Bo Nix and the Vikings are the Surprises of the NFL Season

Today I have come to eat crow on two NFL things I wrote in my preseason preview from earlier in 2024. Let’s go.

The first comes from my 2024 draft preview. In lieu of doing picks one by one, I always talk about five prospects I like and five I think have the most bust probability. In my five busts part, I was pretty certain that Bo Nix was going to flame out and flame out fast. I even doubled down on it when the Broncos named him the starter for the season and released Russell Wilson. Nix has proven me very, very wrong. He is a more than capable starting QB in the NFL. He is not going to be the ROY or the MVP, not by a long shot. But Nix has proven himself to be far more than just a game manager. The Broncos may not have won their game the other night, but it wasn't due to Nix playing poorly. He kept them in the game from start to finish. He made play after play. He went toe to toe with Joe Burrow. And I understand that the Bengals defense is porous, but Nix has done this all year. He led a drive that should have led to a game winning field goal earlier this season against the Chiefs. He has won games from the start for the Broncos. He has done everything he has been asked to do by his staff, and the Broncos, while not a Super Bowl caliber team yet, seems to have found their starting QB for the next five to ten years depending on health. I thought he was going to look like most rookie QB's who are thrust into a starting role, but he has looked confident and capable. I'll be interested to see if this trend continues over the next few years, but I'd be shocked if he didn't improve over the seasons and become a pro bowl level NFL starting QB. I was wrong about him.

The other thing, and I was very aligned with a ton of people on this one, I thought the Vikings were going to be one of the worst teams in the NFL this year, and I thought they had the makings of one of the worst teams in NFL history. I looked at their offseason, who they got rid of, who they traded up to draft and who they signed to be their veteran QB and it all screamed two or three wins, at most to me. I was also not a firm believer in Kevin O'Connell as a NFL head coach. I told RD as much via text and conversations while recording the podcast. He is a Vikings fan, I'm a Packers fan, and I think maybe he even thought that the Vikings were going to be awful too. I was even more certain when they traded up to nine to draft Michigan QB JJ McCarthy. I adore that kid. He helped Michigan win the title last year. But, Michigan was all about their top tier defense and their excellent run game. McCarthy could make plays here and there, but that team won as a team, not because of their QB. But, when the NFL season started, not only were the Vikings winning, they were beating the snot out of their opponents. I figured it was just an early season surprise and they would come crashing back down to Earth soon. But that never happened. The Vikings are still killing it. They're playing for the number one seed in the NFC this Sunday. Sam Darnold has been great. He will be getting paid this offseason. Aaron Jones has been mostly healthy and playing well. Jordan Addison and Justin Jefferson are amazing, and Jefferson may be the best wideout in the NFL. But it is their defense that has been the big surprise and main reason why they've been able to sustain their high level of play. Brian Flores has done a masterful job with a defense that doesn't have any real stars. He has gotten the best out of that unit and he is more than deserving of a shot at being a head coach again. I'm astonished at how well they have played all season, and I am going to give most of that credit to Flores for putting them in the best position possible. As for O'Connell, he has earned my respect, not that he really cares. He has what it takes to be a NFL head coach, and what he has done with Sam Darnold is more proof that he is a "QB whisperer". The Vikings, as stated a few sentences ago, have a shot at the 1 seed. I assumed they'd be more likely to pick first overall in the upcoming draft. And as much as it stings to say this being a Packers fan, the Vikings are legit and they terrify me heading to the playoffs. They're a damn good football team with an excellent defense. 

That’is it. Now time to cook up some crow.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Predicts the 2023 Heisman Trophy

The Heisman trophy will be awarded to the best college football player tomorrow night. The finalists are Marvin Harrison Jr, Bo Nix, Michael Penix Jr and Jayden Daniels. All four of these players are worthy of being finalists. Honestly, I do not know who I would replace our add on the list. I'd love to see a Michigan player there, but no one of them was individually outstanding. They are a collection of good players. I thought Jalen Milroe might get an invite after his last two games, but it was a little too late in the game for that. I even tried to pry some defensive players who were otherworldly, but that was nonexistent this season.

