Most of the time, the best way to get haters is to be great. Some of the most hated athletes in sports history are also among the greatest to ever play their respective games. The Minnesota Vikings have haters and that distaste is getting louder as the team continues to be a force in the NFL and frustrate their division counterparts.
But along with haters comes respect. Some NFL fans may hate Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson for his consistent greatness, but they understand how good he is and appreciate what he brings to the field.
The Minnesota Vikings may not get a ton of love around the NFL but they are earning the respect they deserve.
The Minnesota Vikings worked hard to improve the trenches on both sides of the ball. In free agency and the draft, the team revamped its offensive line and defensive front, and people are starting to take notice of the changes.
Recently, Woodward Sports Network’s Daniel 'Eazy' Ezerkis shared his concerns about the new defensive front of the Vikings and how they stack up against the offensive line of the Minnesota Vikings.
In the video on YouTube, Ezerkis answers questions about how the Lions' defensive line compares to Minnesota's and which unit he would rather have for his team. His answer was surprising.
"I forgot these MFs in Minnesota went and signed Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen. Which are guys you kind of want Lee NcNeil to become. You know what I'm saying? Like, they're there doing it already Top 10. Really good defensive tackles."
He goes on to mention Harrison Phillips and the success Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel are enjoying on the edge with a nod for Dallas Turner's work in limited snaps last season. He goes on to choose the Vikings' unit over the Lions'.
Ezerkis continues, adding that the strength of the Minnesota Vikings defensive line matches up well against the questions for the Detroit Lions offensive line. The retirement of four-time Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow could make a strong unit vulnerable in 2025.
Optimism about the Lions season is still there, but the praise for the work the Vikings have done on their defensive front is nice to hear and it helps to validate Minnesota's decision to extend general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.
Hopefully, the adjustments the Minnesota Vikings made to their roster can help them to get past the Lions in the NFC North. Last season, Detroit accounted for 2 of the team's three regular season losses. Being able to get a win against the returning NFC North champions would be huge for the 2025 NFL season.