Player in the spotlight
Kevin Williams will start his 158th game on Sunday, passing Hall of Famer Alan Page for most career starts by a Vikings defensive tackle. Williams trails only Jim Marshall (270) and Carl Eller (201) for most starts by a defensive lineman.
"It's a blessing to be healthy and to make that many starts," Williams said. "It's awesome to be able to start that long and play that well in the NFL nowadays."
In 11 seasons, Williams has missed only three games because of injury — two in 2005 and the season opener in Detroit two weeks ago. Asked for his secret to staying healthy and being able to play through pain, Williams said, "Maybe being breast fed helped a lot. They say you're getting the best nutrients you can get [laughing]. I'm just blessed that I've been able to do it. I guess the good Lord is [responsible] for that."
Williams has been named first-team All-Pro five times in his career. He tied an NFL record for interceptions by a defensive tackle last week when he picked off his fifth career pass.
"To be able to stay in the league and be effective this long is a tremendous feeling," he said.
Keep an eye on
The Vikings generated four takeaways in the loss to Chicago, which is a positive sign for the defense. The defensive line produced three turnovers, including a sack-strip by Jared Allen that resulted in Brian Robison's 61-yard fumble return for a touchdown.
Letroy Guion's fourth-quarter forced fumble and recovery got overshadowed by the late-game collapse, but that play showed a glimpse of Guion's potential.
"He's shown at times that he can be a dominant guy," coach Leslie Frazier said. "We're always looking for consistent play from Letroy."