Brian Flores leads Minnesota Vikings defense to 2-0 start

Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores has led the team to a 2-0 start in the 2026 season, extending a seven-game winning streak. Flores’ defensive strategy has relied heavily on aggressive blitzing; in the first two games of the season, he has blitzed opposing quarterbacks on 75% of dropbacks.

In a recent 9-3 victory over the Chicago Bears, Flores utilized a blitz rate of over 81% against Bears quarterback Caleb Williams. The strategy limited Williams to 138 passing yards and one interception before a hamstring injury occurred in the fourth quarter. Bears head coach Ben Johnson attributed the offensive struggles to self-inflicted errors, including six first-half penalties and two turnovers.