Another Viking Wins an Award
Etch another name in the books.
Another Viking Wins an Award
Last week, Minnesota Vikings outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard won the NFC’s Defensive Player of the Month award for November. It belongs to Greenard. This time, Sam Darnold is a part of the fun, winning the NFC’s Offensive Player of the Week honor, his second notable accolade this season.
Not long ago, Darnold won the NFC’s Offensive Player of the Month for September. The guy is on a heater.
The Vikings’ main social media team tweeted Wednesday, “SAMMY D!!! Sam Darnold has been named NFC Offensive Player of the Week.”
Darnold delivered 5 touchdown passes last weekend — 3 to Jordan Addison and 2 to Justin Jefferson — along with 347 passing yards and no interceptions en route to Minnesota’s shellacking of the Atlanta Falcons, Kirk Cousins’ new team. The Vikings prevailed 42-21 after utterly stepping on the gas in the 4th Quarter.
Accordingly, Darnold, who is totally reclaiming his career in the Twin Cities, has the hardware to represent his mammoth performance. On the whole, Darnold is on pace for roughly 4,300 passing yards, 38 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions in 2024.
The 27-year-old has also reentered the league’s MVP race. This is the NFL’s state of play for the league MVP award.
- Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills) — -400
- Saquon Barkley (Philadelphia Eagles) — +450
- Jared Goff (Detroit Lions) — +1000
- Lamar Jackson (Baltimore Ravens) — +1000
- Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) — +4000
- Sam Darnold (Minnesota Vikings) — +5000
- Jayden Daniels (Washington Commanders) — +6500
- Jalen Hurts (Philadelphia Eagles) — +6500
Sixth in the NFL’s pecking order, Darnold is not expected to catch Allen from behind because, well, nobody will. MVP voters, it seems, have waited for years to vote for Allen in the MVP race, and they are getting their wish in 2024. And Allen absolutely deserves the MVP trophy.
Darnold’s performance, however, is incredibly impressive. He’s rejuvenated his career after being left for dead by the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers, two franchises that are the butt of jokes per quarterback development.
He said after the win on Sunday, “I was just excited, man. I feel like I couldn’t just sit there just kind of stoic and just straight-faced. I feel like I had to show a little bit of emotion for the fans and give them what they wanted.”
Darnold riled up the crowd during — you guessed it — MVP chants from purple fans. He waved a towel and the whole nine yards.
“I just felt the buzz. And that was pure passion, pure joy,” Darnold added.
His club next hosts the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football and is favored to win by six or seven points.
Former Vikings QB Auditions for Raiders
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
You must be logged in to post a comment.