Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Linval Joseph reacts after a play during the first half of an NFL football game against the St. Louis Rams on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2015, in Minneapolis.
Vikings DT Linval Joseph has recorded 18 tackles over the last two weeks. Ann Heisenfelt Associated Press
The Minnesota Vikings have one of the NFL's nastiest nose tackles in Linval Joseph. He's a hulking 329 pounds of pure attitude, and those who get in his way are bound to feel the pain.
Just ask Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr, who made the mistake of trying to salvage a broken play against the Vikings in Week 10. As you can see in the loop below, courtesy of the team's official Vine account, Joseph ate Carr alive just as he collected himself and tried to escape the pocket.
Joseph, who won a Super Bowl as a member of the New York Giants, has been a solid contributor since the Vikings signed him as a free agent in the spring of 2014. His impact, however, has increased exponentially over the last two weeks.
In a 21-18 win over the St. Louis Rams in Week 9, Joseph had a season-high 10 tackles (seven solo, three for losses) and a half sack. His efforts earned him an NFC Defensive Player of the Week distinction. The dominant defensive lineman followed up that performance with an eight-tackle encore that also included a sack and a forced fumble in Minnesota's 30-14 win over the Raiders last Sunday.
With the Vikings fielding one of the NFL's top defenses though 10 weeks, Joseph is emerging as one of the unit's most integral parts.
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