They provided enough pressure to force Jones to a passer rating of 57.2, his lowest since the undefeated Vikings caught him in the opener.

“You can just see how everyone behind them is stepping up as well. I thought they did a great job putting pressure on the quarterback,” head coach Zac Taylor said of his D-line. “And so I’m really proud of the way the defense played. The players, the coaches, the way they fought all week and put in such a performance was special.”

Taylor saw the game and distributed the game balls. He started with his defensive coordinator, Loui Anarumo from Staten Island. The lifelong Giants fan, who went to games with Lou Sr. and trained here for a year, not only had to hear his family's plan for the 100-person tailgate in the parking lot all week, but he was also told daily by the presented to the media.

But on Sunday he swung a ball to Hill, who also got one. And Pratt. And Hendrickson. And safety Tycen Anderson, who is picking up where he left off last year after a torn ACL, with two tackles on teams as their prized gunner on punt returns.

It was exactly the kind of complementary outing they needed. And they are still looking for more.

“It’s team football. We haven’t played a full game yet,” Pratt said. “Not one with all three phases with offense, defense and special teams. Once we play that, we’ll be good.”

Hendrickson, their Pro Bowl player and best defensive player, thought it was a cultural victory. After pointing to the sky to celebrate his sacks on Sunday, he pointed to Hilton and Anarumo.

“It's one of those things that needs a wake-up call, but I think at that point everyone knew that Mike had been a leader on this defense for the last four years. So when he talks, people listen,” said Hendrickson, who now has five sacks. “But credit to Lou, credit to the execution of that defense and playing like a family.”