Big Blue View
The 2-12 New York Giants host the 6-8 Minnesota Vikings, who are on a two-game winning streak this Sunday. Kevin O’Connell’s team defeated the Cowboys 34-26 in primetime last week and shut out the Commanders 31-0 in Week 14; the win over Washington ended a four-game losing streak. Despite the recent hot streak, the Vikings are eliminated from playoff contention. The Vikings are 2.5-point favorites.
Brian Flores is revered for his aggressive and unpredictable defense. The Vikings are 13th in points allowed per game (21.9); they’re ninth in yards allowed per game (307.9). The Vikings surrender yards on the ground; they allow 127.9 yards per game, which ranks 24th in the NFL. Conversely, Flores has limited opposing teams’ passing games. The Vikings allow only 180.4 points per game, which ranks fifth-best in the NFL.
The Vikings have the third-best red-zone defense, behind only the Denver Broncos and the Los Angeles Rams. Minnesota allows a touchdown on just 45.45% of its red zone trips. Compared to the rest of the league, the Giants rank 29th with a 66.67% touchdown capitulated rate in the red zone. Minnesota also has the sixth-best third-down percentage (35.8%).
Unsurprisingly, Flores blitzes more than any other defensive coordinator in the NFL. According to ProFootballReference, the Vikings blitzed on 43% of their snaps. They pressured the quarterback on 28.1% of their snaps, which ranks third in the NFL. The rank third in the NFL in tackles for a loss, 11th in sacks (35), but only have five interceptions on the season — same number as the Giants, and it’s tied for second to last with the San Francisco 49ers (the New York Jets don’t have an interception).
Flores is not shy to call Cover-0 and send the house. He employs a variety of methods to get after opposing quarterbacks and to confuse young quarterbacks with unique looks on the backend. New York’s protection will have its hands full on Sunday.
The Vikings, however, did lose two high-quality starters last weekend. EDGE rusher Jonathan Greenard and safety Josh Metellus were placed on the Injured Reserve; the latter ranked third in total tackles and was one of the most sound tacklers on the team, while the former leads the team in pressures with 47. Dallas Turner and Jonathan Allen are tied for second on the team in pressures with 32, and linebacker Eric Wilson has 31.
Theo Jackson was the third safety before his neck injury in Week 12. He practiced in full last week but did not play a defensive snap. Mettellus played all but one snap next week, so Jackson may earn more snaps alongside veteran Harrison Smith.
Greenard will be difficult to replace. He recorded seven pressures and a sack-and-a-half last week. Overall, he’s struggled to finish this season, but has been a true asset for Flores. Dallas Turner will step into a more full-time role, opposite Andrew Van Ginkel, who had a pick-six against Washington and has 18 pressures with four sacks on...
