Has the NFL Figured Out Brian Flores’ Minnesota Vikings Defense?

The Minnesota Vikings played against the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday Night Football, in what was supposed to be a get right game vs a 2-4 team that was supposed to be selling at the trade deadline. Instead, the Vikings got everything they could handle, and then some, falling 30-20 on national TV against a team with a losing record.

It was just a few weeks ago when we were all riding high on the start of the 2024 Minnesota Vikings. That was back when we had the brightest up-and-coming offensive head coach in the league, paired with a legitimate NFL head coach, who’s been demoted to defensive coordinator, due to a legal spat with his bosses.

How is anyone going to stop this duo? Well, that seems a long time ago now, because opposing coaching staffs have certainly found a way to bring both of Minnesota’s genius schemers back down to earth. We’ll talk about KOC and his offense momentarily. Let’s focus first on Brian Flores’ defense.

What is going on with the Minnesota Vikings defense?

On paper, we are seeing a lot of the same things from the 2024 Minnesota Vikings defense, as what we saw in 2023. They stop the run really well, or in Thursday’s case, well enough (104 rush yds allowed vs Rams). But this Vikings defense can really struggle at times defending against the pass (386 yds pass yds allowed vs Rams).

So, opposing offenses have been running vs the Vikings less and less, which has their team statistics vs the run and pass looking extremely lopsided. This was the same thing we saw last season, before the defense fell completely off the rails in the second half of the season.

The Minnesota Vikings defense has let it be known, via their tape, that they are very gettable on short to intermediate passing routes, if the opponent has good enough wide receivers (Puka Nakua and Cooper Kupp) to get open on short-breaking routes.

Related: Minnesota Vikings vs Rams Ends on Most Egregious No-Call Facemask Penalty in Football History

Toss in a veteran QB, who can identify defenses at an above-average level. Mix those ingredients into a pot, along with an elite offensive play caller and schemer, like McVay… and you get one hot pile of problems for this Minnesota Vikings defense.

Is it time to panic yet?

So, that’s it huh. Brian Flores’ defense must be washed, right? Do we need to worry about the Vikings being sliced and diced every week, now that opposing offenses know how to exploit the weaknesses of this Minnesota defense?

Probably not. Remember, both the Detroit Lions (Ben Johnson) and Los Angeles Rams (Sean McVay) employ two of the best offensive minds in the NFL. Yes, the Vikings have played better QBs than what the Rams and Lions have. But they weren’t the savvy vets that the Lions or Rams have, in Jared Goff and Matt Stafford, respectively.

And, in weeks one through five, opposing playcallers hadn’t been given the correct answers to Brian Flores’ test, yet. Now, the NFL clearly has them. But not every team has a really good QB, and now it’s up to Flores and KOC to come up with a counter punch to what these offenses have figured out.

Related: Christian Darrisaw Injury Update: Latest on Minnesota Vikings Star Left Tackle

Let’s not forget how dirty the refs did the Vikings defense, throughout Thursday’s matchup. When you’re already struggling to get off the field, it hurts when three different times last night, the zebras gifted LA three more downs via yellow penalty flags, on plays that would have lead to a turnover on downs. Some of them were egregious, too.

This was called holding on the Vikings.

NFL refs are the worst 😭 #SKOL pic.twitter.com/jYKPtrPVHl

— Locker (@PlayLockerLive) October 25, 2024

The Vikings defense misses Blake Cashman

Another clear problem has been the absence of Blake Cashman, who has been missing in action the last two weeks, due to a turf toe injury. The former Minnesota Gopher has become one of the best inside linebackers in the NFL.

The Eden Prairie native has instincts against the pass that are so good, it’s possible not having him out there the last two weeks has caused this major hole in the short to intermediate passing defense, that the Lions and Rams have feasted on.

Make no mistake: this loss is pinned on brutal #vikings defense. But when the NFL makes a big show about protecting QBs, and two officials watch a QB’s head get yanked 180 degrees by the facemask without flinching, something is really, really amiss.

— Jess Myers (@JessRMyers) October 25, 2024

Nonetheless, as head coach Kevin O’Connell noted on Thursday night, after the loss in LA, if the Minnesota Vikings do not find a way to stop offenses from completing quick-breaking hot-routes, teams are going to continue to try and copy what the Lions and Rams did against them the last two weeks.