Vikings Defense Has The Juice Needed To Dominate In 2025

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General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah used the No. 10 pick in last year’s NFL draft to take J

McCarthy to become the team’s QB1

Head coach Kevin O’Connell believes that McCarthy is ready to step in and take the team to an even higher level than they were at last year when they with a 14-3 record

O’Connell’s greatest strength is his ability to get the most out of quarterbacks, and that’s bably the most important thing a head coach can do to ensure a team’s success in today’s NFL

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McCarthy is untested, and even though the award-winning young head coach loves him, there are no guarantees

McCarthy is coming off a meniscus injury and that could slow him down

He could also turn out to be ordinary – or even worse than that

Neither Adofo-Mensah nor O’Connell are infallible

It’s possible they could be wrong

If that happens, is there any chance the Vikings could succeed this season

Is there any part of the team that could take over and allow the team to play respectably and contend for a playoff spot

If the offense plays haltingly and McCarthy struggles badly, defensive coordinator Brian Flores may be able to rescue the Vikings

The offense gets all the headlines because of O’Connell, McCarthy, Justin Jefferson and Aaron Jones, but the defense could turn into a dominant unit this season

The Minnesota defense looked Swiss cheese in Mike Zimmer’s final season and was particularly vulnerable against the run

It wasn’t much better in O’Connell’s first season even though the Vikings won the division with a 13-4 regular season record

MORE FOR YOU Once that team hit the postseason, the defense was unable to stop the mediocre New York Giants and quarterback Daniel Jones

The defensive performance in that 31-24 loss at could not have been worse

Flores riding high with Vikings defenseDefensive coordinator Brian Flores has an opportunity to build a game-changing defense this season

More (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)Getty Images Enter Flores, who was hired shortly after that pathetic performance

Allen and Hargrave are not threats to become first-team, All- pass rushers

However, both are smart, tough-minded and experienced players who understand their responsibilities and will take care of on an every-down basis

Their teammates won’t have to worry any deficit when Allen and Hargrave are on the field

Instead, their presence will allow their teammates to go their and be at their best

They should allow Van Ginkel, Cashman, Greenard and second-year pass rush specialist Dallas Turner to make big plays on a consistent basis

If the offense struggles, the Vikings defense has a legitimate opportunity to take over and dominate

No longer is O’Connell hoping that his defense will contain the Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens this season – those are the four best offensive teams on the Vikings schedule

He has confidence in Flores and the defense

The Vikings filled their biggest defensive holes and their best players are in an even better position to succeed

More than that, Flores is coaching to put himself in a position that other teams can no longer ignore him when it comes to head coaching openings

If the Vikings and Flores have a defense in the top 3, his reputation as a certified defensive genius will be written in bold type and he will get his second chance to become an NFL head coach

The team and its defensive leader have a lot riding on the defensive performance this season

McCarthy, Jefferson and O’Connell may get the headlines, but Flores and the defense may just give this team the lifeline it needs to fight for a championship

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