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05	August 2019

D-line to the linebackers to the safetie

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) � The Minnesota Vikings turned their defensive line loose on Matthew Stafford in a dominant performance that would have made the old Purple People Eaters proud.This unstoppable pass rush was led Cheap Isaac Nauta Jersey , predictably, by Danielle Hunter.Hunter had 3 1/2 of Minnesota�s franchise-record 10 sacks plus a fourth-quarter fumble return for a touchdown , tormenting Stafford and the Detroit Lions all afternoon in a 24-9 victory by the Vikings on Sunday.�We knew he liked to throw the ball down the field, so that�s something that really helped us a lot because he held on to the ball,� said Hunter, who moved into the NFL lead with 11 1/2 sacks for the season. �So as long as we executed the rush plan, we knew we�d be able to get back there.�Hunter also was credited with nine tackles and four quarterback hits. The Vikings (5-3-1) limited the Lions (3-5) to a season-low 214 total yards, and their pressure on Stafford was so intense he literally had pieces of rubber pellets from the artificial turf flushed out of his left eye in the second quarter. The Lions had a streak of 25 consecutive games with at least 14 points come to a crashing halt.�The fault is on everybody,� said Stafford, who was sacked a total of 13 times over the first seven games. �I have to get the ball out faster.�After Dalvin Cook dropped a pitch from Kirk Cousins and A�Shawn Robinson recovered at the Detroit 28 with Minnesota leading 17-6, the Lions converted a fake punt to keep that drive alive. Two plays later, Stafford ran right on the short side of the field and tried an option-style flip that Kerryon Johnson was unable to secure, and Hunter scooped it up on his way to the easy score.�I don�t know why he pitched it. He could�ve just run,� Hunter said. �I thought it was a pass all the way, but I guess he didn�t want to get hit or something.�That happened a lot Isaac Nauta Jersey Womens , including a total of three times in the second quarter on two separate possessions inside the Minnesota 20 that forced the Lions to settle for field goals by Matt Prater.After a throw by Cousins to Adam Thielen near midfield was intercepted by Darius Slay, the Lions made it as far as the 12-yard line. Hunter sacked Stafford on consecutive snaps, sharing the first one with Everson Griffen.�He�s a freak of nature. He looks like a superhero,� Griffen said of the fourth-year defensive end. �I expected that from him.�Nine of the 10 sacks by the Vikings came from their front four, including 2 1/2 by backup defensive tackle Tom Johnson. During the heyday of the Purple People Eaters, the Vikings had nine sacks in a game in 1968, 1969 and 1970. They also did it in 1993. But this was the record-setter, thanks to a well-timed mix of blitzes called by coach Mike Zimmer and the relentless rush by Hunter and his friends up front.�We know if we give them time, they�ll get there,� safety Harrison Smith said. �It�s fun to be a part of.�HE�S COOKIN�With one burst through a big hole in the left side of the line , Cook made clear he�s healthy again with a 70-yard gain in the second quarter to set up a short touchdown catch by Thielen. According to the NFL�s NextGen Stats tracker, he averaged 22.07 mph during that run for the fastest in the league this season. The Lions have allowed a rush of 50-plus yards in four different games this year.NOT THIELEN ITThielen�s streak of 100-yard receiving games ended at eight in a row, leaving him in a tie for the record with Lions legend Calvin Johnson. The Lions double-covered him often, taking advantage of the absence of fellow standout Stefon Diggs to rib injury, and Thielen finished with only four receptions for 22 yards.STACKS OF SACKSThe previous high sack total for Stafford in his career was seven Isaac Nauta Detroit Lions Jersey , against the Vikings in 2015. He has been sacked five times or more on 15 different occasions, six of those by the Vikings. The Lions are 3-12 in those games.�It�s a big shot to our pride,� left guard Frank Ragnow said.UH-OHThe opening kickoff was ominous for the Lions when Prater slipped after his leg swing, an unintentional squib the Vikings returned to their 35. Practice squad promotion Chad Beebe caught back-to-back passes on the first drive of his NFL debut. The second one netted 13 yards on fourth-and-2 from the Detroit 37. Latavius Murray finished the march with a 1-yard touchdown run.INJURY REPORTLions: DE Ziggy Ansah (shoulder) returned from a six-game absence with had a sack in the closing seconds of the second quarter that forced the Vikings to settle for a field goal. � LT Taylor Decker left in the third quarter with an undisclosed injury but later returned.Vikings: LB Anthony Barr (hamstring) and LG Tom Compton (knee) were held out for the second straight game, and SS Andrew Sendejo (groin) missed his fourth straight contest. � Backup TE David Morgan hobbled off in the