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News | Minnesota Vikings – vikings.com

Panel & Fans Vote on Vikings Best OL from 2010-19

A new decade is upon us, as the Vikings have their sights set on 2020 and beyond. But before we fully turn to what's next, Vikings fans looked back at some of their favorite players from the previous decade.

Minnesota went 81-77-2in the seasons between 2010 and 2019, winning a pair of NFC North titles and making four total playoff appearances during the decade (2-4 in postseason play).

There isn't an All-Decade Team for the Minnesota Vikings, but if there was one, who would be on it for their play with the team between 2010-19?

Vikings.com opened the topic for debate to a panel featuring "Voice of the Vikings" Paul Allen, analyst Pete Bercich, Mark Rosen and Kevin Seifert. Fans also were invited to vote online for their best players of the decade. More than 5,000 ballots were cast at each position.

Today's recap covers offensive linemen, where fans voted separately for one center, two guards and two tackles.

View images of the Vikings All-Decade Team candidates at offensive line.

CENTERS

John Sullivan, 2010-14

Fan Votes: 4,504 of 5,355 total votes at C (84 percent)

Stats from the Decade: 77 games (77 starts); four fumbles; missed all of 2015 because of an injury

Thoughts from the Panel

"I think John Sullivan is a cinch at center." – Paul Allen

Also received votes …

Pat Elflein, 2017-19

Stats from the Decade: 43 games (42 starts); two fumbles, one fumble recovery

Note: Elflein started 27 of 28 games at center from 2017-18 before moving to left guard.

G

GUARDS

Steve Hutchinson, 2010-11

Fan Votes: 4,613

Stats from the Decade: 25 games (25 starts); one fumble recovery

Thoughts from the Panel

"I did go with Steve Hutchinson at guard, and I don't know that I had a great analytical reason for it other than to say, I'll take [a Hall of Famer] for two years over anyone else." – Kevin Seifert

"I did have Joe Berger in there. I mean, Hutchinson and Berger are the two that I had [at guard]. I like Berger, as well, for his versatility because he did play guard, and he did play center." – Pete Bercich

Joe Berger, 2011-17

Fan Votes: 3,659

Stats from the Decade: 107 games (64 starts) at G and C; one fumble recovery

Note: Berger made 35 of his 64 starts at either guard position.

Thoughts from the Panel

"I'm going to use Joe Berger as one of my guards. With Joe, he was the right guard in the 2017 postseason, he started both those games [in the Divisional round and NFC Championship], 149 snaps."

– Paul Allen

Also received votes …

Brandon Fusco, 2011-16

Stats from the Decade: 67 games (64 starts)

Thoughts from the Panel

"My other guard is going to be Brandon Fusco, and here's why: six seasons, [64] starts, two playoff starts, a full-time starter for Adrian Peterson during the 2012 MVP year; 3,752 snaps, and only 12 penalties. I know Steve Hutchinson can be mentioned in this for his two years, but I'm going to go with Fusco."

– Allen

Charlie Johnson, 2011-14

Stats from the Decade: 61 games (61 starts)

TACKLES

Phil Loadholt, 2009-14

Fan Votes: 3,881

Stats from the Decade: 89 games (89 starts); two fumble recoveries

Thoughts from the Panel

"Phil Loadholt, I think, would be the right tackle. Although, Brian O'Neill, if he has another season like he had this year, I think he could definitely be that guy." – Bercich

Brian O'Neill, 2018-19

Fan Votes: 2,962

Stats from the Decade: 30 games (26 starts); one fumble recovery

Matt Kalil, 2012-16

Fan Vote: 1,842

Stats from the Decade: 66 games (66 starts)

Thoughts from the Panel

"Kalil would be my left tackle. He's the only offensive lineman the Vikings have had in the last decade that's gone to the Pro Bowl. He had a good year [in 2012] and did well." – Bercich

Riley Reiff, 2017-19

Fan Votes: 1,463

Stats from the Decade: 43 games (43 starts)

Thoughts from the Panel

"I think left tackle, between Matt Kalil and Riley Reiff, deserves conversation. I'm going to go with Riley Reiff, who started four playoff games." – Allen

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