The Minnesota Vikings are a very surprising 12-2 heading into the final three games of the season. And Head Coach Kevin O'Connell is weighing-in on where the team is at heading into the playoffs.
The Vikings have already clinched their spot, but Monday's win over Chicago coupled with a Detroit loss to Buffalo puts the purple in a position to do more than just make the playoffs. If they win out, they would take the NFC North and depending on how tiebreakers shake out, a great chance at a bye and home field throughout the postseason.
O'Connell tells WCCO Radio's Chad Hartman he's working hard to not let expectations from the media and fans impact the team's focus. O'Connell says none of that matters if the players aren't focused on one week at a time.
"Really, nobody thought we were really worth very much as a team and for win projections," O'Connell says. "And if we listen to all those things then, and believed them, we wouldn't be where we are right now. And even more so, if we listen to the things that are now being said about us and that changes anything about our preparation or our mindset? Then I'm not doing a very good job."
O'Connell also had high praise for quarterback Sam Darnold amid a stand out season with the team. Darnold, a journeyman who hasn't had much success in his career up until coming to Minnesota, was signed to a one-year deal prior to the season. Darnold was thought of as nothing but an insurance plan based on how rookie draft pick J.J. McCarthy was doing.
Instead, Darnold was thrust into the role in the preseason after McCarthy experienced some knee soreness that turned into surgery - and was out for the season.
But, to Darnold's credit says O'Connell, he's exceeded everyone's expectations. And it started with winning over his teammates.
"He was almost unanimously voted a captain. His teammates respect him," says O'Connell. "They love the way he works so consistently, every single day. And (he) has a way about him and a confidence about him that's really existed from day one. But it's really been earned, and now the team and the organization has that kind of confidence in him."
Even though this season isn't over yet, fans and media are already wondering what happens to Darnold beyond 2024. That one-year contract means he's a free agent after this season ends. With wins piling up, do the Vikings bring him back? Or turn back to the unproven McCarthy?
O'Connell says its too soon to say.
"Not only did we not worry about too far into the future, we also didn't worry about the previous experiences in his football journey," O'Connell said.
The Vikings take on the Seattle Seahawks this Sunday with kickoff after 3:00 p.m. They will host Green Bay next week, and are at Detroit to end the year January 5.