MINNEAPOLIS — Having just been stiff-armed down to the turf at the start of a critical play during the defense’s most important moment, Cam Dantzler pushed himself up with his palms.
That’s where the play that secured the Minnesota Vikings’ 29-22 victory over the Chicago Bears began — with Dantzler falling, and then, seemingly in the same act, pressing himself upright and immediately setting his sights on the receiver who had just shoved him to the ground.
The receiver was Ihmir Smith – Marsette. It was Smith-Marsette, of course. Whom? VikingsIn 2021, drafted. Whom the Vikings released at training camp. Whom Dantzler was able to dangle the ball as he ran.
Dantzler got back up and chased Smith-Marsette. He sat alongside Smith Marsette and tugged at Smith-Marsette’s ball with all he had. Dantzler quickly grabbed Smith-Marsette’s ball before scurrying back in the opposite direction. He then went down to seal his win.
Defensive tackle is performed after the game. Dalvin Tomlinson termed the play “straight effort,” which explains why coach Kevin O’Connell handed Dantzler a game ball.
“Such a critical moment,” safety Harrison Smith added. “Such a big play.”
Thinking about the entire arc of the play, Dantzler’s strip felt emblematic of this 2022 Vikings defense.
