Minnesota Vikings vs. Arizona Cardinals: Week 11 game review and grades

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Nov 20, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings cornerback Xavier Rhodes (29) celebrates his interception during the third quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings defeated the Cardinals 30-24. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /

The Ball Hawking Defense – Grade: B+

This defense has had issues as of late closing the deal on 3rd downs. A lot of the success that the Vikings had early on was using the defense for the stop and special teams to flip field positions. Instead over and over again its been the defense out on the field for 10+ play drives only to come back out after a 3 and out.

The team has done a good job conveying the image that it hasn’t taken its toll on the team with so much pressure applied to the defense. I believe that truly this defense has been hindered by an offense that up until this week had lost its identity.

The defense came up big in this game and it’s not surprising that the Minnesota offense has been on the field for longer drives. Xavier Rhodes got the game ball and NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his 2 interception performance, but strong play from Brian Robison, Linval Joseph, Everson Griffen and many other Minnesota Viking defenders made this game look more like the 5-0 Vikings and not the 0-4 Vikings as of late.

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