2. An outstanding front seven
Let’s be honest — the Vikings’ secondary hasn’t been great this year.
While Harrison Smith is still doing his thing and Anthony Harris has been a standout, the cornerback position has underwhelmed. I’m not even sure Xavier Rhodes knows he’s playing in an actual game half the time. Trae Waynes is a quality starter, but he makes too many mistakes and Mike Hughes is a major work in progress. There’s a reason why the Vikings are currently ranked 18th against the pass.
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Luckily for them, they’ve found a way to counteract the secondary’s struggles. That’s by having one of the best front sevens in all of football.
It all starts up front, with the pass-rushing duo of Danielle Hunter and Everson Griffen. Hunter is a stud and likely will be for years to come — he’s not slowing down anytime soon. Griffen, who seemed to be headed downhill last year, is back on track. He’s been dominant at times in 2019, and has played a huge role in the Minnesota defense’s success.
There’s also Linval Joseph, Shamar Stephen, and Ifeadi Odenigbo, who all deserve a nod for their contributions so far this season.
Next, we’ve got the linebacker group. More specifically, Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks deserve the praise here. Barr has been an all-around playmaker again, occasionally collapsing pockets, stuffing the run and being the four-time Pro Bowler we’ve grown accustomed to. Kendricks, meanwhile, is having an outstanding year, with some going as far as naming him as a sleeper candidate for Defensive Player of the Year.
Yes, this isn’t the Minnesota defense we’ve seen in recent years. Especially as the pass defense has wavered, we’ve seen their standing among the league’s top defenses falter. Still, if their front seven continues to pressure passers, stuff runners and overall impact the game the way it has been, the Super Bowl is absolutely within reach.