Oct 4, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell looks on before the game against the Miami Dolphins at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect Erik Schlitt Thu, October 29, 2026 at 12:00 PM UTC · 7 min read About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Detroit Lions (4-2) and Minnesota Vikings (6-0) will square off in Detroit's second consecutive NFC North battle of the season.
"Minnesota is playing outstanding football," Lions coach Dan Campbell said at his Wednesday press conference. (Head coach) Kevin (O'Connell)'s doing a hell of a job. (Defensive coordinator) Brian (Flores) is doing a hell of a job. This thing, they play very complementary football. […] I've got a lot of respect for this team, the way they play, but we're looking forward to this; this will be good."
Let's take a closer look at the Vikings' coaching staff, the scheme they run, and scouting notes from their most recently viewed games.
Head coaching seasons : 5th season (Vikings 2022-present) NFL coaching seasons: 12th season (Browns, 49ers, Washington, Rams) Offensive coordinator : 3 seasons (Washington 2019, Rams 2020-21) Other coaching roles held : QB coach, passing game coordinator NFL seasons as a player: 4 seasons (Patriots, Lions, Jets, Dolphins, Chargers) Influences: Mike Shanahan, Kyle Shanahan, and Sean McVay Coached under: Shanahan, McVay, Jay Gruden, Mike Pettine, Chip Kelly Play caller : Yes
NFL coaching seasons : 20th season (Cowboys, Washington, Rams, Vikings) Offensive coordinator seasons : 5th season (Vikings 2022-present) Previous coaching positions : Passing game coordinator, tight ends coach, assistant OL coach Influences: Kevin O'Connell, Sean McVay, Jay Gruden, Jason Garrett Coached under: McVay, Gruden, Bill Callahan (OC), Garrett, Matt Cavanaugh (OC), Wade Phillips (Dad) Staff ties to Detroit : Josh McCown (Lions QB 2006), Curtis Modkins (Former Lions RB coach, Dad of assistant special teams coach Jett Modkins), Kyle Caskey (former Lions RB coach)
Passing game : McVay/KOC West Coast Running scheme : Wide zone/Shanahan system Scouting notes :
McVay West Coast staples: Pre-snap movement, motion, play action (33.6%, 2nd most in the NFL), end-arounds and screens to get the ball out quickly and into their playmaker's hands
Strives for balance between pass (55%) and run (45%) games, as well as snaps under center (43%) and in shotgun (51%)
11 personnel dominant: 56.5% of the time — 12: 17.6%, 13: less than 1%, 21: 15.7% (mainly a fullback)
QB Kyler Murray is having a down year (despite Dan Campbell's praise below)
Murray's passer rating: 85.8 (22nd), EPA per dropback: -0.16 (34th)
Passing yards per game: 162.3 (29th); per play: 6.6 (22nd)
Offensive line has allowed 65 pressures in six games (4th most); pressure rate of 32.7% (11th)
However, Murray is slippery and the Vikings have only been sacked 18 times (24th), with a sack rate of 9.9% (30th)
Teams blitz the Vikings 36.3% of the time (7th most), for good reason; Murray's EPA vs. blitz is -0.31 (33rd)
Run principles focus on traditional blocking schemes: Outside zone (30%), Gap (25%), Inside zone (17%)
Averaging a respectable 119.3 rush yards per game (12th), but can be deceiving because…
… EPA per rush: -0.13 (27th) — Aaron Jones: -0.22 (54th), Jordan Mason: -0.17 (43rd), Murray: 0.26
… Success rate: 34.8% (29th) — Aaron Jones: 37.1% (41st), Jordan Mason: 30% (62nd), Murray: 44%
… Yards after contact: 2.16 per rush (31st) — Aaron Jones: 2.47 (56th), Jordan Mason: 2.97 (32nd)
They're problematic on offense, as we know. (QB Kyler) Murray, they brought him in to be the captain of that ship over there, get them in the right play, be steady, reliable, facilitator of the football. And then he certainly still has all that mobility that he's had before. And you can do everything right for a full game. And then just like last week, it's a third and 8 or whatever, he takes off, and it's 30 yards, and you're down on the four-yard line. So, he can extend plays, he can extend drives. He's very dangerous that way.
