The Vikings' Week Four win over the Packers was celebrated mostly for the exploits of Brett Favre. But DE Jared Allen, contributing to five of the eight sacks on Packers QB Aaron Rodgers, and doing so with a sinus infection, showed that he might be the best pure pass-rushing end in football. The Vikings' defense has shown some slightly uncharacteristic holes this season — none of them too large, though the run defense that has spent the past three seasons atop the NFL perch might be giving up that honor this season if things don't tighten up there. But Allen has been phenomenal so far this season. Although he was held to two sacks the first three games, he graded out very high by the coaches and in his own mind, and in the 4½-sack game he also helped two teammates get sacks by forcing Rodgers their way. Allen and RB Adrian Peterson, and not Favre, appear to be the two most irreplaceable Vikings right now.

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