ALLEN PARK -- Jared Goff and the Detroit Lions are more than familiar with the challenges Brian Flores’ defense presents.
It’s the second straight matchup against a defense that loves to blitz and create pressure. Goff and the Lions did away with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and their “blitz-fest” defense heading into the bye week. They have also won five straight against the (3-4) Vikings and their aggressive defensive coordinator.
But that doesn’t take away from the challenge ahead and what the Lions have to deal with. Minnesota and Flores once again lead the NFL, rocking a blitz rate of 42%. The Vikings are second with a 12.8% rate of forcing quarterbacks into a hurry, meaning they were chased out of the pocket.
The Lions head into this game right on the heels of the Green Bay Packers (5-1-1) in the NFC North and in the conference standings. While the Vikings are experiencing tougher times this year, Goff knows it’s a big game for where the Lions want to go.
Goff said he sees some similarities and some new elements to Minnesota’s defense this season. It’s a defense and defensive coordinator he and the Lions know well, though.
“We’ve got some games to win and some tough competition coming up starting this week with Minnesota,” Goff said. “But yeah, we’re right in that stretch now. You come back from the bye, and it’s go time. There’s no time to really fix things or make up for lost time. We’ve done that already at this point, and it’s time to go.
“They want to penetrate. They want to get in the backfield. They want to get typically five or six guys rushing, one-on-ones on everybody. In that case, they run some pick games. They run some stunts, they do a little bit of everything. And they want to disrupt your timing and get in the backfield, and it’s up to us up front and me to get the ball out and do everything right.”
Goff has been strong against the blitz this year, fresh off dispatching Tampa Bay’s aggressive defense. Through his last five games against the Vikings, Goff has completed 76.3% of his passes for 1,418 yards with nine touchdowns and two interceptions.
He’s been sacked eight times in those games, but turned the ball over just twice in last year’s big winner-take-all season finale.
John Morton, the team’s offensive coordinator, said the Vikings create havoc upfront while moving a ton of pieces around and disguising coverage. Morton finds relief in having a veteran quarterback like Goff running the offense against an aggressive defense, though.
“I think they have run the ball pretty well, I think that’s been the biggest thing,” Morton said of the five-game winning streak against the Vikings. “Trying to create some big plays that way. That’s the biggest thing that I took from it. And when you do that, when you try to create some big plays and run the ball, I mean it helps out everything.”
Edge defender Jonathan Grennard (30) and interior defensive lineman Jalen Redmond (21) have led the way in pressures for the Vikings. Dallas Turner, the former first-round pick, has started making plays, too, sitting third on the team with 18 pressures in seven games.
Lions coach Dan Campbell pointed to Redmond’s ability on the defensive line as something to watch. Campbell called him an “outstanding player” and said that he’s allowed them to create disruption in the trenches this season. And while names and some aspects have changed, “it’s very much still Flores’ defense and what they expect to prepare for.
The Lions know it all starts in the trenches. Taylor Decker has been back at practice and is expected to man his starting spot at left tackle. And the Lions have seen real growth from their new-look interior offensive line. But they expect even more from that group ahead of his vital NFC North matchup.
“A division game. We want to win our division, we want to win every division game,” Goff said. “These guys are in our division, they’re a good team, they’ve been good for a long time, they’re extremely well-coached, they’ve got extremely good players.
“They’re going to come in here and give us everything they’ve got. We’ve got to know that coming in and give them everything we’ve got.”
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