(WR Justin Jefferson) 18, as we all know, is a massive factor. He's a hell of a receiver, highly competitive range, ball skills, it's tough, the whole thing. Nothing new there. I mean, he's just an outstanding football player. (TE T.J.) Hockenson, his uptick in production here, and Murray has found him quite a bit. He's separating, getting open to him. And then obviously (WR Jordan) Addison has not gotten a ton, but that's not his doing. He still is playing at a high level, and they have weapons. And I think we'll see what (RB Aaron) Jones (Sr.) we'll find out. But as always, he's dangerous. He's versatile. And I think (RB Jordan) Mason's a good back. He's a steady, good man. Downhill, finds it, creases it, and he hits it in contact.
They're very smart in what they do. Ball control, time of possession. And then they've got the firepower for the explosives. So, to me, there's no secret why they're six and 0, why they're playing good football.
NFL coaching seasons : 19 seasons Defensive coordinator seasons : 4 seasons (Vikings 2023-present) Head coaching seasons : 3 seasons, Dolphins 2019-21 Previous roles : Safeties coach, Linebackers coach, defensive assistant Influences: Bill Belichick, Pat Narduzzi, Dean Pees, Mike Tomlin, Pepper Johnson, Matt Patricia, Teryl Austin Coached under: Belichick, Tomlin, O'Connell Staff ties to Detroit : Gerald Alexander (Safety, Lions 2nd-round pick in 2007)
Base : 3-4 Base Coverage : Zone-heavy "Quarters" coverage, two-high safety shell Scouting notes :
The best defense in the NFL right now, and it may not be debatable
No. 1 in the NFL in points allowed, EPA per play, red zone touchdowns allowed, DVOA vs. pass, EPA per pass, completion percentage allowed, dropback success rate, explosives allowed, sacks, and sack rate
They're top 10 in every other notable defensive category—top five in most—with the only exception being their 4.2-yard average rush yards allowed per play, which is 18th
Creative and complex: Utilizing both max pressure (loaded box) and max coverage (drop 8 into coverage)
Stick in base 3-4 scheme 62% of the time; Nickel 32%, Dime 5%
Stack line of scrimmage more than any defense in the NFL
Zone coverage 86%: Cover-2 (18%), Cover-3 (31%), Cover-4 (23%), and Cover-6 (14%)
Man Coverages 9%: Cover-1 (5%), Cover-0 (3%), Cover-2 Man (1%)
Cover-2 and Cover-3: Flexing between two-high and single-high to keep offenses guessing
2-high safety (Cover-2/4/6): 66%; single-high (Cover-3/1): 34%
Lots of "Quarters" coverage: Rush 5, drop 6; 2-high safety shell, 4 underneath defenders spread across zone
Heavy base front usage helps keep them big vs. the run
Will blitz with the intention of stopping or taking away the RB
Blitz 69% of the time (most in the NFL) — Design is to overload with more pressure than blockers
85.2% last week vs. Colts (most in NextGenStats history, since 2016)
Flores has blitzed Goff over 80% in the past (2023) but got burned, and Lions won 30-20
2025, Week 9: Flores blitzed Lions 33% (healthy OL) — Lots of "Double A-gap" blitzes (up the middle)
2025, Week 17: 59% (no Taylor Decker or Graham Glasgow) — "Double Mug outside" (overload an edge)
With Goff's current EPA vs. blitz +0.32 (best in the NFL) and a healthy OL, expect blitz to be scaled back but still be prominent
The blitz is a staple of the scheme, and Flores has a plethora of blitz packages to choose from
Early down situations: "Double Mug"; overload a spot, drop opposite side into zone — Zone coverage changes to keep offenses guessing
"And-long" situations: "Never wrong blitz"; threaten A and B gap with LB, which player drops is based on who the IOL/RB picks up
Simply put: they give offenses no easy answers against this defense
Everything is fueled by this defense. That's the starting point. This defense is as good as it gets. They fly around the football. They're smart. I think eight out of these 11 starters, for the most part, are veteran guys. They're seven years or older, and they've been in this system with Flores.
So, I mean, the versatility between (LB Blake) Cashman, (EDGE Andrew) Van Ginkel, (DB Joshua) Metellus, (S) Harrison (Smith), and (LB Eric) Wilson just allows them to do a lot. (EDGE) Dallas Turner on the perimeter, (DL Jalen) Redmond in the middle, among others; they work well together. And obviously the corners outside there, (CB Byron) Murphy (Jr.) and (CB Isaiah) Rodgers, and they roll those other ones. But they understand the system.
Source: Sports
