Minnesota Vikings Blame Previous Loss to Los Angeles Rams on Surprise Puka Nacua Activation
On Monday night in Los Angeles, Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell will face off against a familiar adversary in Sean McVay and the Los Angeles Rams. However, the Rams might not recognize much of the defensive playbook this time against Vikings’ defensive coordinator Brian Flores. Back in Week 8, Flores’ defense wasn’t ready for the Puka Nacua to play, as he had just been placed on the 21-day return to practice list two days earlier.
Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune reports that Flores and the Vikings learned Nacua would play against Minnesota just four hours before Thursday Night Football kicked off on Oct. 24. That obviously won’t be the case this time around, and the defensive game plan should reflect that. The Vikings lost that Thursday Night Football game in Los Angeles 30-20.
Brian Flores said the Vikings found out about four hours before the first Rams game that Puka Nacua was going to play, adding they were “a little bit surprised that he was out there” and saying there was “a little bit of scrambling” to prepare for the fact he’d play.
— Ben Goessling (@BenGoessling) January 7, 2025
The Rams,…
Puka Nacua damage vs. the Minnesota Vikings
Nacua played a pivotal role in the win over the Vikings, catching seven of nine targets for 106 yards. Nacua led the Rams in receptions and yards, but quarterback Matthew Stafford also spread it around. He hit nine different receivers and finished the game 25-of-34 with 279 yards, four touchdowns and an interception.
Brian Flores admitted that the late notice of Puka Nacua’s activation from the injured reserve list forced him and his defensive staff into some last-minute adjustments. This scramble to adapt their game plan on such short notice proved costly for the Vikings’ defense, as they struggled to contain Nacua’s impact on the game. The unexpected addition of the wide receiver to the Rams’ lineup threw off the rhythm and preparation that Flores typically prides his unit on, leading to a less than optimal performance on defense.
Vikings Defense vs Rams without Blake Cashman
The Rams torched the Minnesota Vikings in the middle of the field while defensive leader, linebacker Blake Cashman was out with a turf toe injury. Los Angeles running back Kyren Williams ran 23 times for 97 yards and caught five of seven targets for 19 yards in Cashman’s absence. Much of those runs and receptions were in the middle of the field, where Cashman is normally patrolling.
A simple search through the play-by-play summary reveals that the Rams targeted the middle of the field 20 times over 66 total plays, including 32 which stayed on the ground. That helped Los Angeles control the ball for over 33 minutes of the total game.
There will be no surprises on Monday night as both teams will have had a full week of rest and preparation this time around. Expect to see the best of both offenses, with McVay and O’Connell likely to showcase their strategic prowess. On the other side of the ball, look for Brian Flores and his Minnesota Vikings defense to come out with a much-improved effort, having learned from their previous encounter with Nacua. This game could very well hinge on the defensive adjustments and how well each team can counteract the other’s offensive schemes.
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