The Vikings’ defense was supposed to anchor a team in transition. After thriving under defensive coordinator Brian Flores in 2024, Minnesota expected more of the same. Instead, the unit has regressed. The defensive line has struggled to stop the run, the secondary has been exposed, and Flores’ trademark pressure packages have lost their edge. What was once a fast, flexible, and fearless defense now looks predictable and unbalanced.
Vikings Run Defense Issues and Personnel Mistakes
Minnesota’s front seven was rebuilt to create more interior pressure, but that change came at a cost. By moving on from defensive tackle Harrison Phillips and signing veteran tackles Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, the Vikings traded stability for star power. The plan was to collapse pockets instead of blitzing constantly. Instead, they’ve become one of the league’s worst run defenses. The Vikings’ defense currently ranks eighth in PFSN’s DEFi.
Without a true nose tackle, the Vikings are being overpowered by heavy offensive sets and extra blockers. Linebackers like Blake Cashman are too often met by guards in the second level. That weakness has forced Flores to back off his pressure looks on early downs, reducing the chaos that once defined his scheme.
Dialed in for Detroit.@tatumeverett and @nacholeber give a final preview of tomorrow’s NFC North battle against the Lions. pic.twitter.com/f1JSFluuRu
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) November 1, 2025
The secondary’s struggles have made things worse. Letting safety Cam Bynum go and relying on cornerbacks Jeff Okudah, Isaiah Rodgers, and safety Theo Jackson has created confusion on the back end. Cornerback Byron Murphy has held up, but communication breakdowns have led to easy touchdowns.
Veteran safety Harrison Smith, though still capable, has evidently lost some speed. Overall, the Vikings’ defensive backs simply lack the physical talent to match the pass-catching units of teams like the Chargers or Eagles, as seen in the past two weeks. This week’s game in Detroit is expected to present a similar problem.
Brian Flores Blitz Packages and Missed Pressure Opportunities
The Vikings still blitz at one of the highest rates in football, but those rushes no longer produce consistent results. Quarterbacks are recognizing Flores’ pre-snap disguises, adjusting protections, and getting the ball out quickly. The organized chaos that worked last year has become easy to diagnose. When Minnesota’s blitzes don’t hit home, opponents are finding wide-open targets behind the rush, especially over the middle of the field.
Injuries have added to the inconsistency. Losing edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel eliminated the defense’s most versatile player. Second-year linebacker Dallas Turner has been forced into a larger role but is still learning the timing and strength the system demands. The result has been missed contain assignments and fewer clean wins at the line of scrimmage. Meanwhile, Allen and Hargrave have struggled to produce steady interior pressure, forcing Flores to rely on risky blitzes to manufacture stops.
It’s clear how uneven this group has become. Minnesota ranks near the top 10 in pressure rate but sits in the bottom third in total defensive efficiency. The defense is producing sacks and splash plays, but giving up just as many explosive gains. To fix it, Flores must shore up coverage, incorporate heavier fronts, and reintroduce the unpredictability that made his defense so effective last season.
Until that happens, the Vikings’ defense will likely remain far too easy to solve.
