So, Brian Flores Did the Thing.
The Minnesota Vikings needed a win against the Detroit Lions, and boy, did they get a big one.
Brian Flores had the Minnesota Vikings defense ready to go against the Detroit Lions, and it was their presence that made the difference.
Despite being nearly double-digit underdogs, they held on for a three-point road victory. J.J. McCarthy returned to the state he won a National Championship for and turned in a performance good enough to win. Most importantly, though, it was Brian Flores’ defense that got the job done.
One thing that has become synonymous with Dan Campbell teams in recent seasons is their ability to score. Jared Goff and company routinely cross the 30-point threshold, and they often do it with ease. That didn’t happen on Sunday, and Flores’ defense held Detroit to just 24 points.
Brian Flores’ Defense Does the Trick
In no quarter did the Lions score more than once, and in the third quarter, Minnesota held Detroit to just a field goal. The Vikings didn’t pick off Goff, but they did sack him on five different occasions, and the defense registered a whopping 11 quarterback hits.
Flores absolutely knew what he was up against on Sunday, and the well-respected defensive coordinator came correct. The Vikings were flying all over the place, and that kept Goff consistently guessing. He needed to check the ball down or was forced into decisions before being ready on multiple occasions.
It certainly was a boost having Andrew Van Ginkel back in the lineup. His presence opposite Jonathan Greenard put Minnesota under significant pressure on both edges. Although neither player registered a sack, they collapsed the pocket and allowed for additional pressure up the middle to get home. Eric Wilson had a pair of sacks, and both Javon Hargrave and Jalen Redmond took Goff down from the interior as well.
Although Jeff Okudah wasn’t available due to his second concussion of the season, Flores worked coverages to a place where his presence wasn’t missed. Both Byron Murphy Jr. and Isaiah Rodgers contributed key plays, and the top cornerback tandem for Minnesota continued to provide strong results.
Minnesota’s offense did some scoring, but it was the defense that consistently put them in positive situations all game long.
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