Eric Kendricks named NFC Defensive Player of the Week

Turns out that listening to your mother pays off.

After racking up seven tackles, one tackle for loss, and returning his first career interception 77 yards for his first career touchdown (just like his mother instructed him to do), Vikings linebacker Eric Kendricks has been named NFC Defensive Player of the Week.

The pick-six was a huge turning point in Sunday’s victory over the Tennessee Titans. In fact, NumberFire called it the most impactful play of the entire slate of Week 1 NFL games. Their numbers said the interception increased Minnesota’s win probability by a whopping 40.57%.

Defensive players stepping up when the Vikings need it the most isn’t anything new. Minnesota technically has a two-game streak of having a player named NFC Defensive Player of the Week. Everson Griffen was the last player to earn the honor after the Vikings’ division-clinching victory in Week 17 at Lambeau over the Packers.

Let’s make it three in a row on Sunday night, shall we?