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The original was posted on /r/nfl by /u/EsotericPotato on 2024-12-17 18:37:22+00:00.

Original Title: The Vikings have doubled their projected season win total with three games to go with a patchwork of overlooked free agent signings, Sam Darnold at QB, and $70 million in dead cap. What head coaches and executives have a better argument for COTY and EOTY than O’Connell and Adofo-Mensah right now?

The Vikings let Kirk Cousins walk this offseason. With a defense with glaring holes and no high quality replacement at QB apparent, the Vikings were quickly and justifiably written off this season, projected to finish last in the NFCN with a ceiling of 6-7 wins. Even 6-7 wins felt charitable given the roster.

And yet, Kevin O’Connell and his coaching staff have Sam Darnold playing at an extremely high level and a patchwork of unsigned and cheap free agents doing the heavy lifting on an elite defense. They are 12-2 with a top 10 offense and top 5 defense, and have a very real chance of winning the division and in turn the #1 seed in the NFC.

Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, and Blake Cashman, who have a COMBINED cap hit of approximately $11 million this season, have completely changed how Flores can operate the Vikings defense, with Greenard playing arguably at an all-pro level. Darnold and Aaron Jones, also on extremely cheap deals, have helped elevate this offense.

At this point in the season, are O’Connell and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah both front-runners for coach of the year and executive of the year? If not, who do you think has been more deserving?