Both the Los Angeles Chargers and the Minnesota Vikings come into Sunday’s matchup with 0-2 records, but we shouldn’t overlook this game from a schematic perspective. That’s because Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores is one of the most unpredictable coaches in his position in the NFL, and Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert has the physical and mental tools to nuke just about any weird defense you want to throw at him.
Moreover, the Chargers are getting it done in the run game as well, and this could be a problem Flores doesn’t want to revisit. In Week 2 against the Philadelphia Eagles, Flores started the game with some pressure looks, but called far more five-man “umbrella” coverages out of big nickel.
Per Sports Info Solutions, in Week 1 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Vikings had a light box on 37% of their defensive snaps, which ranked 28th in the league. Against the Eagles, the Vikings had a light box on 63% of their defensive snaps, which led the league. The Eagles responded as you should against all those light boxes — by running the ball 48 times for 259 yards and three touchdowns.
The Chargers have run the ball this season 61 times for 294 yards and three touchdowns. Both Austin Ekeler and Joshua Kelley have played well, so you wonder what the strategy will be here.
In this week’s “Xs and Os with Greg Cosell and Doug Farrar,” Greg (of NFL Films and ESPN’s NFL Matchup) and Doug (of Touchdown Wire) got into the adjustments Philly offensive coordinator Brian Johnson made against all those coverages, and what we might see in Week 3.
The Vikings did give up two explosive plays to the Eagles in Week 2, and this is something to monitor, bccause both came against blitzes. There was this 54-yard pass to DeVonta Smith against a six-man pressure and Cover-2 in which both Smith and A.J. Brown were open on mirrored vertical routes…
…and this 63-yard pass to Smith — another six-man pressure and some highly questionable coverage on the back end.
The problem with Herbert, as the Tennessee Titans found out last Sunday, is that even when you throw drops into coverage at him post-snap, he can still make bang-on throws like this 42-yard laser to Keenan Allen.
And when pressured this season, per Pro Football Focus, Herbert has completed seven of 15 passes for 104 yards, two of his three touchdowns, and no interceptions.
Most likely, Flores will pick his poisons carefully and switch it up against Herbert. No matter what, it’ll be a fascinating back-and-forth.
You can watch this week’s “Xs and Os” right here:
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