The run defense was something that definitely stood out in this game and I think it all starts with Wilkerson and Clark. Watch the play below:

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https://streamable.com/wnlgf

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You can see Clark blowing up the center and Wilkerson getting immediate penetration. Cook is forced to bounce it to the outside where Matthews proves it’ll take more than a TE to block him. #52 slows Cook down and Martinez and King finish up the play. There’s a celebratory needless shove at the end from Daniels as is tradition.

Daniel’s, not wanting to be left out of the party, decides to blow up a running play of his own later. Watch the clip on 1st and 10 below:

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https://streamable.com/8w9in

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The center starts moving laterally but forgets to take Mike Diesel with him. Big D easily sheds him and almost makes a play for a 4 yard loss but Cook makes a good move and gets back to the line of scrimmage for no gain.

This was the only slightly frustrating part of the run defense, where Packers were in position to make tackles and simply whiffed, a theme that is all too familiar to Packer fans. The Vikings should have been facing a 2nd and 14.

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In the play below you’ll see a similar story :

https://streamable.com/zv5l1

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You can see Martinez in perfect position in the running lane between the LG and the C. Cook breaks it to the outside where the young and the old combine to spectacularly miss a tackle. This should have been a run for no gain and set up The Vikes for a 3rd and long instead of a 3rd and manageable.

I know it seems like I’m nitpicking but this is, I think, a crucial part of our game. The strength of our pass rush will come from the interior and if we can make these tackles and put our opponents in obvious passing situations it’ll help our pass rush tremendously. We need our big guys pinning their ears back and chasing the QB like Goku chasing Bubbles.