So, as this award has almost always been, there are four offensive players, three of which are QB's. I want to make a case for each of them and then pick a winner. I'll start with Bo Nix.

Look, the dude is 26 years old and he should be able to feast on some of the Pac 12 defenses out there. He did that and much more. Nix put up incredible numbers. He threw for over 4,000 yards. He had 40 passing touchdowns to only three interceptions. He ran for 200 plus yards and six more TD's. The dude crushed it. He never really struggled in any games, but he could not beat Washington. That is his achilles heel. He would have a great year, but when he had to produce a big win, it just never happened for him. He is more than deserving of his invite to NYC, but I do not think he will be leaving with the trophy. There will be no repeat of Chris Weinke for Nix tomorrow night.

Michael Penix Jr looked like the front runner to me about seven or eight weeks into the season. He was absolutely obliterating every team he played against. He was putting up wild numbers too. Penix Jr finished the season with over 4,000 passing yards as well. He threw for 33 touchdowns to only nine interceptions. He rushed for negative yards, but he did score three more TD's on the ground. The best thing Penix Jr did this year was win every single game on the schedule. Penix Jr led the Huskies to an undefeated season and the number two spot in the CFP. He also played great against ranked opponents. He threw for 319 in the Pac 12 title game against Oregon. He had 332 against a ranked Utah team. He went for 256 against USC. Penix Jr played best when the lights were brightest. That is a big testament to his ability. But, due the tiniest little slip at the end of the season, I do not see him bringing the trophy home either.

Then we have Marvin Harrison Jr. Harrison Jr is the best player in college football. Full stop. That does not mean he will bring home the Heisman. But, he is, by far, the most feared and most dominant offensive player in the game. I like to act like he didn't perform well against Michigan. That is false. He had five catches for 118 yards and a score. Michigan won, so it is easier for me to swallow his excellent performance. Harrison, not unlike his fellow finalists, put up crazy stats. He had 67 catches for over 1,200 yards and 14 scores. In only 12 games. That is mind boggling. That is nearly six catches a game. That is 100 yards a game. That is over one touchdown a game. As a receiver. That hasn't been done since Randy Moss, and Harrison Jr plays in the Big 10. Looking back at some of the games he had this year, it is amazing his stat line. I mentioned the Michigan game. He also torched Michigan State with seven catches for 149 yards and 2 TD's. He had eleven catches for 162 yards and a score against Penn State. He had six catches for 123 yards and two scores against Wisconsin. The guy produces big time being the focal point of the defense. His stats are incredible, but I think he is going to finish a distant second tomorrow night.

That leaves us with Jayden Daniels, the most electric QB in college football in 2023. Daniels was the do it all guy for a solid LSU team. While I loathe Brian Kelly, he did put Daniels in a great position every week to showcase his incredible talent. Daniels threw for over 3,800 yards. He added 40 TD passes to only four interceptions. He ran the ball 135 times for over 1,100 yards and 10 scores. He torched Texas A&M for 235 passing yards and four TD passes. He also ran 11 times for 120 yards in that game. When LSU beat Florida, Daniels threw for 372 yards and three scores. He added, and this is not a misprint, 234 yards rushing on 12 carries and two more scores. When Alabama beat LSU, Daniels still impressed with 219 passing yards and two TD passes. He also ran for 163 and a score. Against Mizzou, one of the better SEC defenses, Daniels passed for 259 yards, threw three TD's and added 130 rushing yards and another score. I could go on and on with his insane video game stats, but I figured showing how well he played against the better teams on his schedule is proof enough of his wonderful season. And I fully believe he is more than deserving of the Heisman this year. The other players have had a great season as well, but not compared to Daniels. He is on a whole other level.

That is my pick, and I would be stunned if he didn't win the Heisman tomorrow night. Jayden Daniels should bring home the award in an easy victory. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

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SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.