2nd Half of Season Predictions for the Vikings
When the game ends in Jacksonville on Sunday, the Minnesota Vikings will have played nine games and have eight remaining in the 2024 regular season. The first half of the season has mostly gone well, with the Vikings sitting with a 6-2 record. Looking ahead, I will offer my second-half Vikings predictions.
2nd Half of Season Predictions for the Vikings
The Vikings appear to be playoff-bound. From this point, it would be a massive disappointment if they did not play meaningful football in January.
The early excitement of being placed at number one in some power rankings and dreams of hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in February were quelled after back-to-back losses to the Detroit Lions and LA Rams. A win over the Indianapolis Colts got the Vikings six wins, which is only one win away from my preseason prediction. At this point, I’m confident the Vikings will win more than one more game and surpass my prediction. Here is how I think the final nine games will go.
Week 10: Win at Jaguars 7-2
Week 11 Win at Titans 8-3
Week 12: Win at Bears 9-2
Week 13: Win vs Cardinals 10-2
Week 14: Lose vs Falcons 10-3
Week 15: Win vs Bears 11-3
Weeks Win at Seahawks 12-3
Week 17: Lose vs Packers 12-4
Week 18: Lose at Lions 12-5
I have the Vikings finishing with a 12-5 record, which will certainly be good enough to make the playoffs. I expect the Lions to stay at the top of the division, with the Vikings going into the playoffs as a wild card. That means Minnesota will go on the road in the wild-card round and face one of the four division winners. Along with Detroit, the other division leaders are Washington, Arizona, and Atlanta. I would expect San Francisco to eventually topple Arizona in the NFC West.
Can the Vikings beat one of those teams on the road in the playoffs? It will be difficult, particularly if the Vikings travel to Detroit, Washington, or San Francisco. Atlanta would seem the best chance for a win, but I predict a first-round exit in the playoffs. Nevertheless, it should still be seen as a good season for the Vikings, who will have achieved more than most expected. The important thing is that this year is a platform to build upon for bigger and better things.
Offensive Player of the Year
The first of my other big predictions is that Justin Jefferson will be named the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year for the second time. Jefferson first won the award in 2022, when he joined Vikings legends Fran Tarkenton and Adrian Peterson as recipients.
Should my prediction come true, Jefferson would become the first Vikings to receive that award twice and only the ninth player across the league to be named multiple times—including being only the second WR to win it twice alongside Jerry Rice. It would put him in the mix with a who’s who of Hall of Famers, where Jefferson belongs.
Coach of the Year
If Kevin O’Connell guides the Vikings to 12+ wins, he will be firmly in the coach of the year conversation. He was unlucky to miss out to Brian Daboll in 2022, and there will certainly be other contenders again this time. Dan Quinn is a name that springs to mind if Washington continues the way they have started the season. O’Connell’s ability to get the best out of Sam Darnold has been impressive and well-noticed around the league. I believe that’s what will get him the award.
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