The Minnesota Vikings had plans of starting their rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy, but lost him before ever taking an NFL snap, due to a knee injury. Having moved on from Kirk Cousins, the Vikings took a one-year flyer on journeyman quarterback Sam Darnold. Head coach Kevin O’Connell took the Vikings from a 6.5-win projection to a 14-3 season and a playoff appearance. More impressive, they obtained that record in a division with three playoff representatives.
Head Coach Kevin O’Connell instilled confidence in Darnold and made his team confident in tense situations. 9-1 in one-score games this season, the Vikings looked clutch, at least for least 17 weeks. There is no doubt O’Connell brought out the best in his players.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell was the runner-up, and there is no doubt how much Campbell did for that team, especially with the injuries on the defensive side of the ball. The Lions may not have been predicted to be the offensive powerhouse they were, but they did have realistic Super Bowl aspirations, while the Vikings were not expected to make the playoffs.
Kevin O’Connell had his team silencing doubters in big games all season long. With the team seemingly turning their attention to McCarthy, only time will tell if he can rework his magic in the 2025 season.
Howe Fresh
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