Vikings hope to spoil Terrell Suggs’ return home to Minnesota this week

Born and raised in Minnesota, the Baltimore Ravens’ linebacker will return home on Sunday for a Week 7 matchup with the Vikings.

At 35-years-old, Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs is one of the oldest players in the NFL this season. During his 15 years in the league, Suggs has been the Ravens’ most productive pass-rusher in the team’s history.

His 119 career sacks are the most of any player to ever put on a Baltimore uniform and also the second-highest amount among all defenders who are currently active in the NFL (Julius Peppers is first).

Those who have followed Suggs’ career are aware that he played college football at Arizona State, but not everyone knows that the linebacker was actually born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. So when Suggs and the Ravens head to U.S. Bank Stadium to face the Minnesota Vikings this Sunday, he will likely be playing in front of some of his family and friends from when he used to live in the Twin Cities.

Minnesota Vikings

The linebacker grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota until his family picked up and moved to Phoenix Arizona when Suggs was in ninth grade. While in St. Paul, the current Baltimore linebacker got his start as a football player and even played in youth leagues with Joe Mauer, currently of the MLB’s Minnesota Twins.

During his NFL career, Suggs has only played one game in Minnesota. It was back in 2009 when the Vikings defeated the linebacker’s Ravens, 33-31. In three career games against Minnesota, Suggs has compiled 11 total tackles and just a half a sack.

Despite his age, the Baltimore linebacker is off to an impressive start this season. In six games, Suggs has 4.5 sacks, 18 total tackles, and two forced fumbles.

Getting to the quarterback should be tough for the linebacker on Sunday as he will be facing a much improved Vikings offensive line. Case Keenum will be starting under center for Minnesota again this week and the quarterback has only been sacked four times in his five appearances this season.

Next: Predictions for the Vikings' Week 7 matchup with the Ravens

If the Vikings’ blockers can contain Suggs and the rest of the Ravens’ pass-rushers, Minnesota’s chances for a win on Sunday should be more than decent. Hopefully, the Baltimore linebacker does not have flashbacks to his old pee-wee football days in St. Paul and find a way to wreak havoc in Minnesota’s offensive backfield this week.