NFL 2024 Season - Week 11
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Articles published multiple times per week, offering insights and picks on upcoming games.
 
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Week 11
Improv
To the Brink
Week 10
Odd Man Out
Lions come Calling
Rookie versus Veteran
Call to Action
Full Reverse
When 8-0 is 4-4
Game of Contradictions
NFC West Bunch
Early Boarding
Week 9
Not Enough, Too Much
Real or Imposters
Groin Shot
Best Show
Saddle Up
Dull Edges
Telling Actions
Annihilation Formula
Week 8
No and No
Old Glory
Rookie Face Off
Adding it Up
Holding On
Jets Down
Unload and Reload
No Surprise
Career Paths
It Hurts
Week 7
Harbaugh Monday
Kids Camp
Barkley Back
Bird Battle
Mouse Time
Too Many?
Gone Shopping
Not Bad
40 for 3
Week 6
Try New
Night Vision
Trap Door
Looking Up
Wake Up Call
All Good Things
Bad Idea
Unexpected
Fire One
Week 5
Yes & Yes
Old Rivals
Rookie Sensation
So Close
Lunch in Seattle
Wake the Roosters
No Respect
Too Sweet
Turtle Flip
Week 4
Landmine
Bottoms Up
Winners and Losers
Call Me
Short Line
Reality Bites
Like Tonight
Uptick
Challenge Generates Performance
Week 3
Two Times
Reduced Value
Stars Down
The Other 21
Opportunity Knocks
Lots of Questions
Move Along People
Times Up
Week 2
Confidence Game
First and Second Picked QB's
Avoiding the Donut
Do or Die
One for the Road
Likewise
Adjustment Bureau
Down ... Not Out
Week 1
Time Marches On
Cashing the Trade
Start Here
Say What
Quick Up, Quick Down
Brazil Play Date
Top Two Open
Super Bowl Pick
Season Win Totals
Moving on Up
Breakout to Breakdown
Preseason 4
Preseason Wrap
Rookie Playoff Run
Preseason 3
Short Memory
Two In, One Up
Eagles Hunt
Winning Formula
Preseason 2
Quarterback Shuffle
One Two, or Two One
Starters Sit
Remote Control
Money be Damned
Preseason 1
One Season to the Next
Public Shift
Comets in the Night
Offseason
Mahomes Chasing History
All's Well that Ends Well
Ups and Downs
     
 
Career Paths
by Dennis Ranahan

Once his career failed to take off with the New York Jets, I thought Sam Darnold may have a path similar to the National Football League success enjoyed by Jim Plunkett.

Plunkett, one great person off the field as well as a brilliant leader on the field, led Stanford University to an upset win over the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 1970 Rose Bowl shortly after winning the Heisman Trophy. He was drafted first overall by the New England Patriots in 1971 and spent five mostly unsuccessful years on the east coast.

In five seasons with the Patriots, Plunkett compiled a 23-38 won/loss record and never cracked the playoff field. In 1976, he was shipped to San Francisco, this was pre-Bill Walsh and 49ers greatness, and in two years with the Red and Gold he won 11 of 26 decisions.

Then, the Oakland Raiders were in need of a veteran backup for Dan Pastorini, who they acquired from the Houston Oilers in exchange for Ken Stabler. Early in the 1980 season, in a contest against division rival San Diego, Pastorini went down with an injury and was replaced by Plunkett.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Plunkett remained the Raiders starter for seven seasons, won twice as many games as he lost, 38-19, and led the Silver and Black to a pair of Super Bowl wins.

Darnold was drafted in the first round by the Jets in the 2018 draft, third overall selection. During his tenure in New York, he mostly endured disappointments while earning only 13 wins in 38 decisions. Two years with the Carolina Panthers also ended with a losing mark, and he spent one year as a backup to Brock Purdy in San Francisco before joining the Minnesota Vikings this year.

Whalaah, in Minnesota Darnold won his first five starts and has the Vikings battling the Detroit Lions for first place in what may be the most talented division in the NFL, the NFC North.

Is this going to continue on a positive path for Darnold? Has he found his oasis midway through his career just like Plunkett did?

Perhaps … and while I have rooted for years for stars that start their NFL careers slowly to recapture the magic they enjoyed in college; I have trouble betting on it happening.

The Vikings and Lions battled each other blow-for-blow last Sunday with the final kick of the game providing the visiting Detroit squad a narrow victory. Now Minnesota comes off that huge contest with a road game on a short work week against a Rams team looking to overcome a rash of injuries that has reduced Sean McVay’s one-time Super Bowl winner into an also-ran.

Funny things about ‘also-rans’, when they get a chance to slay a dragon they usually do.

Qoxhi Picks: Los Angeles Rams (+3) over Minnesota Vikings