{"id":99265,"date":"2020-12-07T17:24:00","date_gmt":"2020-12-07T22:24:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=99265"},"modified":"2021-05-30T14:56:34","modified_gmt":"2021-05-30T18:56:34","slug":"minnesota-vikings-defensive-line-week-13","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2020\/12\/07\/minnesota-vikings-defensive-line-week-13\/","title":{"rendered":"Minnesota Vikings Defensive Line Steps up in Week 13 Win"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>At times, the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/nfl-teams\/vikings\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">Minnesota Vikings<\/a> defensive line has <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2020\/09\/17\/minnesota-vikings-d-line\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">failed to contribute<\/a>. In many ways, Minnesota&#8217;s issues along the d-line are understandable. Subtracting <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/H\/HuntDa01.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Danielle Hunter<\/strong><\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/P\/PierMi00.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Michael Pierce<\/strong><\/a> is a lot to overcome; the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/N\/NgakYa00.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Yannick Ngakoue<\/strong><\/a> trade didn\u2019t end up working out. Against the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/nfl-teams\/jaguars\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">Jacksonville Jaguars<\/a>, though, the defensive line played well, largely contributing to the Minnesota Vikings Week 13 win.<\/p>\n<h2>The Minnesota Vikings Defensive Line<\/h2>\n<p>Before the game, the Vikings received the news that <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/K\/KendEr00.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Eric Kendricks<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 who should be getting serious consideration for Defensive Player of the Year \u2013 would miss the game with a leg injury. It was a massive blow for a defense that has already sustained significant injuries. Kendricks is a player who can hold a defense together, making both the defensive line and secondary look better because of his incredible play. Kendricks\u2019 absence was yet another hurdle for the defensive line to clear.<\/p>\n<p>Perhaps the best player on Minnesota\u2019s defensive line was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/O\/OdenIf00.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Ifeadi Odenigbo<\/strong><\/a>. He was <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/WillRagatz\/status\/1335956655973015553\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">credited with eight pressures<\/a>, and many of them came in the second half. Odenigbo got better and better as the game progressed. Perhaps most importantly, Odenigbo got a safety on a critical fourth quarter play:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Ifeadi Odenigbo and <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Jbrailford2?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@Jbrailford2<\/a> force the SAFETY!!!<\/p>\n<p>\ud83d\udcf1: <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/EYGyNNxBPN\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/t.co\/EYGyNNxBPN<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/0ZzLcpHzYe\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/0ZzLcpHzYe<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Vikings\/status\/1335684543177580544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">December 6, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>The overall context adds an extra layer of importance to Odenigbo\u2019s safety. A few plays earlier, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/C\/CookDa01.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Dalvin Cook<\/strong><\/a> began the fourth quarter by fumbling on the 1-yard line. Instead of going up by two-scores, the Vikings were instead forced to play defense as they clung to a three-point lead. Odenigbo, in combination with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/B\/BraiJo00.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Jordan Brailford<\/strong><\/a>, responded by getting the safety <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/G\/GlenMi00.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Mike Glennon<\/a><\/strong>, giving the Vikings a critical two points and the ball.<\/p>\n<p>Brailford was originally signed several weeks ago and placed on the practice squad. He only got the chance to play on Sunday because of an injury to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/W\/WonnDJ00.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>D.J. Wonnum<\/strong><\/a>. He made the most of his chance. Brailford not only got in on the safety, but he also forced a fumble and then recovered it. It\u2019s also worth mentioning that <strong>Hercules Mata\u2019afa<\/strong>, a player who also spent some time on the practice squad, got a sack yesterday. In other words, the Minnesota Vikings got some nice production out of their defensive line.<\/p>\n<h3>Looking Ahead<\/h3>\n<p>The Vikings are officially in a playoff spot. The <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/nfl-teams\/cardinals\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">Arizona Cardinals<\/a> lost their game, allowing Minnesota to hop into the seventh spot in the NFC. Of course, there is still plenty of football left to be played, so the Vikings will need to ensure they\u2019re sharp if they have any hope of getting into the postseason.<\/p>\n<p>Minnesota\u2019s next opponent is the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/nfl-teams\/buccaneers\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">Tampa Bay Buccaneers<\/a>. It\u2019s going to be a great test for Minnesota. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/B\/BradTo00.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Tom Brady<\/strong><\/a> has a vast array of weapons on offense, so the simplest solution rests in being able to generate pressure. Ideally, they\u2019ll be able to do so with just their defensive line.<\/p>\n<p>Against the Jaguars, <strong>Mike Zimmer<\/strong> often deployed four defensive ends on obvious passing downs. Doing so allowed him to drop more players into coverage. Zimmer\u2019s strategy didn\u2019t always work, but it\u2019s an approach that makes a lot of sense. If they are to have any hope of taking down the Bucccaneers, the Vikings will need continued strong performance from Odenigbo, Brailford, and the rest of the defensive line.<\/p>\n<p>Main Photo:<br \/>\n<a id=\"CBUP6y_NQLZgY4YY545NIQ\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/1289772890\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'CBUP6y_NQLZgY4YY545NIQ',sig:'TcILAmz-4gldH9MkB_jgSSGI0UJ-Jn0pyKaXiaumZfI=',w:'594px',h:'401px',items:'1289772890',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Minnesota Vikings defensive line played well against the Jacksonville Jaguars, largely contributing to the team&#8217;s Week 13 win.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3613,"featured_media":99306,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[54,26],"tags":[5942,802,40,970],"class_list":["post-99265","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-editorials","category-vikings","tag-ifeadi-odenigbo","tag-mike-zimmer","tag-nfl","tag-nfl-playoffs"],"modified_by":"David Latham, Managing Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99265","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3613"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=99265"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99265\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/99306"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=99265"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=99265"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=99265"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}