Minnesota Vikings: Defense ready to carry team in playoffs

The Minnesota Vikings secured the NFC North for the first time since 2009 with a win over the Green Bay Packers and they’ve gotten hot at just the right time to dive into the playoffs.

For a team boasting both Adrian Peterson and Teddy Bridgewater as strong offensive contenders, it may be surprising that the real strength of the team is on the other side of the ball.

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The Minnesota Vikings defense has been the rock on which Peterson and Bridgewater stand. While opposing offenses crash ceaselessly against this stubborn defense, the offense is allowed to maneuver as it desires to win the game – whether that’s on the ground with Peterson or through the air with an efficient Bridgewater.

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While the offense needs to put up points, it isn’t relied upon to win the team games. The Vikings offense ranks just 16th in scoring in the NFL and 29th in total yards, suggesting that good field position has been invaluable in putting point on the board. That all starts with the defense.

As the old adage goes, defense wins championships.

There are few better defenses than the Minnesota Vikings’ and they’re poised to try and deliver a championship this year.

Allowing the fifth fewest points to opposing offenses, the Vikings can put up a wall against almost any offense. Only the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks managed to score more than 23 points against the Vikes all season.

Headed up by guys like linebacker Eric Kendricks, defensive tackle Linval Joseph, and safety Harrison Smith, the Vikings defense is loaded on each level of the defense. Those three are among the bigger names on the defense but the talent surrounding them is equally impressive. You could pick almost any name from the defensive line, linebacking corps, and secondary to create an equally impressive list of names:

• Resurgent linebacker Chad Greenway, defensive end Everson Griffen, cornerback Xavier Rhodes
• Stud linebacker Anthony Barr, exciting rookie defensive end Danielle Hunter, cornerback Terence Newman

…you get the idea.

The Minnesota Vikings defense is loaded with players who not only do their job, but also make plays. Whether it’s batting the ball at the line of scrimmage so the receiver doesn’t even have a chance or jumping a route to completely swing the momentum, there’s a guy who can do that for the Vikings and it could really be any guy on this defense. They are all capable of stepping up on any given day.

In the coming weeks of playoff season in the NFL there will be plenty of speculation on which team is the best and which players can carry their team through the rigorous playoff format. For the Vikings, no one player will be relied upon to carry this team. The defense, as a unit, will do the job and it will rely on a multitude of talented players to get the job done.

Don’t overlook this unit in the playoffs. As the Seattle Times notes, this is a unit that is built right and building around a defense under head coach Mike Zimmer is building a contender for the long haul.

More nfl spin zone: Beating Packers proves Vikes are ready for playoffs

The modern-day Purple People Eaters (as dubbed by Alex Marvez) will be dangerous in these playoffs. Expect them to turn some heads as flashier, more offense-focused teams find themselves unable to penetrate such an impressive defense. It’ll be a struggle, have no doubt, but expect these guys to hold strong.