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Defense sent the Vikings out of the playoffs; here's a look at the top defensive minds still around

The most predictable sack in Vikings history — coach Kevin O'Connell whacking defensive coordinator Ed Donatell on Thursday — came four days after a one-and-done home playoff upset and two days before the NFL kicks off four divisional games featuring five of the top seven scoring defenses and some of the league's hottest head coaching candidates from that side of the ball.

"We weren't good enough," O'Connell said Wednesday while tiptoeing past the guillotine everyone knew he would soon drop on Donatell's one-year Vikings stint.

No, Kevin, you weren't good enough. Otherwise, your squad wouldn't be the only one of six playoff teams seeded 1-3 to be sitting home this weekend.