Inside the Minnesota Vikings’ Impressive Undefeated Streak, Masterminded by Brian Flores and His Innovative ‘Crazy Scheme’ That Is Reshaping the Game .giang

The Minnesota Vikings might just have the best offensive player in the entire league in Justin Jefferson, undoubtedly being a huge part of the team that remains undefeated with 450 receiving yards in five games – behind only Nico Collins and Ja’Marr Chase.

Along with Jefferson, quarterback Sam Darnold‘s renaissance has been nothing short of spectacular, continuing to impress as a pocket passer while throwing for 11 touchdowns and completing 64% of his passes to start the season, after stepping in for first-round draft pick, JJ McCarthy, who suffered a season-ending injury.

But make no mistake about it… the Vikings are not the only undefeated team in the NFL because of their offense, but their incredible production on the other side of the ball.

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While the Vikings defense might not have any superstar players on paper, they appear to have one in its play-caller, Brian Flores, a man who learned from the best as Bill Belichick‘s former understudy.

Six-time Pro Bowl and two-time All-Pro safety Harrison Smith has been the leader of several impressive Vikings defenses over the last 12 years, but this looks to be the best he’s ever been a part of in Flores’ complex defensive scheme.

Smith told Mirror U.S. Sports: “We just have a great group of players, great group of coaches. There’s a real chemistry within the whole team. We enjoy playing this game, of course, but we enjoy playing together. We communicate, we know what each guy has to do and we’re being put in the right position to get the best out of each other. It’s real fun to play in right now.”

Minnesota has the number-one ranked defense (DVOA), leading the NFL in pressures (114), and is doing so at a pace that the league has never quite seen before. The Vikings sacked legendary quarterback Aaron Rodgers three times in their win in London this past Sunday which took their sack tally to 20 on the season – becoming the first Vikings defense ever to do so through five games.

While the likes of Jonathan Greenard, Patrick Jones, and Andrew Van Ginkel have all put in incredible solo performances rushing the passer, it has been the defense’s ability to fool the opposing quarterbacks into mistakes that has been its biggest strength.

In the Vikings’ Week 2 win over the San Francisco 49ers, quarterback Brock Purdy made multiple mistakes, throwing an interception before being heard telling Flores after the game: “Your scheme is crazy.” The following week, MVP favorite CJ Stroud threw two interceptions and scored just seven points and an annihilation against who many believe to be the best offense in the NFL.

And in London on Sunday, Rodgers threw three interceptions with one in particular being extremely notable, and highlighted exactly why Flores’ defense has been so difficult to play against. In the first quarter, Van Ginkel lined up as an edge rusher as a disguised coverage before dropping back into his zone where Rodgers looked to complete a quick pass – intercepting the ball and returning it for a touchdown.

Van Ginkel previously played for Flores with the Miami Dolphins, where he had been his head coach for three years, having signed for the Vikings on what looks to be one of the acquisitions of the off-season.

Speaking on why he wanted to play for Flores once again, and why he believes the defense is thriving under him, Van Ginkel told Mirror U.S. Sports: “He holds us to a high standard, he puts us in position to make plays, and allows us to play fast, physical, and at a high level. The way that he works, the way that he kind of leads the room and just gives us confidence to play fast and go out there and anticipate and make plays. He keeps talking about this thing called joy and just love playing it.”

While Van Ginkel, among with several Vikings defensive players has performed at a superstar level through five games, as alluded to previously, it would be fair to say that they look to be without a true ‘game-wrecker’ amongst them – a player in which offensive will scheme around to neutralize their abilities.

Instead, Harrison Smith believes the roster to be filled with strong players at each position group, all doing their individual jobs to a high level while acting as a force multiplier and enhancing the play of the guys next to them.

Smith added: “We have enough guys here that are all kind of stars in their own right. And as long as you’re doing your job, whoever’s number is called, they’re going to make a play. There’s a lot of guys today. Gink (Andrew van Ginkle), (Camryn) Bynum, and then Gilly (Stephon Gilmore) to close it out. That’s what you expect out of him.

“We have enough guys to where it doesn’t have to be that we’re highlighting one or two players. Whoever gets the opportunity is going to make a play. Flo gets us into a lot of really good positions. We just have to take advantage of it.”

Cornerback Shaquill Griffin added: “I feel like what makes us so tough is the calls are so unorthodox. You know, a call can come from maybe one of our safeties. The call can come from the sideline, from the coaches. But we all have the liberty and the power to be able to make our own decisions on the field because they let the players play how they want to play.”