Winfield still a major asset for Minnesota defense

Skelton decided to keep the ball and run for the first down, and Winfield read the play perfectly. He left his man, fullback Reagan Maui'a, at just the right time, burst forward and delivered a jarring hit to stop Skelton short of the marker. Teammate Brian Robison arrived next to help finish the tackle, and the Vikings got the ball back after Winfield was credited with the sack.

"That's an incredible play by a great pro," coach Leslie Frazier said.

Healthy again, the 35-year-old Winfield is defying his age. Minnesota's defense is all the better because of it.

"It's good to see him play at this level," defensive end Jared Allen said. "We give him a hard time that he's still old, but obviously you see how he plays. He is a staple of this defense. There are things we cannot do unless he's on the field. It's a privilege to play with him. Since I got here, he's been a guy I've looked up to as far as the intensity he brings to the playing field. It shows up on tape week in and week out."

Winfield has two of the team's four interceptions this season and is second on the Vikings in three other categories with 61 total tackles, seven passes defended and seven tackles for loss. Those big hits in the backfield have long been his hallmark, and this year has only brought more.

That stop of Skelton against the Cardinals on Sunday during a 21-14 victory that improved the Vikings to 5-2 was the perfect example.

"In that situation, I didn't feel like there was another defender around me, so if he was going to run he was going to get the first down anyway," Winfield said. "So I felt like we'd take our chances with him throwing the ball to the fullback. Fullbacks aren't used to catching balls, so I played the percentages."

Percentages suggest Winfield can't keep doing this for long, but he's playing as fast and strong as he had in years, like "a little rookie running around," said outside linebacker Erin Henderson.