Linval Joseph is killing it for the Minnesota Vikings

Sunday against the St. Louis Rams, Vikings nose tackle Linval Joseph had the most epic game of what has been for him an epic season.

Joseph was basically unblockable against the Rams, finishing the day with ten tackles and 1/2 sack.

Even when he wasn’t ringing up stats, Joseph was getting penetration and disrupting the Rams’ offense.

The term “one man wrecking crew” gets thrown around a lot but in this case it really applies. Joseph’s performance against the Rams was J.J. Watt-like in terms of pure dominance.

Take this play from the middle of the second quarter.

The Rams have the ball on first-and-ten on their own 26. They call a running play to the right for Tavon Austin.

Joseph, lined up at 3-tech on this play, easily beats left guard Andrew Donnall and makes the tackle on Austin for a one yard loss.

On this play from early in the 3rd quarter the Rams have first-and-ten from their own 20. They try to run Todd Gurley up the middle.

Joseph manhandles Rams center Tim Barnes and stuffs Gurley for a two-yard loss.

On the very next play, the Rams want to pass on second-and-twelve from their own 18. Andrew Sendejo comes firing off the edge on a blitz and gets past the fullback trying to pick him up.

Sendejo gets a piece of quarterback Nick Foles but the big hit comes from Joseph who has beaten Tim Barnes for the second straight play.

Tim Barnes doesn’t want anything to do with Linval Joseph anymore.

Joseph also made some big plays in crunch time. On the Rams’ first play of overtime, Joseph again annihilates Barnes and gets a hit on Foles just as he’s releasing the ball, causing the pass to sail high.

On the play, Joseph takes out both Foles and the running back attempting to block him.

The Vikings have a lot of very good young defensive players but their defensive MVP this year has been the veteran Joseph.

Just ask the St. Louis Rams how impossible Joseph is to deal with right now.