Positive thoughts may not help you, but negative thoughts will crush your spirit.
“Even though we were able to make some plays, there were some plays that could have changed the rhythm and the momentum of that game, especially in that kind of environment,” O’Connell said. “If you can make one or two or three of those opportunities work, maybe it looks a little different. Maybe the energy is a little bit different.
“Specifically regarding Sam, the kind of year he’s had and the way he’s responded to any moments of adversity, I’m really excited to get to work with him this week.”
Darnold knows he is playing for his future. He is playing for tens of millions of dollars, a spot on the Vikings’ roster, and, should he win the Super Bowl, eternal fame.
The greats can channel such ambitions into performance and production. The greats can motivate themselves after a bad performance.
Darnold has rallied twice this season when a realist would have worried that he was reverting to his former form — after his poor performances against the Jets and Jaguars.