1) Kevin O’Connell and Brian Flores type a training dream group
The NFL is usually a participant’s league, with stars routinely figuring out which groups win or lose. That mentioned, ways and techniques take heart stage within the postseason, with superior teaching deciding outcomes in a single-elimination match. With elite offensive and defensive strategists in place, the Vikings have a big benefit. O’Connell (head coach/offensive play caller) and Flores (defensive coordinator) are distinctive recreation planners and play-callers, and their artistic and imaginative schemes typically confound opposing coordinators in essential moments. And these gurus not solely check the self-discipline of opponents’ schemes but additionally persistently create big-play alternatives for Minnesota’s finest gamers.
Offensively, Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison recurrently submit massive numbers regardless of going through umbrella coverages with two deep safeties. In addition, Jefferson will get free towards double groups and bracket protection by means of intelligent deployments that make it onerous for opponents to keep up their leverage. By using numerous motions, shifts and unique formations, the Vikings discover methods to get their all-world playmaker the ball regardless of going through myriad ways designed to neutralize his affect.
Defensively, Flores is the grasp of deception, possessing a playbook loaded with uncommon pre-snap alignments that turn into numerous post-snap pressures and/or conventional coverages. With quarterbacks unable to crack the code earlier than the snap, the bluff-and-bait ways create a guessing recreation that few signal-callers have been capable of win, going towards the Vikings’ veteran-laden protection.
In addition, Flores’ distinctive schemes have helped Minnesota’s affect gamers make game-changing performs. For occasion, Jonathan Greenard (10), Andrew Van Ginkel (9) and Pat Jones II (seven) have mixed for 26 sacks regardless of opponents anticipating Cover 0-like pressures from the Vikings, based mostly on their success using the tactic in 2023. The defensive architect’s thorough understanding of pass-protection schemes and route ideas has enabled Minnesota to adapt and regulate to keep up a bonus over opponents ill-equipped to cope with persistent stress.
Given the significance of whiteboard wizards within the playoffs, the Vikings’ teaching workers offers them a determined benefit over most foes.
2) Justin Jefferson and Co. could make Sam Darnold a star within the playoffs
O’Connell’s distinctive scheming as a quarterback whisperer has helped Darnold play like an upper-echelon starter, however the Vikings’ stellar supporting solid might make him a postseason star.
Jefferson and Addison are spectacular route runners with uncommon playmaking capability as catch-and-run specialists and vertical threats. They can rating from anyplace on the sector, however their capability to show high-percentage passes into massive performs makes them excellent weapons for a quarterback who struggled with accuracy earlier than enjoying in Minnesota.
Furthermore, tight finish T.J. Hockenson has re-emerged as a dominant playmaker between the hashes after shaking off the rust from a season-ending knee harm in 2023. The two-time Pro Bowler is settling again in as a series mover, displaying smooth arms and excellent ball expertise whereas accounting for 16 first downs on 23 receptions. As a giant physique (6-foot-5, 248 kilos) with the scale and size to increase the strike zone, Hockenson is a straightforward goal for Darnold on essential downs.
While Aaron Jones flies below the radar as one of many catalysts for the working again renaissance, the veteran has amassed 1,111 scrimmage yards (820 speeding yards and 291 receiving yards) with 5 scores. His capability to seek out creases between the tackles has alleviated the stress on Minnesota to rely solely on the aerial assault whereas additionally creating some big-play possibilities on play-action passes from numerous formations. Additionally, Jones’ effectiveness on screens and swings has given the journeyman quarterback another choice to focus on on high-percentage passes.
Considering how the Vikings’ depth and expertise challenges opponents at each flip, it’s straightforward to see why Darnold is having a profession 12 months in Minnesota. If the supporting solid continues to dazzle on simplistic routes {that a} high-end highschool quarterback might execute, Darnold might placed on a Joe Flacco-like exhibition within the playoffs, resulting in a blockbuster contract for a veteran who was as soon as considered as a significant disappointment.
3) Minnesota’s big-play protection can get it accomplished
In a passing league the place it’s onerous to play protection, the Vikings are the nightmare that retains opposing quarterbacks and play callers up at night time. Under the course of an ultra-aggressive DC who pushes the envelope with unique stress schemes, Minnesota ranks close to the highest of the charts in sacks (39) and takeaways (24, together with a league-best 18 interceptions). With detrimental performs coveted at premium, the Vikings’ uncanny capability to place opponents behind the chains makes them a problem to face in a single-elimination tourney. Though offensive coordinators have scoured the tape for nearly two years making an attempt to crack the Vikings’ defensive code, the ever-evolving scheme maximizes the expertise and knowledge of a veteran group that has performed quite a lot of video games.
In the defensive backfield, specifically, the presence of Harrison Smith and Stephon Gilmore has enabled the Vikings to characteristic artistic pre-snap disguises and unorthodox coverages from distinctive alignments. As a outcome, quarterbacks wrestle to decipher the Vikings’ intentions earlier than the snap, resulting in pricey errors when the post-snap actions idiot signal-callers. Given the relentless stress the Vikings placed on the quarterback through actual and simulated blitzes, the artistic ways produce game-changing turnovers at inopportune moments.
Considering how detrimental performs (sacks, tackles for loss and turnovers) routinely decide winners and losers within the match, the Vikings’ aggressive ways might result in purple and gold confetti falling from the sky in Super Bowl LIX.
