Harrison Smith

13 games into his soon-to-be-illustrious NFL career, Harrison Smith was already making the types of plays that left Minnesota positioned for excellence. Dec. 9, 2012 left the Vikings in a must-win head-to-head against Chicago, and an All-Pro receiver who closed 2012 with league history’s fifth-most single-season targets; unafraid of the lofty challenge, Smith shifted momentum with a “right-place-right time” interception, and a 56-yard pick-six. In a battle of two teams that both finished 10-6, Smith’s touchdown — and the 21-14 win that it encouraged — ultimately became paramount in helping the Vikings secure a postseason appearance by season’s end.