jefferson, he posted an impressive 148.4 passer rating.
BOX SCORE
| Vikings | Packers | |
| Total points | 31 | 29 |
| Total offensive plays | 64 | 74 |
| Average EPA per play | -0.009 | -0.147 |
| Total net yards | 385 | 446 |
| Avg yards per play | 6 | 6 |
| Total first downs | 21 | 23 |
| Rushing first downs | 5 | 2 |
| Passing first downs | 13 | 19 |
| Penalty first downs | 3 | 2 |
| Third-down efficiency | 45% | 42% |
| Fourth-down efficiency | 0% | 0% |
| Possessions | 15 | 15 |
| Avg plays per drive | 5 | 5.4 |
| Avg yards per drive | 24.1 | 27.9 |
| Avg points per drive | 1.9 | 1.8 |
| Red-zone possessions | 6 | 5 |
| Red-zone plays | 16 | 12 |
| Red-zone TDs | 3 | 4 |
| Red-zone FGs | 1 | 0 |
| Red-zone scoring efficiency | 67% | 80% |
SNAP COUNTS & PLAYER PARTICIPATION
DOMINATE FANTASY FOOTBALL & BETTING WITH AI-POWERED DATA & TOOLS TRUSTED BY ALL 32
Unlimited Fantasy League Sync
Fantasy Start/Sit Line-Up Optimizer & Waiver Wire
WR-CB & OL-DL Matchups, PFF Player Grades, & Premium Stats 2.0 Tools
Nathan Jahnkes Rankings - #1 Most Accurate Last 70 Weeks
PFF Best Bets, Player Props, & Power Ranking Tools
NFL Mock Draft Sim with Trades & Draft Grades
Already have a subscription? Log In
© 2024 PFF - all rights reserved.