Vikings Reveal Strategy against Sam Darnold for Sunday
The Minnesota Vikings are expected to lose at the Seattle Seahawks by 10 or 11 points, and if they do, it won’t be because they failed to blitz their former quarterback, Sam Darnold.
The Vikings reveal their strategy against Sam Darnold for Sunday, outlining how they plan to attack matchups and manage the QB threat.
Defensive coordinator Brian Flores told reporters this week that his defense will blitz on Sunday, bringing the heat toward Darnold, who should know the scheme quite well.
Vikings’ Strategy for Sam Darnold Is Simple: Blitz
Flores kept it short and sweet.
Vikings to Blitz Darnold
Flores spoke with the media on Tuesday, five days before his defense takes on the Seahawks’ high-flying offense. Asked about Darnold, his former coworker, Flores said, “We had a great rapport, friendship. I’m happy for him, but we will blitz him this week.”
So, nope, Flores isn’t even attempting to hide it. He plans to send his linebackers and defensive backs at Darnold, hoping to rattle him and force one of the bad Darnold games that apparently happen only a few times per year.
It’s worth noting that Flores’ defense usually blitzes in every game, but he doesn’t publicly advertise it quite like this. He might be playing a mind game with Darnold.
Two Teams Going in Opposite Directions
The Seahawks have a 7-4 record, are fighting for a home playoff game, and have Super Bowl dreams. The Vikings have a 4-7 record, are fighting to avoid outright mathematical playoff elimination, and have dreams about quarterbacks completing simple passes.
This game was supposed to be about teams jockeying for a postseason berth. Now, it’s just Seattle not wanting to fall victim to a trap game.
Darnold Has Been Effective against Blitz
Darnold has a Pro Football Focus grade of 88.6 against the blitz in 2025. It’s fine if Flores wants to send the house at Darnold — Flores often does that to everybody — but there’s a reasonable chance that Darnold recognizes it and picks the Vikings’ defense apart.
Flores should actually study what the Los Angeles Rams do to Darnold, because that club has his number, abusing and toppling Darnold thrice consecutively.
And in general, Darnold struggles in big games, so it will be up to him to decide if the Vikings coming to Lumen Field qualifies as a big game. Maybe, maybe not.
Max Brosmer on Vikings’ Side?
J.J. McCarthy has a concussion this week, on tap to miss the 23rd game of his career — of an eligible 29. In the concussion protocol, he’s unlikely to play this week, paving the way for University of Minnesota rookie Max Brosmer to take over.
Brosmer shone in the preseason and has entered three games this season, though he hasn’t been asked to fling the rock in a meaningful capacity. He’s the last hope for the Vikings’ brass to salvage their quarterback decision-making from the offseason.
Incidentally, Vegas does not believe Minnesota will be successful. Darnold’s Seahawks have the aforementioned point spread on their side.
More on Darnold, Vikings
Fansided‘s Wynston Wilcox wrote about Darnold and the Vikings not re-signing him during the offseason, “The more alarming decision was to bring Jones in last year after he was cut by the New York Giants, just to never let him play. They gave up on him before they ever saw what he could be and it left them with McCarthy as their only option.”
“The Vikings are now forced to decide how next season will go. They have been a contending team with a playoff roster. Continuing to throw McCarthy out there while he’s struggling this badly is coaching malpractice. Maybe they’ll get to bring Jones back in, but it will cost them a lot more than it would have this season. Whatever they decide, they can’t bring McCarthy back as the starter after the way he’s played this year.”
Perhaps Brosmer will inject life into the Vikings.
Wilcox continued, “This team is better than 4-7 and honestly looked better with Carson Wentz. The domino effect around the rest of the NFL for the Vikings’ commitment to McCarthy is jarring. Had they not chosen poorly, are the Seahawks this good? Is Jones leading one of the top teams in the NFL? Probably not. Very rarely do you completely rid yourself of a quarterback that led you to be tied for the best record in the NFL with 14 wins and a playoff appearance.”
“While Darnold didn’t play well in his final two games in Minnesota, he was the perfect replacement for Kirk Cousins. After one season, they didn’t want to pay him and now they’re paying for it.”
Tickets for Seahawks-Vikings start around $160 for nosebleed seating.
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