Vikings Defender Given the Clutch Tag
Sometimes in sports, it matters not just what you do but when you do it. Making big plays in the first quarter is great. Making them when the game is on the line will get you noticed more. One Vikings defender is given the clutch tag from Pro Football Focus this week for what he’s been doing in the fourth quarter of games.
Vikings Defender Given the Clutch Tag
The defender in question is cornerback Byron Murphy who is enjoying a rich vein of form at the moment. Murphy recorded a third interception in as many games last week against the Jacksonville Jaguars — completing the hat trick.
The interception occurred in the third quarter and began a run of plays that saw the Vikings turn the ball over three consecutive times and ultimately ensure a Vikings win. It was the third time that Murphy had snagged an interception in the fourth quarter, leading the league in that particular stat.
PFF presented a graphic showing the fourth-quarter defensive stat leaders for pressures, sacks, interceptions, and forced incompletions. Game-changing plays when it matters most; PFF put a simple message with the graphic “clutch defenders.” Murphy was joined by Nick Bosa, Trey Hendrickson, and Denzel Ward, a good company to keep. Murphy was the player mic’d up during the Jaguars game and revealed the secret ingredient to his success — Sprite. His teammates appeared baffled by a professional sportsperson drinking a soda on the sideline. However, in the next defensive series, he went out and caught his interception, so who’s to argue?
As well as the one against the Jags, Murphy has fourth-quarter interceptions this season against the Indianapolis Colts and Green Bay Packers. He had a fourth interception against the Los Angeles Rams this season, which came in the third quarter. Four interceptions ties with Marlon Humphrey for most in the league by a cornerback.
Continuing the clutch theme, Murphy also forced a fumble against the Packers in the fourth quarter. It came on the play after his interception and was recovered by Vikings safety Camryn Bynum, leading to Murphy playing his part in back-to-back turnovers at a crucial time.
Solving One of Next Season’s Problems
CB will be near the top of the list whenever you see mention of what the Vikings should do in the draft or free agency between now and next season. This year, the Vikings brought in veterans Stephon Gilmore and Shaq Griffen on one-year deals, and the results have been reasonable. The Vikings desperately need a lockdown CB1, and while Murphy isn’t going to be that guy, he is proving to be the good inside/outside versatile CB the Vikings hoped they were signing last season.
If he continues to play at his current level, extending his contract, which will expire after this season, should be a no-brainer. It will then leave the Vikings able to put their resources into the top-level CB they need. If Mekhi Blackmon — who was lost this season with an ACL tear — returns with the promise shown in his rookie season, the Vikings’ CB will suddenly look in a much brighter spot rather than having to search for multiple CB options.
Murphy doesn’t turn 27 until January and still has a lot of football ahead of him. How much of that will be in Minnesota remains to be seen, but if it were up to me, he would certainly still be here next year.
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