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Stephen A. Smith Hands Vikings Fans Stern Sam Darnold Reality Check Ahead of Game at Lions

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Nick Meyer | Last updated Jan 2, 2025 6:19 PM ET

The Detroit Lions are scheduled to host Sam Darnold and the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night in a game that will decide the winner of the NFC North Division.

The Lions beat the Vikings by two points earlier this year in Minnesota during a game in which Darnold went pass-for-pass with Lions star Jared Goff, nearly beating the former number one overall pick.

On Thursday, ESPN pundit Stephen A. Smith warned Vikings fans to pump the brakes a bit on Darnold ahead of Sunday's title clinching game at Ford Field.

"I'm thinking about Sam Darnold and again he deserves credit, we know he's had a stellar season, etc., etc.; the man hasn't thrown for 300 yards since November 24, against Chicago," Smith said on First Take.

"I mean, I'm just throwing that out there, I mean, let's not act like it's the second coming of Dan Marino."

"I'm just saying, can we pump the brakes just a touch, Booger (McFarland)?"

"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." - Stephen A. Smith
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— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 2, 2025

The Lions are favored by 2 1/2 points heading into the home game on Sunday Night Football this weekend.

They have scored the most points of any team in the NFL, but will be tested against a Vikings defense that has come up big when Kevin O'Connell's team needed it most, including last week vs. Green Bay.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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