Flores takes aggression to a new level
The Minnesota Vikings are proving that an aggressive defensive style can yield results in the NFL. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores sent five or more pass rushers on 85.3% of dropbacks during Sunday's 16-10 win against the Indianapolis Colts at U.S. Bank Stadium.
That performance pushed Minnesota's blitz rate to 69.9% for the season. In his first three years with the team, Flores called blitzes on 44.9% of plays. The average NFL blitz rate over recent years sits at 28.9%.
Safety Harrison Smith recently admitted on a podcast with Richard Sherman that the numbers look wild, but he noted that the players feel comfortable with the strategy. Flores also pointed out that his team feels confident playing with constant pressure.
Top stats back up the heavy pressure
The high blitz rate has paid off across several defensive categories. Minnesota leads the league by allowing just 12.3 points per game and holding opposing quarterbacks to a 49.7 passer rating. They are tied for the NFL lead with 21 sacks, even though they have already taken their bye week. They also rank second in yards allowed per game at 252.8.
The aggressive style does come with some risks. The Vikings have surrendered 10 plays of more than 30 yards this season, tying them for eighth most in the league. However, their ability to create long yardage situations on early downs keeps opposing teams on the back foot.
Head coach Kevin O'Connell highlighted how first down success sets up the defense. The Vikings lead the NFL with eight sacks on first down while holding passers to a 53.6% completion rate. Opponents are facing an average of 9.3 yards to go on second down and 8.4 yards on third down. Opponents also suffer 2.83 offensive holding penalties per game against Minnesota.
A tough test lies ahead in Detroit
All 11 regular starters on defense are in at least their second season under Flores, with nine of them playing in their third or fourth year. That familiarity helps the defense avoid mistakes when bringing extra men.
However, the team will face harder matchups soon. After playing what metrics rank as the ninth easiest schedule so far, the 6-0 Vikings face the sixth hardest remaining schedule in the league.
Their next challenge is a road game at Ford Field against the 4-2 Detroit Lions, who feature the third best offense in the league by expected points added. Flores acknowledged that opposing coordinators will adapt if a team repeats the same strategy. He stated that good coaches will eventually catch on, making adjustments necessary as the season continues.
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