Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores didn’t shy away when asked how he’d handle the challenge of facing the high-powered Detroit Lions offense, which has scored 89 points in the last two weeks.
Flores confidently replied, “Fight fire with fire,” indicating his fearless approach.
The upcoming matchup on Sunday, October 20, will pit Detroit’s top-ranked NFL offense against Minnesota’s defense, which leads the league in Defense-adjusted Value Over Average (DVOA).
The Vikings, undefeated at 5-0, have the best point differential in the league (+63), just ahead of the Lions (4-1) at +60.
While the game will feature many star players, the key battle is between Detroit offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and Flores, both known for their strategic creativity. Johnson’s Lions are averaging 30.2 points per game, while Flores’ defense is allowing just 15.2 points per game, ranking top-5 in several defensive categories.
Acknowledging Detroit’s dominance, Flores praised the team’s physicality and talent across all positions, from quarterback to offensive line. He emphasized that there aren’t many weaknesses to exploit, making the matchup especially challenging.
Key to the Vikings’ success will be pressuring Lions quarterback Jared Goff. Minnesota has already applied significant pressure to quarterbacks this season, leading the NFL in pressures (84) and interceptions (11). While Goff has been effective under pressure, leading the league in yards per attempt when blitzed, he is also prone to risky plays and turnovers. The Vikings’ aggressive blitzing defense will aim to capitalize on this.
Minnesota enters the game as a 2.5-point home favorite. The Lions face a major setback after losing star pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson to a season-ending injury. With Hutchinson out, Detroit’s defense will rely on less experienced pass rushers to challenge the Vikings.
