Defensive MVP – Honorable Mentions
The Minnesota Vikings defense had a horrible start. Green Bay rattled off 21 quick points and left the purple and gold in a massive hole. But it didn’t stay that way, as the defense made adjustments and tightened up in a big way and kept the team in the game down the stretch.
Even with three defensive backs unable to suit up due to injury or suspension, they were able to hold firm against a powerful Packers offense and give the Vikings offense several chances to take the lead late in the game.
Here are some of the defensive standouts from this game:
- Everson Griffen, defensive end: The stat sheet doesn’t show just how effective Griffen was against the Packers offensive line. Going against David Bakhtiari who was nursing a back injury. He consistently got pressures and disrupted the game despite not earning a sack in the game, but not every great effort ends up in the stat sheet.
- Eric Kendricks, linebacker: Coming in second in tackles for the Vikings, Kendricks once again showcased his great awareness by finding and tackling ball carriers to limit yardage. Not only that, but he had a beautiful pass breakup that would have resulted in a Green Bay first down had it been completed.
- Linval Joseph, defensive tackle: The Big Goon had a solid game this week, breaking through the Packers offensive line on multiple occasions and controlling the line of scrimmage, especially in short-yardage situations. He had six tackles (four solo) and one sack on the day with one additional tackle for a loss.
- Hercules Mata’afa, defensive tackle: Nevermind his size, Mata’afa is a force to be reckoned with. His combination of power and speed with a low center of gravity make it difficult for big offensive linemen to keep leverage against him, and he should see a lot more play in situational play for Minnesota.
- Danielle Hunter, defensive end: Griffen may have dominated the offensive line, but Hunter got a lot of the glory. He landed three hits on Aaron Rodgers, earning one sack. He also led the team in total tackles with nine, six solo. Under normal circumstances, he would usually be a clear decision for MVP.