Vikings Defensive MVP: Week 7 vs. the Baltimore Ravens
By Adam Patrick
Minnesota Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen continued his impressive 2017 season on Sunday during the team’s win over the Baltimore Ravens.
Back in 2014, Everson Griffen experienced his very first season as a full-time starting defensive end for the Minnesota Vikings and it resulted in him finishing the year with 12 sacks. That amount still stands as Griffen’s career high for a single season, but there is a very good chance the defensive end will exceed that sack number in 2017.
Griffen finished with two sacks, six tackles, and one forced fumble during the Vikings’ win over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. The defensive end now has a total of nine sacks in seven games so far this season.
Griffen is currently the NFL’s second-leading sack artist this year behind Jacksonville Jaguars defensive lineman Calais Campbell (who has 10). If he manages to keep up his current pace for the rest of the season, Griffen would finish 2017 with at least 20 sacks.
More from The Viking Age
- 6 biggest draft steals in Minnesota Vikings history
- Former Vikings first-round pick could reportedly return to NFC North
- Bears analyst has extremely embarrassing Kirk Cousins take
- 6 Vikings who (maybe) won’t make the 53-man roster in 2023
- Predicting what the Vikings will do in the 2023 NFL Draft based on 2022
With Griffen’s nine sacks, Minnesota now has the fourth-most sacks in the NFL this year.
The Vikings’ defense has not seen such an efficient pass-rushing season from one of their players since Jared Allen finished with 22 sacks back in 2011. A player whose spot in the starting lineup just happened to be filled by Griffen in 2014.
The defensive end did a bunch more than just sack the quarterback as well this week. Griffen also had a few impressive tackles on Sunday that helped Minnesota hold the Ravens’ rushing attack to just 64 yards.
Next: Vikings' ups and downs from Week 7 win
He will be looking to continue his sack streak next week against the Cleveland Browns, who could now be without All-Pro left tackle Joe Thomas in the lineup. If that does end up happening, chances are Griffen gets at least one opportunity to do his sack dance in front of the London crowd next Sunday.