has a 14-2 record entering the regular season’s final week, and Darnold’s 36 touchdowns have propelled Minnesota to the brink of homefield advantage throughout the postseason. If the Vikings win next Sunday night at the Detroit Lions, they’ll own the No. 1 seed for the first time since 1998.

wrote Monday, “McCarthy should continue to sit and learn while the Vikings attempt to maximize a Super Bowl window Darnold has cracked open for them. There’s nothing wrong with McCarthy biding his time.”

Spielman said on the With the First Pick podcast.

Spielman mentioned about McCarthy, who tore his meniscus in August, canceling his entire rookie season: “He’s a rookie. He’s going to start over from scratch. He didn’t do anything this year. He’s not practicing. He’s sitting in meetings. He’s rehabbing. He hasn’t done one thing since that surgery except rehab throw the ball on the side, maybe. But he’s not practicing, so you’re starting from square one with him.”

This debate will turn white-hot the moment Minnesota’s season ends.

Spielman concluded, “Look at what Green Bay did with Jordan Love. Look at what Green Bay did with Brett Favre. If you count next year, his rookie year, Patrick Mahomes sat behind Alex Smith. So if I sit him for two years, why not?”

One Viking Totally Reclaimed His Season vs. Packers

Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL. 

All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.