The Minnesota Vikings are currently on pace to break the NFL record for sacks in a single season.
Through three weeks, the Vikings lead the league with 15 sacks. An average of five sacks per game would give Minnesota 80 total over a 16-game season.
The 1984 Chicago Bears hold the NFL record with 72 sacks in a season.
The Vikings took down Cam Newton eight times last Sunday, but Mike Zimmer’s defense also got to Aaron Rodgers five times in Week 2 and Marcus Mariota twice in the season opener.
Next up for Minnesota’s pass-rush? Eli Manning and the New York Giants.
“It’s going to be a challenge for our offensive line,” Giants head coach Ben McAdoo said, via John Fennelly of SportsNet New York. “It’s going to be a challenge for the (running) backs too and the tight ends. Just the way they play on defense and how they challenge you. It’s going to be a huge challenge for our offense, but we’ll be ready to handle it.”
Defensive end Everson Griffen leads the Vikings with four sacks. Former Giant Linval Joseph and second-year defensive end Danielle Hunter both have 3.0, while Brian Robison (2.0), Harrison Smith (1.0), Anthony Barr (1.0) and Tom Johnson (1.0) all have at least one.
The Vikings also have five interceptions, six fumble recoveries and two defensive touchdowns.
“That defensive front, yeah, we’ve put up great numbers, but in that room it’s not really about that,” linebacker Chad Greenway said, via the team’s official site. “It’s about just trying to get wins. Stats are coming with those guys, which is great and typically comes when you’re winning.”
Five sacks a game is a savage pace, but the Vikings have the players up front to make life difficult for every quarterback they face. Manning will be the next to find out.
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