Sam Darnold's gaffe should have resulted in a Vikings loss. They didn't do that. But if he doesn't find out…

Darnold made three plays that a competing quarterback can't make.

Darnold Mistake #1: On the Vikings' first possession, Darnold made the game look easy by driving the offense 60 yards in 10 plays. On third-and-3 from the Colts 16, Darnold scrambled left and fired a pass toward the end zone.

Whether you're watching the game from the press box or watching slow-motion replays, you can't imagine what Darnold saw. Nobody was open. The receiver he tried to pass to in the end zone was covered by a defender who would have intercepted the pass if a second defender hadn't beaten him to it.

Darnold should have run to the sideline or thrown the ball out of bounds. He cost his team three points and made every person in the building who wore purple cringe.

Darnold Mistake #2: On the Vikings' third drive, they had a first down at the Colts' 47. Darnold fell back and was hit in the head. The officials should have called unnecessary roughness. That doesn't mean Darnold should have fumbled the ball. He did, and the Colts returned the fumble for a touchdown.

Darnold Mistake #3: After Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. intercepted Joe Flacco to preserve a 14-7 lead, Darnold threw himself into a group of Colts defenders on the next play and was intercepted himself , which led to a Colts field goal.