CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Minnesota Vikings defensive end Brian Robison was a young rotational pass-rusher in 2009, when the "Williams Wall" made the middle of the Vikings' line virtually impenetrable against the run and Jared Allen was at the height of his career harassing quarterbacks. Robison has been around long enough to have attained a healthy perspective on the Vikings' history, and he isn't given to hyperbole, anyway.

That makes what the 33-year-old said after the Vikings' 22-10 win against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday all the more striking.

"We have such confidence in this D-line. We feel like we can be one of the best ever to wear purple," Robison said. "That's not taking away from the guys who wore purple before us, but we hold ourselves to that standard. We hold ourselves to a higher standard than most people."

Consider what that means, in the annals of an organization that counts four defensive linemen among the 13 Hall of Famers who spent the better part of their careers in Minnesota. Could this group really better than the Williams Wall? Or the lines of the early 1990s with Chris Doleman and John Randle? Or -- perish the thought -- the "Purple People Eaters?"

History will render the final judgment on the group's productivity and longevity, but the Vikings' current defensive line has the trappings of a group that could be formidable for some time.

Everson Griffen, who is tied for second in the league with four sacks, is only 28. Danielle Hunter, the dynamo of a defensive end who already has a fumble recovery for a touchdown, a safety and three sacks, doesn't turn 22 until the end of October. Linval Joseph, whom coach Mike Zimmer has said could turn into an effective pass-rusher as well as a stout run defender, has three sacks and is 27. Robison and Tom Johnson are in their 30s, and the Vikings will have a decision to make after the season on the injury-prone Sharrif Floyd, but the pieces are there for another dominant Vikings front.

"With this group, I think anything's a possibility," Robison said. "To be totally honest with you, I think we're going to watch film and see that we probably could have had 10 sacks. But that's the thing about this group: No matter what we do, no matter the fact that we had eight sacks (on Sunday), we're going to go in the film room, see that we left a couple on the field and try to be better. That's what makes this group so good."

Here are some other notes and observations from the Vikings' win on Sunday: