Category: Awards

Aidan Hutchinson wins NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors

It’s the second time in 20 career games Hutchinson has won the award

Congratulations to Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson. No. 97 has been honored as the NFC’s Defensive Player of the Week for his outstanding performance against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 3.

Hutchinson captured the honor with a two-sack game in Ford Field. The second of those sacks also created a game-sealing fumble, which Hutchinson recovered himself. He also broke up one pass and unofficially got a finger on a second one of Desmond Ridder’s throws, too.

It’s the second time in his 20-game career that Hutchinson has won the award. He also earned it back in Week 11 a year ago in Detroit’s win over the New York Giants.

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Brian Branch and Sam LaPorta each nominated for NFL Rookie of the Week

Detroit’s second-round rookies represented very well in the Week 3 win over Atlanta

Second round represent! That they did for the Detroit Lions in the Week 3 win over the Atlanta Falcons.

Both players the Lions selected in the second round fo the 2023 NFL draft are nominated for NFL Rookie of the Week for their performances in the 20-6 win over the Atlanta Falcons. Tight end Sam LaPorta and defensive back Brian Branch are up for the weekly honor.

LaPorta caught eight passes for 84 yards, including his first career touchdown. He extended his own rookie record of catching at least five passes in a game to start a career.

Branch registered 11 total tackles, including three behind the line of scrimmage. Playing primarily as the slot corner, Branch also broke up two passes.

Voting is done via NFL.com and sponsored by Pepsi Zero Sugar.

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Justin Jefferson ties Lance Alworth in becoming fastest player to reach 5,000 receiving yards

Jefferson continues to prove he’s one of the best wide receivers of all time

The best wide receiver in the National Football League continues to set records and did so on Thursday night against the Philadelphia Eagles. Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson tied Lance Alworth as the fastest player ever to reach 5,000 receiving yards. Both players reached the milestone in their first 52 games.

Jefferson got the mark on a hitch route during the final Vikings drive of the second quarter.

The Vikings might be down 20-7 early in the third quarter, but they have at least one thing to celebrate.

Alexander Mattison named NFLPA Community MVP

Mattison earned the award for hosting an event giving backpacks and school supplies to kids

The Minnesota Vikings are always looking at being a positive impact in the community and Alexander Mattison was awarded for his participation. On Friday morning, Mattison was named the NFLPA Community MVP.

Last week, Mattison provided more than 250 kids in Minnesota and his hometown of San Bernardino, CA with backpacks and school supplies at events through his I Am Gifted foundation this week.

Mattison firmly believes in the cause and doesn’t do it for the publicity.

“I do what I do, not to make any headlines, but to hopefully impact lives. I aim to help provide knowledge and resources that I didn’t have growing up. My goal is to help individuals — the youth especially — to open their eyes to doing everything they possibly can do to become the best version of themselves. I hope that after an I AM GIFTED experience, these kids can look in the mirror and say, ‘I AM GIFTED’ and truly believe it.” -Mattison

Talented football player and a better person.

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Vikings name 8 captains for 2023 season

Your 2023 team captains include multiple first timers

The Minnesota Vikings have named their captains for the 2023 season. They have eight captains with three on both offense and defense with two on special teams.

Offensive captains:

  • QB Kirk Cousins
  • WR Justin Jefferson
  • RT Brian O’Neill

Defensive captains:

  • OLB Danielle Hunter
  • ILB Jordan Hicks
  • S Harrison Smith

Special teams captains:

  • FB C.J. Ham
  • S Josh Metellus

One thing worth noting is each group got a captain. On offense, the quarterback, skill positions and offensive line. On defense, the defensive line, linebackers and defensive backs all got one as well.

Kirk Cousins was named a unanimous captain with the only blank ballot was his own. Jefferson and Hicks were named captains for the first time in the 2023 season.

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3 Minnesota Vikings make ESPN’s top 100 players

Three Vikings made the list with two others left off

A few weeks after NFL Network released their top 100 list, ESPN listed their top 100 players heading into the 2023 NFL season and the Minnesota Vikings have three players on the list.

  • WR Justin Jefferson-2
  • OLB Danielle Hunter-81
  • QB Kirk Cousins-94

Jefferson and Cousins also made the NFL’s top 100 list with the star wide receiver ranking second and the Vikings starting quarterback ranking 42nd.

It should come as no surprise that Jefferson ranked as highly as he did. He is the best non-quarterback in the National Football League and cemented that by winning the Offensive Player of the Year award with 128 receptions for 1,809 yard and seven touchdowns.

Hunter had an excellent season despite what some of the narratives are surrounding him. He had 10.5 sacks and ranked eighth in pressures with 70 on the season.

Despite a small drop statistically, Cousins had his best season as a quarterback. He was aggressive down the field more than he ever had been previously and took the Vikings to a new level offensively.

