Anthony Barr

Anthony Barr owns Larry Donnell on this block (Video)

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

Minnesota Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr lays the hammer on New York Giants tight end Larry Donnell in the first half of Monday Night Football in Week 4.

Monday Night Football in Week 4 features two NFC teams that look like they’ll be in contention for NFC Playoffs berths. The Minnesota Vikings (3-0) host the New York Giants (2-1) at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Monday, October 3rd.

It was a pretty uneventful first half, with low-scoring, but an ultra-physical game nonetheless. Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr does everything to disrupt Giants tight end Larry Donnell on this block. Barr was dead set on getting Donnell to fall over on this particular play.

Here’s why Larry Donnell is hurt … 😳 pic.twitter.com/37GLQO9XSV

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) October 4, 2016

Donnell got hurt on this play, as his hit by Barr bounced him into another Vikings defensive player who took him to the ground. He had to exit the game, but mentally he wasn’t all checked in that play.

Football is one of those sports where you can’t take plays off, especially mentally. This is collision-based sport where players tend to get hurt when they aren’t going all out. Donnell didn’t look engaged on this play and it cost him.

Minnesota is out to get people on defense with their Purple Reign defense. Head coach Mike Zimmer is an elite defensive mind and this is absolutely a defense-first football team in the Twin Cities.

The Vikings will struggle to score points all season, but have a championship-caliber defense to lean on. New York made drastic changes to its roster in 2016 NFL free agency. The Giants sought to get more competitive defensively and in the trenches.

New York looks improved, but they are going to have to play with more conviction to beat a sound Vikings team on Monday Night Football.