Captain Munnerlyn has been one of the key leaders and most consistent members of the Vikings secondary since he signed a three-year, $14.25 million deal in 2014. Since that signing, Munnerlyn has missed just one game, because of a sprained ankle this season, and he has had tackle totals of 60 in 2014, 55 in 2015 and 49 so far this season.
Munnerlyn's arrival coincided with the hiring of coach Mike Zimmer, and Munnerlyn has fit into Zimmer's schemes from the first season. Still, Munnerlyn said that the most recent stretch of losing five games out of six has been difficult.
"It was one of the toughest things I've ever been through in life, especially playing this game of football. It was definitely tough," Munnerlyn said. "We didn't play our best football, and I'm glad we're out of the skid. We're on the up-rise and trying to get better each and every week."
Munnerlyn, like Zimmer earlier this week, said that the most aggravating part of the streak was that the team was in every single game.
"That's the crazy thing about it, and that's the thing that hurt. We were in every single game but we always shot ourselves in the foot," he said. "We always beat ourselves. We didn't execute well or we didn't make a play here or there and we fell a little short."
Munnerlyn said that the team's win over Jacksonville last Sunday was not only necessary for its playoff chances but got the team in the right frame of mind.
"We still have got a couple more games left, three more, but Sunday definitely was a confidence booster," he said. "We finally finished a game out, offense put up some points, and we got the win."
Does that kind of win change the locker room?