Here’s what Matt Ryan had to say about the Vikings:

On Everson Griffen: "(Right defensive end Everson) Griffen plays in their front four and creates problems on the edge in terms of pass rush, but he's also very good against the run." (He's tied with Arizona's Chandler Jones for the NFL lead with 12 sacks.)

On safety Harrison Smith: "Harrison Smith is a down safety who does a great job of making plays in the run game. He's very physical. He does a great job in their pass-rush scheme, too. They use him to pressure quite a bit. He's also solid in coverage." (He leads the Vikings with three interceptions.)

On cornerback Xavier Rhodes: "Rhodes on the outside is a very good corner. Strong. Had a great year last year and has had a great one this year so far."

On how the Vikings are 9-2: "One, they've got good players and that helps. I think their scheme is very sound. (Coach) Mike (Zimmer) has always done a great job defensively of having a lot of guys around the line of scrimmage, creating a lot of different pressure looks."

Subscribe to "The Bow Tie Chronicles" podcast with the AJC's D. Orlando Ledbetter on iTunes or on the new AJC sports podcasts page.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Former Arizona Cardinals kicker Zane Gonzalez has made 96 of 120 field-goal attempts (80%), with a long of 57 yards. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images/TNS 2020)

Credit: TNS

Featured

Passengers wait at a Delta check-in counter at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. It was the first day the Federal Aviation Administration cut flight capacity at airports during the government shutdown. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com