Six weeks into this season, Brian Flores’ defense just keeps delivering for the 6-0 Minnesota Vikings. On Sunday, because the defense dominated yet again, a single touchdown was all the offense needed in a 16-10 win over the Colts.
The numbers are staggering. The Vikings have allowed a total of 74 points so far. No other NFL team has allowed fewer than 103. It’s the fewest points the Vikings have given up through six games in 50 years.
The Vikings lead the league in opponent expected points added (EPA) per play by a comically large margin. The difference between their opponent EPA per play and second place (Seattle) is the same as the difference between Seattle and 15th place (Jacksonville).
The Vikings also lead the league in opponent success rate, passer rating allowed, opponent red zone touchdown percentage, and numerous other statistics. They’re tied for the league lead in sacks. They’re blitzing at a historic rate. It’s a well-oiled machine with a brilliant coach and a deep group of players who have mastered the scheme.
“Flo and his staff put together great plans every week,” Harrison Smith said on Sunday. “And then they’ve also instilled a DNA in this group. A play style. I think it starts with the guys up front and trickles to the back end. It’s a mindset, it’s a play style, it’s physicality, it’s joy, it’s getting to the football, it’s violence, paired with a very thoughtful scheme and a lot of players that know football and can work with each other well.”
With all of that said, it is worth acknowledging some context from the six weeks of results. In Week 1, the Vikings allowed 22 points to Jordan Love and the Packers before completely flipping the script in a stunning turnaround. In Week 2, they perhaps benefited from weather conditions in Chicago. Since then, the quarterbacks they’ve faced are Baker Mayfield, Malik Willis, Tyler Shough, and Daniel Jones.
That’s not to take anything away from the Vikings’ defense, which can only play the opponents on the schedule. But it is at least part of the story.
Now, the level of difficulty is about to climb quite a bit. Take another look at the EPA/play chart embedded earlier. On the X-axis of offense, the three teams furthest to the right are the Bills, 49ers, and Lions. Those happen to be three of the Vikings’ next four opponents. They head to Detroit next week, then host the Bills, then go to Green Bay (17th in EPA/play) before facing the 49ers in Mexico City in Week 11.
This is going to be quite the series of tests for Flores’ group. Jared Goff is the NFL’s highest-graded quarterback against the blitz, per PFF, and has three explosive weapons at his disposal. No one has given Flores more trouble in previous seasons than Detroit. After that, it’s Josh Allen, who might be the best quarterback in football. Then Jordan Love. Then Brock Purdy, who is among the leading candidates for MVP this season.
This is clearly a great Vikings defense. There’s nothing fluky about what they’ve done. Up to this point, they’ve been elite. These next four weeks make up the kind of stretch that will tell us whether this is a regular great defense or an all-time unit.
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This story was originally published by Bring Me The Sports on Oct 27, 2026, where it first appeared in the MN Vikings section. Add Bring Me The Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.