” data-medium-file=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/helmetwhite.jpg” data-large-file=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=1180,height=589,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/helmetwhite.jpg”> The Minnesota Vikings defeated the Chicago Bears<\/a> by 18 points on Monday Night Football, <\/em>knocking off the rival for the seventh time in the last eight attempts.<\/p>\n The day prior, the Detroit Lions and Pittsburgh Steelers lost their respective matchups, which incidentally swung the NFL\u2019s Coach of the Year race in Kevin O\u2019Connell\u2019s favor.<\/p>\n ” data-medium-file=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/kevsmiling.jpg” data-large-file=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=1180,height=619,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/kevsmiling.jpg” src=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/kevsmiling.jpg” alt> O\u2019Connell is now the frontrunner to win Coach of the Year.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s the skinny:<\/p>\n NFL Coach of the Year Odds, Kevin O\u2019Connell =\u00a0+110<\/span><\/strong><\/span> So, what happened? Well, the Vikings have won seven straight games. The franchise unexpectedly started the season a with 5-0 record, a mark tallied against gangbusters opponents \u2014 at least at the time \u2014 that included dubs over the San Francisco 49ers, Houston Texans, and on the road at the Green Bay Packers.<\/p>\n ” data-medium-file=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/kevinnyg.jpg” data-large-file=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=1180,height=659,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/kevinnyg.jpg” src=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/kevinnyg.jpg” alt> The bye arrived in Week 6, and thereafter, Minnesota dropped two consecutive meetings to the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams, creating fears that that 5-0 start was fool\u2019s gold. <\/p>\n But that was false. <\/p>\n The Vikings have responded with seven straight triumphs, the most recent against a hated foe, the Chicago Bears, on Monday Night Football<\/em>. And when Campbell and Tomlin, who flirted with Top 3 COTY odds amid the last month, lost on Sunday, well, O\u2019Connell\u2019s candidacy looked pretty spiffy heading into Week 16.<\/p>\n Minnesota \u201ccontrols its own destiny\u201d henceforth. If it wins the next three games versus the Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers, and Detroit Lions, O\u2019Connell\u2019s group will hold homefield advantage throughout the postseason, which it has not featured in 26 years.<\/p>\n ” data-medium-file=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/kevlon.jpg” data-large-file=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=1180,height=673,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/kevlon.jpg” src=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/kevlon.jpg” alt> Pro Football T<\/em>alk<\/em>\u2018s<\/span> Mike Florio, too, seems to believe O\u2019Connell will take home the COTY hardware.<\/p>\n \u201cIn only three seasons, he has already matched Bud Grant as the only coach in franchise history with multiple 12-win seasons. (Grant had four.) With one more victory, O\u2019Connell will be the team\u2019s first coach with a pair of 13-win seasons. O\u2019Connell also has a shot at the Vikings\u2019 first 15-win season since 1998, the magical Randy Moss rookie year,\u201d Florio wrote<\/a> after the Vikings\u2019 Week 15 win. \u201cSince Bud Grant retired after the 1985 season (he came back for a year after his first retirement resulted in a 3-13 Les Steckel debacle), the Vikings have been looking for another Bud Grant.\u201d<\/p>\n He added, \u201cIn O\u2019Connell, they have him.\u201d<\/p>\n ” data-medium-file=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/kevintosschi.jpg” data-large-file=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=1180,height=656,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/kevintosschi.jpg” src=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/kevintosschi.jpg” alt=”award”> O\u2019Connell is winning \u2014 at a 12-2 clip \u2014 with a quarterback most thought was a bust. That may be enough to take home the trophy.<\/p>\n He could bring the award home to Minnesota for the first time in 55 years. Grant was last to win it for the purple team.<\/p>\n Dustin Baker<\/em><\/a> is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, <\/em>VikesNow<\/em><\/a>. 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, \u2018The Sopranos,\u2019 Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n All statistics provided by <\/em>Pro Football Reference \/ Stathead<\/em><\/a>; all contractual information provided by <\/em>OverTheCap.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/section>\n <\/main><\/p>\n<\/div>\nOne Major Award Trending in Vikings\u2019 Favor<\/h4>\n
Dec 8, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O\u2019Connell warms up with his players before the game against the Atlanta Falcons at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.<\/p>\n
thru Week 15:<\/strong><\/p>\n
Dan Campbell = +250<\/span>
Sean Payton = +350<\/span>
Dan Quinn = +550<\/span>
Mike Tomlin = +1200<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\nSep 8, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O\u2019Connell looks on before the game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images.<\/p>\n
Oct 4, 2024; Watford, United Kingdom; Minnesota Vikings coach Kevin O\u2019Connell during practice at The Grove. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images. The Vikings defeated the New York Jets in London, running their 2024 start-of-season win streak to five games. <\/p>\n
Nov 24, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O\u2019Connell throws a pass before the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images.<\/p>\n
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