Darnold made three plays that a struggling quarterback can’t make.

Darnold Mistake No. 1: On the Vikings’ first possession, Darnold made the game look easy, sending the offense 60 yards in 10 plays. On third-and-3 from the Colts 16, Darnold scrambled to his left and fired a pass toward the end zone.

Whether you’re watching the play unfold from the press box or watching slow-motion replays, there’s no way to fathom what Darnold saw. No one was open. The receiver he was trying to pass to in the end zone was covered by one defender, who would have intercepted the pass if a second defender had not gotten ahead of him.

Darnold should have run to the sideline or thrown the ball out of bounds. He cost his team three points and sent a shiver through everyone in the building wearing purple.

Damn mistake No. 2: On the Vikings’ third drive, they had a first down at the Colts 47. Darnold fell back and took a hit to the head. The officials should have mentioned unnecessary roughness. That doesn’t mean Darnold should have fumbled the ball. He did so, and the Colts returned the fumble for a touchdown.

Darnold mistake No. 3: After Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. Joe Flacco intercepted to protect a 14–7 lead, threw Darnold into a group of Colts defenders on the next play and was intercepted himself, leading to a Colts field goal.