As the Midway Point of the 2023 NFL Season Approaches, Multiple Vikings Could Be In Line for Awards This Year
The Minnesota Vikings have fought through plenty of adversity already through the first half of the 2023 NFL season, and in Week 9, they will face their toughest test yet without QB Kirk Cousins.
Even still, this team has proven resilient through everything, and they have fought their way back to a 4-4 record and currently hold the No. 7 seed in the NFC playoffs.
If Minnesota is able to continue their recent stretch of success throughout the rest of the season, it should be something that is celebrated, and it could potentially place multiple Vikings in line for awards at the end of the year. Here is a look at some of the players who should be in consideration.
Danielle Hunter
Even with three Pro Bowl seasons under his belt, Danielle Hunter is on pace for the best season of his eight-year NFL career. Through eight weeks, Hunter leads the league in both tackles for loss (12) and sacks (10).
If he continues this pace for the remainder of the season, Hunter could be up to 25 tackles for loss and 21 sacks by the end of the year. If he were to record 21 sacks, it would tie him for sixth all-time (since 1982 when sacks became an official stat) alongside Chris Doleman’s 1989 season in Minnesota and Reggie White’s 1987 season in Philadelphia.
Hunter’s presence on the Vikings defense has been invaluable this season, and there is a reason Minnesota opted to keep him around through the trade deadline. His performance and veteran leadership should have him in contention for the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year Award this year.
Jordan Addison
Especially during this stretch without Justin Jefferson, rookie wide receiver Jordan Addison has emerged as a star. He has by far the most receiving touchdowns of any rookie receiver in the league, and his 7 scores actually ranks second in the entire NFL.
In total, Addison has 36 receptions for 482 yards and his 7 TDs this season, and he torched a strong 49ers secondary in Week 7 for his first career 100-yard receiving game. If he can keep this pace up when Jefferson gets back, he should be in the mix for Offensive Rookie of the Year this season.
A receiver has won the award in each of the past two seasons, which bodes well for Addison’s chances. However, there are plenty of rookie QBs such as C.J. Stroud and Bryce Young who could also be in the mix by the time this season ends.
Brian Flores
The Vikings defense was one of the worst in the NFL during the 2022 season. They ranked among the bottom of the league against the pass, and they allowed 25.1 points per game under Ed Donatell.
This season, Brian Flores has stepped in and completely turned things around. Minnesota is allowing just 20.3 points per game, and their rushing defense has been one of the best in the league, giving up just 3.6 yards per carry. During this winning streak, the Vikings have allowed 17 or fewer points in each game, and fewer than 200 passing yards in two of the three wins.
As a result, Flores has to be in consideration for Assistant Coach of the Year. He is rejuvenating this unit to a degree that nobody could have expected, including getting career years out of players like Camryn Bynum, Jordan Hicks, and the aforementioned Hunter. The award was won by DeMeco Ryans in 2022, who led the 49ers defense to be one of the best groups in the league.
Kevin O’Connell
Kevin O’Connell was snubbed from the Coach of the Year award in 2022. He didn’t even receive a vote despite leading the Vikings to a 13-4 record and NFC North title during his first season. This year, though, if Minnesota continues their winning ways of recent weeks, it will be hard not to put the Vikings head coach in contention.
For the Vikings to make the playoffs, they will have to have navigated a four-game stretch without Justin Jefferson, and now, their offense is being led by rookie QB Jaren Hall following Kirk Cousins’ injury. Even if Minnesota has a worse record at the end of the season than last year, this will have been an infinitely more impressive season from O’Connell.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.
