Minnesota Vikings defensive MVP vs. Cardinals in Week 6

With a convincing win against the Arizona Cardinals, the Minnesota Vikings moved to 3-2-1 on the 2018 season. In their much-needed victory, the Vikings used a smothering defense that featured several key players.

Some may point to a 27-17 victory as a mere ten-point win, but the game between Minnesota and Arizona contained a few illusions. Even though the Viking offense gave the Cardinals a few loopholes into a close game through the first half, the Minnesota Vikings defense did not, and shut out almost all offensive sunlight for Arizona.

Head Coach Mike Zimmer executed a plan to intimidate and perplex Rosen with a myriad of blitzes, ‘blitz fakes’ and alternative pressure packages, and the Vikings’ defense menaced the rookie QB to a 20.6 game rating.

They also held running back David Johnson to 61 yards rushing and the Cardinal offense itself to only ten points. For the contest, Arizona was 0-10 on third downs and 0-2 on fourth.

Most Valuable Defensive Player vs. Cardinals

Danielle Hunter, Defensive End

Yes, this award is growing a bit repetitive, but so are Hunter’s superlative efforts on the professional football field. Signing the third-year defensive end from LSU to a contract in the off-season was a masterstroke by Vikings general manager, Rick Spielman. Not only has Hunter already out-played the contract, he certainly seems to have the type of personal character that will honor it and save money for his other teammates.

Having to move to the right defensive end spot in the absence of Everson Griffen has perhaps proved Hunter’s superiority at the position, and most certainly bodes well for the Vikings’ future. With seven sacks in six games this season–two against Arizona on Sunday–Hunter is playing at an All-Pro level in what may be the game’s most vital defensive position.

Honorable Mention

MacKensie Alexander, Cornerback

Who spiked Alexander’s Wheaties with adrenaline on Sunday? With five tackles (four solo), two passes defended, two tackles for loss and a quarterback sack, the third-year cornerback was bucking Hunter for the trophy here!

With rookie corner Mike Hughes feared to be out for the rest of 2018 with an ACL tear, Alexander’s performance on Sunday against Arizona certainly will help bring down the blood pressure of many Viking fans’. As Mike Zimmer has told the press many times, the slot corner position is more difficult to learn than the simple side corner spot, and Alexander is showing strong improvement there.

True, the Cardinals are not the NFL’s passing offense that will give the ultimate test to a young player, but as the 2018 season is proving to be unpredictable to say the least, it’s great to see MacKensie growing in confidence.

Honorable Mention

Anthony Harris, Safety

Perhaps there are several Vikings worth mentioning here, but it is with a biased eye, I single out Harris. For whatever value that Mike Zimmer finds in the ‘camaraderie’ between Viking’ free safety Harrison Smith and strong safety Andrew Sendejo, I simply find Anthony Harris to be a better option in Sendejo’s spot. He proved that again on Sunday.

The guy’s a playmaker. Again, on Sunday, Harris is there to make a second-half pick and a difference. Does anyone remember the game he had against the L.A. Rams last year? He was all over the field in a 24-7 victory, including creating and recovering a goal-line fumble that would have tied the game in the first half.

For every play Sendejo makes, he overruns one. He’s a hitter, sure, but he’s also undersized and has a penchant for lowering his helmet. In the last two seasons, he’s been fined and penalized for it. If he played like Kam Chancellor, I’d get it, but he does not. The Minnesota Vikings coaching staff should consider Harris as a game-day upgrade.