Viktor
Well-known member
- Mar 19, 2019
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Notable Number
99.5 — Since Minnesota drafted Hunter 88th overall in 2015, he and Griffen have combined for 99.5 total sacks. The duo has combined for more sacks than any other pair of current teammates in the NFL in that time span. The next-closest duo is Geno Atkins and Carlos Dunlap, who have combined for 89.5 in Cincinnati.
Memorable Moment
Anytime you set an NFL record, it makes for a pretty memorable day.
Hunter did just that against the Lions in Week 14. He needed one-half sack to set the new league benchmark but for good measure got 3.0.
After back-to-back pass deflections by Stephen and Harrison Smith to start the division matchup, Hunter smelled blood in the water on third-and-10.
When he took down rookie QB David Blough for a loss of 6, Hunter became the youngest NFL player to record 50 career sacks (since it became an official stat in 1982). The 25-year-old went on to notch two more sacks of Blough for the hat trick on a historic day.
Regular-Season Statistics
Danielle Hunter
76 total tackles (team stats) with 16 tackles for loss, 14.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and a pass defensed
Linval Joseph
54 total tackles (team stats) with six tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks and a forced fumble
Everson Griffen
46 total tackles (team stats) with 11 tackles for loss, 8.0 sacks, one interception and a pass defensed
Jaleel Johnson
42 total tackles (team stats) with five tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and a pass defensed
Shamar Stephen
36 total tackles (team stats) with three tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and three passes defensed
Stephen Weatherly
31 total tackles (team stats) with five tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks and one forced fumble
Ifeadi Odenigbo
25 total tackles (team stats) with eight tackles for loss, 7.0 sacks, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and one pass defensed
Armon Watts
14 total tackles (team stats) with one tackle for loss, 1.5 sacks and a pass defensed
Jalyn Holmes
Six total tackles (team stats) with one tackle for loss
Hercules Mata'afa
Two total tackles (team stats) with one tackle for loss, one fumble recovery and a pass defensed
Highest highs
1. The Saints offensive line didn't quite know what hit them.
Hint: It was Griffen and Hunter.
The Vikings moved the defensive ends to the interior of Minnesota's defensive line during the Wild Card game at New Orleans, and the duo wreaked havoc on the Saints guards. A usually stout offensive line struggled to combat the Vikings pass rush, and future Hall of Famer Drew Brees felt the heat more than once.
Griffen and Hunter combined for 3.0 total sacks (1.5 apiece) of Brees, who had been sacked just 12 times over 11 regular-season games (a thumb injury sidelined him five weeks). The defensive approach helped Minnesota upset New Orleans in overtime and advance to the Divisional round of the playoffs.
2. Have a day, defense.
Minnesota caused an impressive seven turnovers by the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 15 en route to a 39-10 West Coast win.
The most memorable of the takeaways occurred on a Hunter strip-sack of Philip Rivers, after which the loose ball was recovered by Odenigbo and returned 56 yards for a touchdown to give the Vikings a 19-10 lead.
Hunter finished the day with two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery of his own.
Lowest lows
1. The Vikings allowed opponents to average 108.0 rushing yards per game in the regular season, which ranked 13th in the NFL. But at Seattle on Monday Night Football in Week 13, it seemed Minnesota couldn't stop much of anything. Defensive linemen routinely preach, "stop the run first," but the Seahawks racked up 218 yards rushing en route to a 37-30 win. Hunter and Odenigbo did manage a sack apiece of Russell Wilson, but the slippery quarterback still finished the day with 240 yards passing and two touchdowns.
2. In the Divisional round game at San Francisco, Minnesota allowed 186 yards on the ground. While the number can't be pinned on the defensive line alone, the front four was unable to slow the run which, in turn, meant there wasn't much of a pass rush against 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo. San Francisco defeated Minnesota 27-10 to end the Vikings season.
"It was pretty cool. That was my first-ever career touchdown. Never got one in high school. Never got one in college. Being able to get one in L.A. is pretty neat. … I saw Danielle put in an excellent block. I was fortunate to score the touchdown but it was good, complementary football. Zimmer always harps on pursuit and effort, and that was quite the effort from Danielle and EK (linebacker Eric Kendricks)."
– Odenigbo on his scoop-and-score at Los Angeles
"It means a lot. I was kind of hoping that it would happen here. Because at the other places, I was like, 'Man, it could happen here, but it would be better if it was at home.' It just means a lot to come out here and do it in front of the people who helped me be the player I am today. Coach Andre Patterson, Coach [Rob] Rodriguez, they played a big role in [making me] the player that I am today. I'm just happy to be able to go out here and win the game with my teammates and achieve things with my teammates."
– Hunter after setting the record at home against the Lions
"They always see us in the same spot, and being able to switch it up and give them a different look, it really messed them up in the beginning. They made their adjustments, we made our adjustments, but I'm proud of our team, man. We fought."
– Griffen on moving inside with Hunter against the Saints