Minnesota's defense turned over a new leaf in mid-fall.
In Week 9, the Vikings limited the Lions offense to 65 rushing yards, a fraction of the 148.3 it averaged over six games before Brian Flores' defense stopped David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs in their tracks.
Jared Goff felt the brunt of Minnesota's attack, too.
Detroit's quarterback was pressured 20 times by a throng of Purple hats, his most times under duress in a single game in 2025 (Goff's second most was 12 QBP in Weeks 1, 3 and 4), according to Next Gen Stats.
Like the Vikings offense, its defense didn't play perfectly in the Motor City, but well enough to orchestrate the largest upset of Head Coach Kevin O'Connell's tenure based on listed point spread (some as high as 9.5). Flores' unit also passed the eye test so to speak. Players acted with a purposeful urgency.
Off-ball linebackers Blake Cashman, Eric Wilson and Ivan Pace, Jr., were tops on the defense with 11 pressures, good for the most by an off-ball LB group since the Cowboys in Week 17 of 2021 (12), per Next Gen Stats. Wilson was the catalyst, with a team-high six pressures and two sacks on 17 blitzes, many times crossing over Detroit's center with a teammate to disrupt Goff's base and prevent him from throwing in rhythm.