third quarter with a left knee injury.UP NEXTLions: Play at Chicago next Sunday.Vikings: Play at Chicago on Nov. 18, after the bye. The New York Jets were dominant on defense in their season opener, with one player after another coming up with highlight-reel plays.Five interceptions, big tackles and lots of pressure on the quarterback marked the 48-17 victory in Detroit last Monday night ."I couldn't stop smiling, man," linebacker Avery Williamson said, "for like the whole night."Despite all that, though, the Jets see plenty of room for improvement."Our mission this week is to step it up," cornerback Morris Claiborne said. "Our feeling is we're not taking this game as something we're going to be stuck on. No, we're trying to be better than that game. So Isaac Nauta Jersey 2019 , this week, we're coming out and trying to be better than last week. We're not playing like we're stuck in the past or anything like that."We're going to go win this game, just like last week."The Miami Dolphins certainly know what's coming Sunday at MetLife Stadium, and that's a Jets unit noticeably faster than it was last season � and even in previous years, for that matter.Improving the overall speed on defense was a focus for coach Todd Bowles and general manager Mike Maccagnan, and that was on full display against the Lions ."That was fun," said Williamson, in his first season with New York after four with Tennessee. "You see everybody making plays, it's just a great time."Linebacker Darron Lee had two interceptions, while Claiborne, cornerback Trumaine Johnson and safety Jamal Adams also had picks. It was the most by the Jets in a game since Oct. 3, 1999, when they also had five against Denver.Lee returned the first of his INTs 36 yards for a touchdown that gave New York a 31-17 lead in the third quarter. It was the Jets' first defensive score since 2013 � a span of 73 games, which had been the longest drought in NFL history."It's definitely a good stepping stone in the right direction," Lee said Isaac Nauta Jersey Mens , "and we definitely want to throw some consistency with that."It was also the first INT of the third-year linebacker's career. He was just getting started. About 2 1/2 minutes later, Lee picked off another pass by Matthew Stafford."I feel like he played a phenomenal game," Williamson said of Lee. "He was everywhere, flying around and making tackles and two interceptions."Lee might be the biggest wild-card on the Jets' defense. The 2016 first-round pick out of Ohio State had two solid but unspectacular seasons to start his NFL career. While he finished second in tackles both seasons, his lack of big plays has been a major knock.Even former Jets linebacker and current sports radio host Bart Scott called for the athletic Lee to be more physical and come up with game-changing plays.Well, one game into this season and Lee is looking much-improved in both areas."I'm never satisfied," he said. "I'm just going to keep pushing and trying to get better every single day. ... I feel pretty comfortable with what we're doing, so I guess that enabled me to play fast."Both Lee and Adams spoke after the game about how they were able to predict the play calls by the Lions, and the players credited the coaching staff for thoroughly preparing them."They're going to come to us if we're in the right spots," Claiborne said. "Our coaches put together a great game plan to have us in those spots to be able to make those plays. So, you're in those spots, but ultimately, it's up to you make the play."While Williamson and Johnson are new to the Jets' defense this season, many of the key pieces are back and have experience working in the system. That includes Adams and fellow safety Marcus Maye, who are both in their second seasons � although Maye missed the opener and likely will sit out against the Dolphins with a foot injury."We definitely can play faster Youth Isaac Nauta Jersey , and I think it helped with communication," Lee said. "We're communicating across the board a lot better. It wasn't really necessarily like that last year because there were a lot of people new to some stuff and having two rookies, but now, we definitely are communicating from the D-line to the linebackers to the safeties and the corners."Five interceptions might be a lot to reasonably expect on a weekly basis, of course, but the Jets saw what they can do when they're clicking in all areas on defense.And that's without even having any sacks, an area that has been widely criticized in recent seasons. But, the Jets generated lots of pressure and had four quarterback hits, including two by defensive end Leonard Williams."I think we can be really good, man," Williamson said of the defense. "I'm still learning the little intricate details of it all, but I feel as a unit, we could be great. I feel like the talent is there. We have great coaches. We just have to continue to come out there and work hard every day and continue to do what we've been doing during camp."The sky's the limit for what this unit can be."