Minnesota Vikings Midseason Awards

I saw that Mark Craig doled out Minnesota Vikings Midseason Awards for the Minneapolis Star Tribune. I figured that I’d do the same. At the somewhat midpoint of the 2024 NFL season, with a 7-2 record, the Vikings are well positioned for a run to the playoffs. That isn’t bad for a team that many talking heads had pegged for only six or seven wins. Here are some of the highlights from the first nine games. 

Victory of the Year

The Week 2 win over the San Francisco 49ers, Week 3 win over the Houston Texans, and first half of the Week 4 win over the Green Bay Packers was the best stretch of the Minnesota Vikings 7-2 start. It grabbed the nation’s attention and shot the team up all Power Rankings. So, what was the Victory of the Year? I’m going with the win over the 49ers. I figured that the Vikings could compete with any team. That win showed that they could. The 49ers were the defending NFC champs. They were a few plays away from being NFL champs. The Vikings Week 2 win over the 49ers confirmed that last year’s win was no fluke. Following the loss to the Vikings, the 49ers had some difficulty finishing games as they dealt with their annual run of injuries. They were mostly healthy against in Week 2 and the Vikings outplayed them at nearly every turn. The 23-17 final score made the game feel closer than it was. The Vikings dominated one of the best teams in the league. 

Most Valuable Player

Aaron Jones, RB

I want to go with Justin Jefferson as I believe that he is the team’s most valuable player. I agree with Mark Craig here. Aaron Jones has been the Most Valuable Player. His versatility and physicality has made the offense closer to the offense that head coach Kevin O’Connell sees when he designs and calls his plays. 

Best Offensive Player

Justin Jefferson, WR

Through 3.5 games, this was probably Sam Darnold. If he’d been the best offensive player for the next 5.5 games, the Vikings would probably be undefeated. Justin Jefferson is and has been the best offensive player. The 97-yard touchdown against the 49ers was a blast. He’s scored touchdowns. He’s made his usual mind-bending catches. Despite all that he’s done, he’s yet to have one of those ridiculous 150+-yard games. With all of the attention that he draws, Jefferson probably tilts the field more than any player in the league. Even when he doesn’t touch the ball.

Best Defensive Player

Blake Cashman, LB

The Vikings defense has been great because of all 11 players. It’s very much a team defense and picking one doesn’t feel right. Despite that, the defense didn’t quite look right during the three games that Blake Cashman missed. He suffered a turf toe injury against the New York Jets in Week 5 in London. Even with the bye week that followed the international trip, he missed the Week 7 game against the Detroit Lions and Week 8 game against the Los Angeles Rams. Both losses. Both teams successfully attacked the area that Cashman effectively covers. He was missed. In the six games he played, he quarterbacked the defense and made plays all over the field. 

Best Special Teams Player

Will Reichard, K

Will Reichard has been outstanding. Unfortunately his fantastic rookie season hit an unfortunate bump with a quad strain. He’s out for at least the next three weeks. Before the Week 9 game against the Indianapolis Colts and that injury, Reichard had been perfect on field goals and extra points. For a franchise plagued by kicking woes, Will Reichard has been a revelation. I can’t wait for his return to the field. 

Most Underrated

The Defensive Line

Perhaps the biggest defensive concern entering the season was the defensive line. It was my biggest defensive concern. The starting line of Harrison Phillips, Jonathan Bullard, and Jerry Tillery easily passed under everyone’s radar. Phillips is considered solid by nearly every metric. “Solid” is typically a disguised way of saying a player is “ok.” At best, Bullard and Tillery are considered journeymen. This season, together and individually, the trio have been terrific. They do all the upfront grunt work that is the basis of everything that’s done behind them. Undrafted rookie Taki Taimani and Jalen Redmond have provided strong rotational support. 

Best Rookie

Will Reichard, K

Again, Will Reichard has been outstanding. 

Best Coach

Kevin O’Connell, Head coach/offensive playcaller

Brian Flores, defensive coordinator

I wanted to single out the great coaching of Brian Flores but I didn’t want to exclude the incredible work of Kevin O’Connell. Individually and collectively, O’Connell and Flores are the best playcallers in the league.