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 .

Sam Darnold and the Minnesota Vikings entered the final week of the season against the Detroit Lions with a staggering 14 wins. One more and they would not only win the NFC North, but the number one seed in the NFC Playoffs as well.

One jarring Sam Darnold stat not only cost the Vikings in their lone playoff game, but could hurt his free agency value as well.

Sam Darnold could be the most intriguing story of NFL free agency. Where might the Vikings QB land after a breakout season?

"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 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.

The Minnesota Vikings finished the regular season tied with the Philadelphia Eagles for the third best record in the NFL. Their reward was a road playoff game

The Minnesota Vikings ’ matchup with the Detroit Lions in Week 18 was the regular season Super Bowl for both teams. Home field advantage in the playoffs, the critical bye, and the NFC North title were on the line — and like so many times in the team’s past, when the lights shone brightest, Minnesota faltered.

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.

The Minnesota Vikings have a big fan in quarterback Sam Darnold's girlfriend Katie Hoofnagle. As Darnold has taken full advantage of his opportunity in Minnesota, Hoofnagle has been a staple at Vikings games.

If the Steelers don't move forward with Justin Fields or Russell Wilson, they have a few options via trade and free agency.