Not making the list were Harrison Smith, who ranked 97th in the NFL’s top 100 and T.J. Hockenson.

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U.S. Bank Stadium ranked as No. 1 venue in NFL

No surprise that U.S. Bank Stadium is the best in the NFL

The home of the Minnesota Vikings, U.S. Bank Stadium, was ranked No. 1 among all 30 NFL stadiums in a survey done by The Athletic.

The survey asked 30 of The Athletic’s NFL writers to name their five best and five worst stadiums in the league. The Athletic did note that every writer hasn’t been to every stadium.

What was most impressive about the ballot was that U.S. Bank Stadium ranked first on half the ballots collected. The stadium also came in first on The Athletic’s previous stadium survey three years ago.

Vikings beat writer Alec Lewis had some great words about the uniqueness of the stadium:

I cannot think of another way to say this: U.S. Bank Stadium feels natural. And for a domed building, that is an incredible feat. Maybe it’s the natural light that drifts in from the front end of the stadium through crystal glass. Or, maybe it’s particular dimensions that make the inside feel right — not like a gigantic warehouse, and not like a claustrophobic cave. The history of the franchise and the Skol chants and the fake snow all contribute to the overall experience. But the stadium, in general, is the perfect representation of what an indoor arena should look and feel like on a Sunday.

If you’ve never been to U.S. Bank Stadium, make plans to go.

Legendary Lions head coach Buddy Parker a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Parker coached the Lions to two NFL titles in six years and was the pioneer of the hurry-up offense

Buddy Parker had an incredible run as the head coach of the Detroit Lions. His teams won two NFL titles (1952 and 1953) and played for another in Parker’s six seasons at the helm (1951-1956).

The successful stint in Detroit is the bedrock for Parker’s candidacy for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Parker, who went 47-23-2 in his time as Lions coach before eight more seasons coaching the Pittsburgh Steelers, was selected as a finalist for the hall of fame on Wednesday.

Parker was named a finalist in the Coach/Contributor category. He was selected from a group of 12 semifinalists in a vote by the selection committee. He now advances to the next step to be elected in the class of 2024. From the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s press release,

The Hall of Fame’s full 50-person Selection Committee will consider Parker for election — along with 15 Modern-Era Players and three Seniors — when it meets to choose the entire Class of 2024 early next year.

Parker would be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame if he receives at least 80% approval in the up-or-down balloting at that meeting.

Parker and QB Bobby Layne are credited with pioneering the up-tempo offense. His emphasis on playmaking in the defensive backfield was also a wrinkle that broke from the contemporary norm and produced two Hall of Fame safeties in Jack Christiansen and Yale Lary.

It’s a real honor for Parker when considering he was the Coach/Contributor category over prominent names like Mike Shanahan, Mike Holmgren, Marty Schottenheimer and Dan Reeves.

Justin Jefferson ranks 2nd in NFL’s top 100

The peers of Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson view him highly ranking him as the second-best player in the NFL.

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson is one of the best players in the league and his peers agree, ranking him the second-best player in the NFL’s top 100. Jefferson ranked only behind Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

It shouldn’t be much of a surprise to see Jefferson rated that highly by his peers. He was the offensive player of the year in 2022 with 128 receptions, 1,809 yards and 7 touchdowns. He also ranked 53rd in 2021 and 17th in 2022 on the NFL top 100.

You name it and Jefferson has done it. From the spectacular catch to being incredibly consistent, Jeffersons did it. He is an incredible route runner that does everything and then some.

Jefferson is a rare player and he is proving that every game. Here are some highlights that earned him the spot.

Rejoice Vikings fans, the best non-quarterback plays in purple and gold.

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Dan Campbell shows support for the Lions’ award-winning PR team

The Lions PR team was formally presented with the Pete Rozelle Award with coach Dan Campbell proudly looking on

Earlier this offseason, the Lions’ public relations and media relations team were honored as winners of the Pete Rozelle Award. It’s an award given to the best team performance in that capacity across the NFL, as voted on by members of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA).

On Thursday morning, local PFWA chapter president Dave Birkett presented the Lions media team, headed by Eamonn Reynolds, with the physical award itself. It was a short ceremony in the team’s media room immediately after head coach Dan Campbell’s press conference.

Campbell made sure he saw the presentation, a gesture that will not go unnoticed by the PR staff or his players. Reynolds and his staff — some of whom couldn’t be there because they’re actively working the morning’s training camp practice session — do so much for Campbell and the team. It’s great to see the coach acknowledge it.

It’s cool to see the Lions staff get their deserved honor. Campbell making it a point to watch shows the “team” concept this Lions regime is building.

Congrats to all the honorees, and you’d better believe I voted for them.