If there’s one thing to know about the Minnesota Vikings’ defense, it’s that they love to bring the heat.
The Vikings lead the NFL in blitz rate per dropback so far in 2025 at 42%. Creative blitzes that confuse offenses and bring pressure from unexpected places have been a staple for Minnesota since Brian Flores became defensive coordinator in 2023, and that’s been no different this season.
“For the most part, it's very much what it's been,” Lions head coach Dan Campbell said of the Vikings’ defensive scheme. “There's a couple of things that have changed from over the last couple of years a little bit, but all in all, it's very much coach Flores.”
Vikings expected to be blitz-heavy vs. Jared Goff, Lions
Though it hasn’t been as fierce as their 2024 unit that also led the league in blitzes and allowed the fifth-fewest points in the NFL, the Vikings have still been as aggressive as ever with their approach in 2025.
Minnesota has the NFL’s third-highest pressure rate at 29.7% and eighth-highest quarterback knockdown rate at 10.7%.
“That's their whole thing. They want to penetrate,” Lions quarterback Jared Goff said. “They want to get in the backfield. They want to get typically five or six guys rushing. One-on- ones on everybody in that case.”
Goff was the subject of criticism early in his career with the Rams for his struggles when blitzed, but has become a monster against it in Detroit. Last year, he had a 120.4 passer rating against the blitz as the Lions went 2-0 against Minnesota.
This year, he’s been brilliant while blitzed again. Goff has completed 36 of 49 pass attempts (73.5%) for 468 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions against the blitz in 2025.
Minnesota loves to make quarterbacks uncomfortable, and Goff, like any quarterback, has struggled when pressured. But he’s been able to circumvent the heat that Flores likes to bring with his near-robotic ability to fire the ball out quickly and exploit the space that the Vikings vacate by sending an extra blitzer.
“I've been pleased with trying to avoid sacks and my completion percentage,” he said. "Just getting the ball into our guys' hands as often as possible and get it out of mine.”
The Lions have spoken highly of the growth young guards Tate Ratledge and Christian Mahogany have shown throughout the year, and Graham Glasgow’s smooth transition to center has been a godsend. But Flores will be keen to take advantage of their inexperience and hit them with some looks they’ve never seen before.
It’ll be quite the learning experience, even if Minnesota's defense has been middle-of-the-pack this year statistically.
The Vikings allowed the 14th most yards per game at 318.4 and points per game at 23.1 as the team has sputtered to a 3-4 start.
Offseason additions Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen have not been the transformative pieces in the middle that they hoped, do-it-all linebacker Andrew van Ginkel has been out with a neck injury since Week 3 and Minnesota is still struggling to get consistent production out of 2024 first-round pick Dallas Turner.
Teams have had success when going heavier and deploying extra offensive linemen and tight ends against the Vikings.
But Jonathan Greenard remains one of the NFL’s best pass rushers, and defensive tackle Jalen Redmond is having a big year.
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“They run some pick games. They run some stunts. They do a little bit of everything, and they want to disrupt your timing and get in the backfield,” Goff said. “It's up to us up front and to me to get the ball out and do everything right.”
Though Minnesota’s blitz-happy ways came up short against Goff and the Lions last year, Flores is unlikely to change his philosophy against anyone. Minnesota’s secondary has struggled this season, which has put even more pressure on the front seven to get to the quarterback and rush throws or get sacks.
Flores throws everything but the kitchen sink at quarterbacks, and his blitzes are a mind-numbing puzzle for any of Minnesota’s opponents. The Lions have a good track record against his scheme, but their new-look offensive line could have some rough patches against some of Flores’ more exotic looks.
“What Flores has done, it's always disruptive defense,” Campbell said. “They force you into errors. They capitalize… They'll get on you. You gotta stay composed and just handle your business.”