Minnesota Vikings defense looking to take Peyton Manning down hard

Minneapolis Fox 9 Sports Anchor, Dawn Mitchell, joined Eric Goodman and Zach Fogg on Mile High Sports' Afternoon Drive and talked about the viciousness of the Minnesota Vikings front seven and how they intend to come after Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos offense.

Mitchell talked up the Vikings front seven pretty good in this interview, but her words tend to align with what I've seen from this unit so far over the last two games. They don't quite have the physicality from top to bottom on the defensive side of the ball as the Broncos do, but they are looking like the second best defensive unit in the NFL through three games.

On the Vikings front seven wanting to put the hurt on people

"You know, it's funny for me to hear that only because I know them as people. And I know they are classy gentlemen. But when they get on the field, I think you're absolutely right. They're not doing it dirty, you know, I think you and I have talked in the past about this isn't a bounty on anyone's head. They're clean, they're classy, but they rattled two really tough and solid quarterbacks in a row in [Matthew] Stafford and [Philip] Rivers. Those quarterbacks came up a little woozy. I mean they kept getting back up, but it was one wave after another. If it's not Linval Joseph, Tom Johnson, and of course, Everson Griffen, you've got Brian Robison. It's formidable."

On Vikings defense believing they can make a name for themselves against the Broncos

"Absolutely. I think you hit the nail right on the head. They have a chip on their shoulder. It's not like I'm the undrafted kid out of college chip on their shoulder. This is we're good and we're know here in the Midwest, but we're not getting our props, yes this is a chance for us to show who we are."

On if the Vikings front seven hold back if they have a clean shot at Manning

"No, they won't hold back. Again, they won't be cheap, but they will probably salivate at that chance. That's where they take their pride in. Now it's not all about sacks for them. Mike Zimmer has been making that clear. It's not all about sacks, but this is our bread and butter. If you are on the front line, you are going after Peyton. And if you have a clean shot, you're taking him down."

How can the Broncos offense match up?

Given what we've seen from the Broncos offense so far, I'm not sure how to answer that question. I suppose my answer would be, Manning will find a way. His veteran leadership and knowledge of the game is an instant advantage in a game like this where two elite defenses square off. Teddy Bridgewater, I don't think, is quite up to that task. If he plays like he did last week, I really do think the Broncos are going to go sack crazy on him. This is a match up that doesn't favor either offense, so it's best to go with the Hall of Fame mind over the second year inexperienced starting quarterback.

Bonus listen

Eric and Zach wonder if the Minnesota Vikings are more like the Denver Broncos than we all thought. I think on defense there are certainly some similarities, but the Vikings have a ways to go before they catch up to the Broncos on that side of the ball. Conversely, the only similarities I see on offense is that both units have struggled to open the 2015 season. Outside that, I can't really see any similarities yet.