Keenum named one of the NFL’s top players for November performance
By Adam Patrick
Thanks to his impressive play in November, the Minnesota Vikings quarterback has been named the NFC Offensive Player of the Month.
After a tough 2016 season with the Los Angeles Rams that saw him throw 11 interceptions and just nine touchdowns in 10 games, Case Keenum agreed on a one-year contract with the Minnesota Vikings last March to compete for the team’s backup quarterback job. At the time of signing, there was no guarantee that he would even make the Vikings’ 2017 regular season roster.
But the quarterback made it through training camp and the preseason and began the year as Minnesota’s backup to Sam Bradford.
Keenum likely figured this would be a good season for him to step back a bit and watch from the sidelines as Bradford led the Vikings’ offense. But by Week 2, Keenum’s services were already needed by Minnesota after a knee injury forced Bradford out of the starting lineup.
In his first game as the Vikings’ starting quarterback, Keenum could not have looked worse. He completed just 54 percent of his passes for 167 yards in Minnesota’s 26-9 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
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But since losing that game to the Steelers, Keenum and the Vikings are 8-1 in his other nine appearances this season.
His play has especially climbed to a new level since Minnesota returned from their bye in Week 10. So much so that it was announced on Thursday that Keenum has been named November’s NFC Offensive Player of the Month.
During the Vikings’ three games that took place in November, Keenum threw seven touchdowns and just two interceptions while completing 71 percent of his passes for 866 yards. He even ran for score during this three-game span as well. With him starting under center in November, Minnesota averaged 30.7 points and 421.7 total yards of offense per week.
Next: Why is Keenum still not the Vikings' permanent QB?
If he continues to play at such a high-level for the remainder of the season, this may not be the last award given to Keenum in 2017.