Minnesota Vikings win over Detroit Lions provides significant evidence what will be a major priority this offseason
How Brian Flores uses his personnel sends a strong signal.
It wasn’t the Minnesota Vikings’ offense, defense, or special teams that won them the game against the Detroit Lions, 27-24; it was all three units working together.
Quarterback J.J. McCarthy finally got more reps, which he desperately needed. Not only did he get those, but he thrived when needed, including the game-winning throw to Jalen Nailor on his back shoulder.
The special teams got involved in multiple ways, with returner Myles Price logging a 61-yard return in the first quarter, and he had a touchdown return come back on a holding call by Tavierre Thomas. Plus, Levi Drake Rodriguez blocked a field goal to prevent the Lions from getting within four points, and that ended up changing the game.
Brian Flores’ personnel usage sends strong signal for offseason priority
Where things got interesting with the Vikings is how defensive coordinator Brian Flores utilized his personnel. He had edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel return, which was a huge addition to his unit. Where things got intriguing was the lack of snaps for Dallas Turner.
Turner played just 14 out of a possible 64 snaps, which is a significant decrease from what he had been playing. That in itself raises significant questions about the rest of the season for Turner, but it could have just been game-plan specific, as they prioritized quick penetration from the interior, along with running fire blitzes with their off-ball linebackers.
Another element that is becoming clearer is how much the linebackers are a focus for Flores. Blake Cashman played all 64 defensive snaps, Eric Wilson played 56, and Ivan Pace Jr. played another 13. They were focused not just on stopping the run but also on making things difficult for the running backs with their physical blitzes.
The one thing that has continued to resonate over the last few weeks is how much Flores likes to have two do-it-all linebackers at his disposal. Cashman has been fantastic since the Vikings brought him in ahead of the 2024 season, and Wilson has played well, but he isn’t a part of the team’s future. However, his recent performance is a signal that his position could be a major focus this offseason.
It’s early to be looking ahead at potential linebackers they could bring in this offseason, but it’s trending to be a focus this offseason. There is a surplus of talent at the linebacker position early on in the NFL Draft.
- Ohio State Buckeyes’ Arvell Reese
- Ohio State’s Sonny Styles
- Texas Longhorns’ Anthony Hill Jr.
- Georgia Bulldogs’ C.J. Allen
It also wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see the Vikings make a trade for one ahead of the trade deadline. This is something to watch for moving forward, as the Vikings have been placing a significant focus on the off-ball linebacker spot.
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