There are only two undefeated teams remaining in the NFL: the Kansas City Chiefs and the Minnesota Vikings. The Chiefs are the reigning Super Bowl champions, while the Vikings, who went 7-10 last season, lost their franchise quarterback in free agency.
On Sunday, the Lions will face one of the NFL’s biggest surprises—the 5-0 Vikings. The Vikings are thriving thanks to a quarterback resurgence, an ability to win tight games, and a defense that pressures the quarterback effectively.
Here’s a closer breakdown of the Lions-Vikings matchup:
Darnold’s Arrival
Sam Darnold joined the Vikings this offseason, having previously played for three teams, under four head coaches, and with five different offensive coordinators over six NFL seasons since being the No. 3 overall pick in 2018 by the Jets.
Now, he seems to have found the right environment to unlock his talent. Darnold has posted a career-high passer rating of 103.4 and a career-best 63.5% completion rate. His 8.1 yards per pass attempt rank among the top five in the league, and his 11 touchdown passes are the fourth most. Having Justin Jefferson as a target has certainly helped.
Initially signed as a stopgap after Kirk Cousins left in free agency, Darnold’s performance has raised questions about that role. Sound familiar, Lions fans?
Akers Back in the Mix
For the second time in just over a year, the Vikings have traded for running back Cam Akers.
Minnesota made the move to bolster their backfield with starter Aaron Jones nursing a hip injury. Jones, who averages 70 rushing yards per game, is day-to-day. Akers, who played for the Vikings last season, had 147 rushing yards in five games with Houston this year. Ty Chandler also remains in the mix with 147 rushing yards on 42 carries this season.
Flores’ Defense
Brian Flores, though unable to reach the playoffs during his tenure as the Dolphins’ head coach from 2019 to 2021, is excelling as the Vikings’ defensive coordinator.
Minnesota’s defense ranks second in the league, allowing only 76 points in five games. They’ve held opponents to just 67 rushing yards per game and lead the NFL with 34 quarterback hurries, thanks to a scheme that emphasizes player decision-making.
Flores is now in his second season with the Vikings, and the Lions managed to score 30 points in both of their late-season victories over Minnesota last year.