Vikings Have MVP Chatter for You Know Who
Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports.
Operations are humming so fluidly for Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold that heās entered the MVP race.
Vikings Have MVP Chatter for You Know Who
A pinch-me moment for Vikings fans, itās true ā Darnold now has the same odds of winning the leagueās most prominent award as Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, if that can be believed.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold joins Vikings Entertainment Networkās Gabe Henderson and discusses being coached now by his former New York Jets teammate, Josh McCown, being a big UFC fan, his journey through the NFL and more. Darnold became a Vikings in March 2024 after Kirk Cousins left for the Atlanta Falcons.
The veteran signal-caller, who appears en route to fully effectuating a reclamation season, leads the NFL in touchdown passes and ranks seventh per quarterback EPA+CPOE. And none of his performances through three games feels accidental. After six disappointing seasons in New York, Carolina, and San Francisco (only disappointing for Darnold in San Francisco because he didnāt start), Darnold has arrived and wiggled into the MVP race.
As of September 25th, these are the live odds for MVP:
Josh Allen = +200
Patrick Mahomes = +325
C.J. Stroud = +1300
Aaron Rodgers = +1600
Jalen Hurts = +1600
Lamar Jackson = +2000
Sam Darnold = +2500
Joe Burrow = +2500
Brock Purdy = +2500
Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports.
Minnesota is undefeated at 3-0, and all things Vikings are cruising through three games. But to appreciate Darnoldās sudden majesty, one must glance at his statistical pace in 2024. Itās mind-boggling. Scaled to a full 17-game season, Darnold is on pace for this 2024 stat line:
3,723 Passing Yards
45 TD Passes
11 INTs
In that vein ā Darnoldās pace ā itās no wonder he has catapulted MVP odds list. Forty-five passing touchdowns are no joke.
Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.
Darnold also avoided a brief injury scare in Week 3, which wouldāve derailed his MVP hopes and possibly the Vikingsā season. Former Vikings outside linebacker Danielle Hunter, who plays for the Houston Texans, rolled into Darnoldās leg on Sunday during his teamās 34-7 loss to Minnesota, sidelining Darnold for a play and generating early-week suspense about his short- and long-term status.
However, a Monday MRI revealed a knee bruise for Darnold with no structural damage. The veteran passer even participated fully in practice on Wednesday, four days before his team hits the road for a meeting with the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Heās a full go.
Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports.
A Viking last won the MVP award in 2012, Adrian Peterson. In fact, Peterson was the last non-quarterback to take home the trophy, as the honor has morphed into a ābest quarterback in the leagueā accolade.
Overall, Darnold likely wonāt dethrone Josh Allen in the race unless the Bills encounter a sudden downturn. The 2024 campaign truly feels like āAllenās yearā to win the award that eluded him in the last few seasons.
Moreover, a viral internet tweet circulated this week, mentioning that Darnold is actually younger than Joe Burrow.
Sam Darnold is younger than Joe Burrow.
I repeat.
Sam Darnold is younger than Joe Burrow.
ā Dominique Clare (@DomClare) September 22, 2024
The Packers are favored by 2.5 points to outduel the Vikings in Week 4.
Vikings outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard won the NFCās Defensive Player of the Week for Week 3 on Wednesday.
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, āThe Sopranos,ā Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.Ā
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
