The return of longtime Vikings center Matt Birk to Minnesota as a member of the Ravens has received a lot of attention, at least in the Twin Cities.
Vikings defensive tackle Pat Williams, for one, is sick of answering questions about facing his former teammate.
“Everyone’s trying to make it a Birk thing, a Pat thing. But I don’t care,” Williams told Sean Jensen of the Pioneer Press. “We don’t miss him around here. We don’t care about no [expletive] Baltimore or nothing. We’re on a mission. We’re worried about the Minnesota Vikings. That’s it.”
Birk may have earned six Pro Bowl nods in Minnesota, but Williams is entering his 13th consecutive season as one of the scariest dudes in the league. Williams also didn’t like the perception that the Vikings could struggle to match Baltimore’s toughness.
“I’m tired of people saying it’s going to be a physical game,” Williams said. “Our team is physical. We’re the physical team.”
Annually ranked as the best run-stopping team in the league, the Vikings have been less dominant early this season. They are giving up 3.8 yards per carry, only good for 10th in the league. They are middle of the pack in giving up receiving yards to opposing rushers.
Baltimore will be a tough test for Minnesota; they are sixth in rushing yards per game as a team. Williams, unsurprisingly, doesn’t seem worried.
Asked about Baltimore’s running back duo of Ray Rice and Willis McGahee, Williams said, “They got to show up, too,” Williams said. “We ain’t giving no 100 [rushing yards].”
Williams’ words are almost strong enough for me to regret taking Baltimore to pull off the road upset in our weekly PFT picks.