Stephen A. Smith not sold on Sam Darnold ahead of Detroit Lions showdown 

On Sunday, Sam Darnold and Jared Goff will play on the most important game of the 2024 regular season, with the stakes as high as possible.

The Minnesota Vikings and the Detroit Lions, who are both 14-2, will be fighting for the NFC North, the bye week in the Wild Card Round and the home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. All in Week 18's Sunday Night Football, the biggest game of the season.

At this point, everyone knows how well Jared Goff has been playing for the Lions, but the discourse around Sam Darnold's magical season has also been positive, with the quarterback making the most of a one-year deal signed in March. With the stakes being so high on his next game, Stephen A. Smith isn't buying his stock:

“We're talking about Sam Darnold, the man hasn’t thrown for 300 yards since November 24th against Chicago. Let’s not act like this is the second coming of Dan Marino.”

Darnold, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft, has not corresponded to the expectations of his career since his recruitment, but his improvement in Minnesota has been nothing short of extraordinary. He'll reach free agency, and whether he returns to the Vikings or sign with another team, he's in for a nice payday.

Sam Darnold's excellent stats in 2024 revived his career

In a remarkable story of redemption, he reignited his career as a quarterback by playing the best football of his life by a big margin.

He was never expected to go this far. The Vikings spent a first-round pick on quarterback J.J. McCarthy from Michigan, but he suffered a knee injury in August and missed the entire season. Expectations were low, but the veteran took over and led them to a 5-0 start, sparking hope in the franchise. They're now 14-2.

If they beat the Lions on Sunday, they'll be 15-2, will play at home during the NFC playoffs and will be able to rest for a weekend before getting into the postseason.

In 2024, the quarterback has 68.1% of completed passes, 4,153 passing yards, 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He's been, without a doubt, one of the best quarterbacks of the season.