Why Do NFL Referees Hate Sam Darnold?

If there’s something that has stood out in big moments for the Minnesota Vikings the past two weeks it has been the inability of NFL referees to do their jobs. Of course that will never truly be the reason a team wins or loses. It doesn’t help when those paid to officiate the game are truly terrible at it.

Minnesota Vikings QB Sam Darnold takes another headshot

On Thursday Night Football, the Los Angeles Rams got away with a ridiculous facemask call that turned against Sam Darnold. On Sunday Night Football ten days later, Darnold took another hit to the head, this time a forearm to the facemask that resulted in a strip sack for six Colts points.

This time, they even threw the flag, then picked it up. Much like what we saw last week, the retired NFL official employed (this time) by NBC to explain what the refs are doing… had no explanation for what happened.

Terry McAulay felt the Colts might have gotten away with a penalty.

"That's a pretty big blow to the head from the forearm, hand/wrist of the tackler…If they would have called that, left the flag down, that's certainly supportable as a foul for unnecessary roughness." pic.twitter.com/0k5MlFgFgB

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) November 4, 2024

“As I look at it, “That’s a pretty big blow to the head from the forearm, hand/wrist of the tackler. He’s a defenseless player, that’s forcible contact. If they would have called that, left the flag down, that’s certainly supportable as a foul for unnecessary roughness.”

Terry McAulay on Sam Darnold’s fumble (NBC)

Well.. that might be the 2nd straight week Sam Darnold got hosed by the officials. Sure looked like forceable contact to the head pic.twitter.com/6E0CCRAxYJ

— trey wingo (@wingoz) November 4, 2024

Related: Kirk Cousins Gets Best of Mike Zimmer in Battle of Former Vikings

Darnold started the night with a terrible red zone decision that resulted in an interception. Then the Vikings punted. After again getting into the Colts side of the field, another awful outcome bit Minnesota and put the Colts on top by a score of 7-0. But these NFL officials clearly having it out for Sam Darnold is starting to become a problem.

There is too much money on games to have these problems continue to arise. There is too much technology to not have an avenue for the correct outcome to be imposed. At some point Roger Goodell must impose a greater standard. For a sport that often overcompensates when it comes to the quarterback, it seems as though it’s fine if Darnold gets decapitated before the regular season ends.

Related: Top Cornerback Could Still Become a Minnesota Vikings Trade Candidate

Minnesota is seeking an opportunity to better their squad before the trade deadline. They can’t afford to give up outcomes at any point, and they need their starting quarterback to remain healthy beyond that.